"Spurned Aakash-maker launches two new tablets to compete with it!"

Datawind, the company spearheading the Aakash tablet project, has now launched two new tablets, called the Ubislate 7 and 7C. The two tablets which will cost between Rs 2999  and Rs 3,999 respectively. Aakash could be looking at some serious competition here as the two are run on relatively faster processors.

Datawind CEO at the launch with students.

Both the tablets come with similar specifications sporting a 7 inch screen, are powered by

Cortex A8 800 MHz processor, and running on Google’s Android Gingerbread (version 2.3). The UbiSlate 7C however comes with 4GB of internal memory and a capacitive touchscreen which allows the use of a stylus, while the UbiSlate 7+ has 2GB disk space and comes with a resistive screen.

DataWind CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli said at the launch, “Over the last year, I’ve been travelling the globe, talking at the World Bank, with heads of state, at numerous universities and at global conferences, evangelizing the power of the Internet to transform people’s lives. We’ve now created a product that removes the barriers and levels the playing field.”

Tech2.in reports The UbiSlate tablets are the only devices in the market to offer DataWind’s UbiSurfer browser, based on 18 international patents, that can deliver internet access on traditional GPRS networks which cover the far reaches of the globe. In India the devices will offer unlimited web-browsing using DataWind’s web delivery platform for under Rs.100 per month on traditional mobile networks. 

Datawind which was commissioned to make India’s cheapest tablet Aakash has been involved in series of rows with the government and IIT Rajasthan the chief institute that was monitoring the project.

Most recently the company had accused IIT-Rajasthan of defaming the company by making exaggerated claims over the safety of Aakash. Datawind had also sued Quad electronics, the firm responsible for manufacturing Aakash, on the basis that Quad violated its intellectual property right by signing a direct agreement with IIT-Rajasthanfor development of the device as Datawind owns the patent for developing Aakash. Quad had in turn countersued Datawind for non-payment of dues.