Aakash runs into storm as firms, Datawind trade charges
Canadian company dismisses series of charges levelled by cellular majors
Surajeet Das Gupta / New Delhi Jan 23, 2012, 00:15 IST
The government-initiated world’s cheapest tablet computer project has run into a headwind. Leading handset manufacturers have blasted Datawind’s Aakash tablet on the ground that it is based on outdated technology and inadequate specifications, a charge the Canada-based firm has dismissed.
In a letter to the human resource development ministry, the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) has suggested that large and integrated global players like Samsung or Nokia could handle such a project. The association has also offered an alternative — that if the government requires the IP, brand and ownership rights to be in Indian hands, then appropriate partners can be found from big Indian mobile and information technology players.
The association has also demanded the government put stringent capital adequacy norms, which could put companies like Datawind out of the reckoning for the project. It has demanded the partners have a minimum turnover of Rs 500 crore, net worth of Rs 100 crore and a service network of at least 200 points across the country.
Responding to the challenge from the big mobile manufacturers, Datawind, which provided the Aakash low-cost tablet at less than Rs 3,000, dared these companies to participate in open tenders and come out with a similar product at the same price point.
Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO of Datawind, said, “The cheapest tablets made by ICA members are not less than Rs 15,000. Why did they not compete in the tender floated by IIT Rajasthan? They are most welcome to participate in the forthcoming tenders. Their tablet products don’t serve 97 per cent of the Indian mass market. Ten months after the project was signed, they are now finding fault.”
Conceived by the HRD ministry, the department funded IIT Rajasthan, which floated a tender for 100,000 low-cost tablets. Datawind, which won the tender, has already supplied 10,000 pieces. However, there has been severe criticism about the quality of the device and IIT is now planning to change the specifications to US military standards.
ICA has told the ministry that the Aakash tablet uses a resistive touch screen, which is not advised, and is supported by the Android operating system. The accuracy and speed of input in resistive touch are inadequate and the experience sub-optimal, ICA has said.
ICA has also criticised the use of a processor less than 1.2 GHz, saying such a low-speed processor for a tablet device is unheard of. Anything being launched in 2012, primarily on Android 3.0 or 4.0, necessarily carries processors of 1.2 GHz for a good browsing experience. The association argued the Android 2.2/2.3 used as the operating system in Aakash is already two-three years old and is not optimised for a tablet experience.
Tuli challenges these allegations. He says the Aakash tablet has been produced based on specifications given by IIT Rajasthan. Tuli adds they have also given a road map for upgraded products with more powerful processors, better screens and longer battery life, among others, in the next phase. "We have produced according to the specifications of the tender. We have also given a road map for upgraded products. So, what is the criticism about?"
Though I paid Rs2999 against their email of Jan 27, 2012 for priority delivery against my earlier booking for UbiSlate 7+ they have failed to acknowledge receipt of payment. Their online "Check Status" does not work nor does there online "Contact us" at www.ubislate.com, so is the case with their toll free # 1800 180 2180 and there is no response to calls at (0183) 5003020 and e-mails to supportin@datawind.com and support@datawind.com bounce due to "quoto exceeded". The HRD Ministry must take action against this company which is out to cheat the public of India. There are so many complaints of cheating against it at various complaint sites like www.grahakseva.com, www.consumercomplaints.in and forums of the same
Datawind itself sound like company who have did best to cheat govt and extract money from govt.
I have booked Aakash Ubislate & ubislate7+ in mid Dec 2011 as per commitment online ubislate was to be del by 23rd dec 2011 which is not del till date.
also they have no contact details left on site except toll free no 18001802180 which fails to connect.
This is tip of iceberge of big scam and best part is Minister Kapil Sibal of Congress took efforts to ADVERTISE THAT COMPANY.
hope the details will be opened in recent years!!!
IIT Rajasthan seems to have some serious personal issues with Datawind. An institute of such repute cannot be expected to set out such outlandish specifications for the tablet. The tablet is meant for poor students. It is to make available to them technology at lowest costs. Why do they need a tablet that can withstand rain? Has anyone of us having laptops sought one which fulfills this criteria? What is required is a basic computing device with an educational ecosystem at low price. Also, the company has not been paid for the tablets already delivered by it. How does anyone expect them to deliver more when the government itself is not sure about what it wants! The bureaucratic hurdles of India are again killing an outstanding concept. God save us!
The members of ICA are the heads of big corporations . Their objections with the Datawind tablet are totally baseless. They are afraid that a small company might create a big hole in their pockets!!!
The government needs to appreciate the effort of Datawind to produce a tablet at such a low price point. This is definitely a revolutionary technology that has ability to bridge the digital divide. The big players seem to be afraid of an emerging company and are hence putting forward such demands. The tender allottment should be in a fair and transparent matter so that the Indian taxpayers do not feel cheated. Ubislate is a great product and will do wonders when distributed in the open market.
Classic case of disruptive technology shaking the established big players! The big companies are angry as to how can a small company come in to the market and take away all the accolades. How can it do something that they were not able to do? They are using their front organizations to attack the small player. None of the charges make any sense. It is a budget product made to optimum specifications for addressing a need...it is not he latest greatest tech gizmo that excites the elites! Ask the lower middle class family if they need a basic computing device at Rs2500 or something with the latest processor at 50000. The media needs to call this bluff of the big corporate houses and corrupt IIT officials who are succeeding in muddying the waters enough to make this project a failure! They don't have to prove the charges in a court room...just causing confusion in the market about the product with these reports is victory for them.
The Criticism itself has some corruption at the core. We should call it pure business. I am yet to see a good phone leave alone a tablet for Rs.3000. The talk of military standard product for school children again sounds of corruption. Military standard materials would cost money and is the government going subsidise the excess cost of the product and hand over the manufacturing to big players. The tablet for kids would need only restricted content viewing like text books, streaming of content in class with wifi/internet (in schools).The Tablet should also have a handwriting recognition ability or work like a slate/paper. I think the government should proceed with the supply of tablets which would cost less than Rs.3000 with the subsidy. It is also advisable that the Government should first do a pilot run of this project in selected pockets rather than spreading too thin.
Datawind has a point. The discussion is not what is best. When IITR decides specs what are "required" specs and apprpriate price is arrived why now questions are being raised? For example I am able to do work with P6200 though market is full i3-i7
wonder if anybody objected, when other brands carried t-1 products in India, while the current product was retailed across the world, then why this hoopla now, at the end of the day, u get as much as you may, and more importantly do you need everything that is on offer ?
Posted by: Jaydip Banerjee
January 28 , 2012, 15:17 IST
I think that AAKASH tablet is a great bluff. the company promised to make it available in late January 2012. But to day is 28th day of January and i have not received tablet which have been booked in November 2011. it is going to be the greatest bluff of the millennium.
Content Guide
The government-initiated world’s cheapest tablet computer project has run into a headwind. Leading handset manufacturers have blasted Datawind’s Aakash tablet on the ground that it is based on outdated technology and inadequate specifications, a charge the Canada-based firm has dismissed.
