Datawind kicked off Aakash tablet project!

The Indian government’s project to make the world’s cheapest tablet has hit a few bumps recently, with controversies surrounding the UK-based manufacturer Datawind and calls for the tablet to be made indigenously. Now, Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who is heading the project, has announced that Datawind will no longer be associated with it.

“There have been some problems with Datawind I must confess. Therefore, I have got into the act. IT Ministry has got C-DAC and ITI into the act and I am going to ensure that this product is fully indigenous and truly an Indian product,” he told PTI.

Phone Mantra had previously reported that the government is considering handing the contract to manufacture Aakash to the loss-making public sector company Indian Telephone Industries (ITI). The inclusion of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) was announced for the first time.

New Aakash 2 may not cost more

Contrary to a previous report that the upgraded specifications of the Aakash 2 – the next version of the tablet – will mean an increase in price, Sibal said he hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but confirmed that the device is to be upgraded and would be launched soon.

He said, “Well, 2012 should seen the sun… Aakash-II should be launched. There have been some hiccups in the way. Remember, when you do a project of this nature and when your dream is as big as this, things are never that smooth.”

More information about the Aakash tablet:

-Aakash 2 tablet announced: better features, same price

-Datawind starts UbiSlate 7+ orders, Aakash 2 pricing gets confusing

-Loss-making public sector company ITI roped in to make Aakash 2

-Govt chooses sides: IIT Rajasthan kicked off Aakash 2, Datawind gets extension

-OLPC head rips into Aakash, calls it ‘pre-beta’ and questions its Indian-ness

-A ‘Made in India’ controversy: Datawind, ICA and IIT slugfest may delay Aakash tablet

-Move over, iPad & iBooks! India’s $50 Aakash tablet is headed to USA

-Govt tells IIT to drop ‘military-grade’ demands on Aakash tablet

-Aakash 2 coming in April, Datawind CEO slams IIT Rajasthan tender

Source: PTI