We've been hearing about India's plans for a $35 computer for a few months now, and for a while we thought it might be all talk. However, it seems India is pushing ahead with plans for the educational tablet.
Engadget reports that India has just awarded the manufacturing contract to HCL Technologies. The first shipment will supposedly only contain the 7-inch model and is set to arrive on January 10. It's unclear if the $35 price has stuck or whether India's been successful in plans to eventually drive the price down to $10 with the help of large orders and government subsidies.
Unveiled by the Human Resources Minister of the Union of India, Shri Kapil Sibal, in July, the device has generated significant interest among colleges and schools. The tablet device will have web browsing, including the ability to access YouTube. Official specs have yet to be confirmed, but it's said to have WiFi, come in a variety of sizes, and pack 2GB of storage. Though the press release is hard to decipher, it would seem the Indian government also has plans to launch a wesbite containing quality educational content for the devices.
Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
