India announces $35 tablet computer to help lift villagers out of poverty

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India announces $35 tablet computer to help lift villagers out of poverty @ The Washington Post

NEW DELHI — India introduced a cheap tablet computer Wednesday, saying it would deliver modern technology to the countryside to help lift villagers out of poverty.

The computer, called Aakash, or “sky” in Hindi, is the latest in a series of “world’s cheapest” innovations in India that include a 100,000 rupee ($2,040) compact Nano car, a 750 rupee ($15) water purifier and $2,000 open-heart surgery. Developer Datawind is selling the tablets to the government for about $45 each, and subsidies will reduce that to $35 for students and teachers.


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5 Comments

  1. Does anyone know how much they actually cost to build? Are they selling them at a loss?

  2. @dorkusmonkey ,

    Don’t think so, seems to be a highly subsidized project ( you can already buy low volume android powered simple tablets from distributors in china for 60-70$) , way to go India!

  3. If they sold them here for 3x$ $105, they could give them away at home.

  4. There are some details on http://www.aakashtablet.com/ The tablet would be available on retail sale at about Rs 3000/- or 60$

  5. ah aakash better than what they previously called it (shakshat)

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