Aakash 2 launch delayed

The launch of the world’s most affordable tablet, the Aakash 2 has been delayed again. The wait for the much-hyped ultra low-cost Aakash tablet PC, to be launched by the Indian government, continues! Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has said the specifications for the Aakash 2 tablet PC will be finalised by this month. The minister had previously said that an improved version of the Aakash will launch in May – evidently, that did not happen.

It was in March that Kapil Sibal announced that the Aakash 2 would be here by the end of May. The HRD minister who has been the force behind the nation’s ambitious project, had assured the public of the above stated timeline. According to reports, the tablets and related apps are currently being tested at IIT-Mumbai. "During the course of this month, we will finalise the specifications and technology for the Aakashproject and move,” Kapil Sibal is quoted as saying. The minister expresses confidence that the government will provide the ultra low-cost tablet to every school and college student in the country in the next five to seven years. The device will also be available for individuals who wish to buy it.

The ET report also quoted a senior government official as saying, "Many people confuse Ubislate with Aakash, as it carries the same specifications and is made by the same vendor. It is giving a bad name to the government's project as customers of the commercial similar product are complaining of non delivery." Reportedly, after its fall-out with Quad, Datawind got in Hyderabad-based VMC Systems to supply the tablets. "About 50 people have reportedly been poached by VMC Systems from Quad Electronics who were earlier working on the Aakash assembly line," the report added.