Low-cost Aakash Tablet 3 to have SIM card slot, faster processor and Android & Linux platforms

The next edition of the low-cost Aakash tablet will have a SIM card slot, a faster processor, higher memory capacity, and will be able to function on both the android operating system and Linux.

But IIT Bombay, which is spearheading the effort, would like to ensure that improved offerings don't result in a higher price for the tablet.

The tablet is available for students at subsidised rate of 1,130 while the government purchases it at 2,263. The initial plan is to roll out 50 lakh units of Aakash 3 tablet and a global tender is expected to put out in February. Members of the committee in charge of Aakash 3 indicated that they would like to access mutiple vendors for the tablets instead of tying up such a large order with one or two vendors.

Those associated with the Aakash project said that computer majors were amazed with the device and there is a keen interest among several vendors to participate in this venture. The focus on indigenous component of the tablet comes in the light of the use of the "made in China" tablets for the current Aakash 2 version.

The decision by Datawind, the company, which was to manufacture the Aakash 2 tablets, to source the instrument from China came in for intense criticism as the $35 made in India tablet had been touted as a manufacturing revolution.

However, Deepak B Phatak is not unduly concerned about the use of Chinese hardware. Phatak is a member of the committee in charge of Aakash and professor in Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay.