Sify connects with Simputer, offers Net deal

Barely a week after Bangalore-based PicoPeta Computers announced the launch of Amida, the country's first handheld device, Sify has decided to associate itself with this maiden venture by bundling its Internet package.

Interestingly, Reliance, BSNL and Tata Indicom are the other players who are evaluating options to provide data services though Amida.

Speaking to the Business Standard, Dr Swami Manohar, CEO, PicoPeta Simputers Pvt Ltd said, "As Amida is a plug-and-play device for Wi-Fi, Sify has evinced interest in our product. Sify was on the look out for access devices that could use their hotspots. They see a lot of potential in Amida to better utilise their Wi-Fi hotspots."

Another key reason for this collaboration is their perception towards Bangalore. Initially, PicoPeta has decided to focus on Bangalore, before going national. Similarly, Bangalore is also a "trial space" for Sify, which has about 100 hotspots.

According to Dr Manohar, both companies were keen on Bangalore market as a result of a tech-savvy population and a high concentration of IT companies.

As Amida will gradually go national, it will only result in Sify to provide Wi-Fi services to Amida's customers across India.

While BSNL is yet to announce their data services, Reliance is already looking at bundling their services with Amida.

"Initially, Reliance is looking at using Amida within their company, where sales personnel can connect to the Internet via the Reliance handset. This service can later be extended to Reliance customers as well. Meanwhile, BSNL and Tata Indicom have evinced keen interest on bundling their services with Amida," he explained.

Currently, Amida can connect to the Internet though a CDMA handset only. Besides being Wi-Fi enabled, it is also equipped to receive data through Infrared and Bluetooth.

The biggest USP of Amida is its ability to not recognize characters as a mode of communication. For instance, if one were to scribble a note in Hindi or French and mail it, the receiver would see it in the same format.

"For this, the receiver needs to install a software, which is available with us. With this, we plan to bring back the language and emotions involved in communication," Dr Manohar said.

Meanwhile, the necessary software environment for developing applications in Amida will be made public on April 15, 2004. It may be recalled that Amida works on a Linux operating system.

Today, Amida has about 30 applications for the end-user and nearly 100 applications within the device. Once the tools are made public, third-party developers would be able to download these tools and develop new and interesting applications for Amida.

PicoPeta has entered into a production and marketing agreement with BEL about 18 months ago. The initial production capacity would be 10,000 pieces per month, which can be increased. The company plans to sell 50,000 pieces in the first year and double the sales next year. BEL will be paid royalty, a sum which was undisclosed, for every piece that is sold.