DataWind is planning to launch a Rs 2,000 smartphone in India with free lifetime Internet access. The company plans to launch the device before Diwali.
Datawind stated that the said the device will be based on Android operating system and have a 3.5 inch size. Datawind Executive Vice President Rupinder Singh stated that the company is in talks with three mobile operators for the lifetime free Internet offer but refused to divulge more details as the deal is yet to be finalised. Read: DataWind, BSNL tie up for free bundled data with Ubislate tablets
Datawind currently offers three smartphones and 5 tablets under its portfolio and is selling 40,000-50,000 devices every month. The company is known for its low cost Aakash tablet for students, in 2011 Datawind had won a contract to supply 1 lakh units of Aakash tablets priced at Rs 2500 (approx) each. However the project generated a lot of controversy and the company was asked to make better versions of the tablet. The project was finally completed last year in May.
Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated in a recent press conference said Aakash project needs better specifications.
Rupinder Singh stated that they will be interested in manufacturing Aakash 4 tablets. He stated, "Absolutely we will be interested in that. Just a couple of months before the elections, a tender was opened for Aakash 4 by DGS&D and we emerged as the lowest bidder."
It's notable competition in the entry-level smartphone has intensified with several companies launching phones under Rs. 3,000. Spice has launched Firefox-based Fire One Mi FX1 smartphone for Rs. 2,229 while Intex launched a Aqua 4X, 3G Android smartphone launched at Rs. 2,999. Jivi Mobiles has just launched the JSP 20, which it claims to be the least expensive Android phone at Rs. 1,999.
Source: ET
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