Second version of Aakash tablet to be launched in May: Sibal

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday said the second version of Aakash, the '35 dollar' computer tablet, would be launched in May this year.

Speaking to mediapersons after an event in New Delhi, Sibal said the manufacturing of the world's cheapest tablet will take place in India itself.

"In the month of May, we are launching the second version of Aakash. However, right now we are concentrating on its design and other parameters. The manufacturing will start only after we freeze design and technology.

"We are going to call people from all over the world for it's manufacturing, as there are people who are ready to come to India. Aakash is not only meant for children in India but for children all over the world," said Sibal.

The government hailed the Aakash tablet as an achievement of Indian frugal engineering that would end the digital divide in a country where only one in every 10 of its 1.2 billion people use the Internet.

Sibal further said the tablet would prove to be a boon for the students.

"If we are able provide our children with Aakash in 1500 or 2000 rupees, we will download the educational content in the tablet and the children will be able to make the best use of it. Of course, a teacher plays a vital role in education, but if the child has a tablet it would be very beneficial for him," he said.

However, the tablet has recently run into problems after complaints of poor performance and hiccups rolling out a pilot model.

A small London-based company, DataWind developed the tablet with the Indian Institute of Technology.

The company said the institute had changed the specifications late last year and now wanted a device that could meet U.S. military durability requirement for the same rock-bottom price. (ANI)