Indian 'Simputer' to bridge digital divide

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 15:17:17 +0530 (IST)
From: N Sashikumar <sashi () civil iisc ernet in>
Subject: Indian 'Simputer' to bridge digital divide
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>

Hi Prof Dave,
  This device is developed from my institute. To know more about the
features please refer this link
http://www.amidasimputer.com/

regards
sashi

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36611.html
Indian 'Simputer' to bridge digital divide
By electricnews.net
Posted: 29/03/2004 at 12:27 GMT

In a nation where only nine in 1,000 people own a computer, a long-awaited
device has finally been launched to bring the poor into the information
age.

The so-called Simputer, a device which has been discussed and hyped for
three years, was finally launched last week in India with a price tag of
slightly less than INR10,000 (€187). The Simputer is a bare-bones handheld
computer that is designed to allow poorer Indians to access the Web, email
and other basic computer functions.

The device was developed in 2001 by scientists at the Bangalore-based
Institute of Science, but a lack of interest among manufacturers and
distributors held up the launch until Friday, when PicoPeta Simputers
launched its Amida Simputer device. Encore Software is also licensed to
make Simputers.

Y. Gopal Rao, CMD of the device's manufacturer Bharat Electronics (BEL),
said: "It has been a long wait. But I am sure, and everyone will agree,
after experiencing the product, that the Amida Simputer is worth the wait.
BEL is fully committed to the success of this innovative product."

Professor V. Vinay, chairman of PicoPeta, added: "We have taken the first
steps of an Indian product company building a global brand." PicoPeta has
said that it hopes to sell some 50,000 of the PDA-like Simputer in the
next 12 months.

The Simputer features a 206Mhz processor, 64MB of memory and has an
internal microphone, speakers and a lithium-ion battery that lasts for six
to eight hours under normal usage. The device also comes with two USB
ports, an infrared port and it has a 3.8-inch backlit touch screen.

On the software side, the device runs on a scaled down version of Linux
and it has an Internet browser and supports e-mail. It can connect to the
Net via a standard landline, or the machine can be hooked up to a mobile
phone to connect wirelessly. Both the browser and the e-mail software were
developed specifically for the Simputer.

Other features include an MP3 player, a photo album, a movie player, some
games, an address book and simple finance management software. The device
can also be connected to a special keyboard, or users can write on the
touch screen, which will convert script into text with proprietary
software. Simputer supports English, Hindi and Kannada.

PicoPeta said it would also sell a more advanced version of the Simputer,
aimed at wealthier users, priced between INR12,150 (€234) and INR19,500
(€366).

© ElectricNews.Net 

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