Simputer Linux handheld for developing world finds builder

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

Simputer Linux handheld for developing world finds builder
By ComputerWire

Posted: 31/10/2002 at 09:40 GMT


 
India-based PicoPeta Simputer Private Ltd has struck a manufacturing 
deal for its Simputer mass market computing device, and expects to 
have the 1,000 first batch to come off the production line next 
month. 

The Simputer is designed to be a cheap, mass market computing device 
which will fill a yawning gap in developing countries, such as India, 
where traditional PCs are still beyond the reach of the population. 
But PicoPetas' ambitions had seemed set to come to naught, as it 
struggled to find backing for the project. 

However, the company said this week that Bharat Electronics Ltd had 
built 400 pilot machines, and was expected to complete a run of 1,000 
in November. The initial machines will be priced at INR13,000 ($268), 
but the companies hope to bring this down to INR10,000 ($206) within 
six months. 

The Simputer is a handheld, Linux-powered device and is supposed to 
be accessible even to illiterate users. PicoPeta expects wired and 
wireless support by February next year. 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/27863.html