As the connected devices market becomes more and more competitive, the prices for these indispensable tech gadgets, drops lower and lower. But one company is setting the pace for this price drop, bringing forward improvisation and affordability but also a tablet with full options.
The company behind this is non other than DataWind Net Access Corporation, "DataWind", is "a leading provider of wireless web access products and services" and recently unveiled The $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet, available on their website. "The London-based firm plans to sell three models in the United States, ranging in price from $38 to as much as $149 with varying specs and capabilities" according to the WSJ who interviewed Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli.
Mr.Tuli went on to state that “We want to specifically reach a customer base that right now is not on the Internet.” but he didn't stop there he went on to mention that cost rather than specifications should be the determining factor. “Affordability shouldn’t be the reason people can’t get on the Internet,”
The tablet does not match the established markets tablet leaders (Apple’s iPads, Amazon’s Kindle Fire’s and Google’s Nexus devices) but it beats them hands down when you factor in cost.
The $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet, runs on Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, featuring a 1-gigahertz , single-core processor (the sort of CPU found in the first-generation iPad introduced in 2010). Just 4 gigabytes of storage is built in, although microSD card slots are included for those looking for more space to store apps and media. The 7-inch display offers a resolution of 800×480 pixels, again a "far cry from the HD displays found on Apple’s iPads, Amazon’s Kindle Fire’s and Google’s Nexus devices" but it costs just $38...
This is not the first time DataWind has let jaws drop, back in February, 2007. It launched PocketSurfer™ 2, which at the time was claimed to be "World's Fastest Handheld Device"
Mr. Tuli at the time went to describe the release as follows "With PocketSurfer™, mobile users can surf the Internet anytime, anyplace and enjoy the same rich media graphics and browser functionality of the desktop experience! This device is going to revolutionize the way we work, play communicate and fully leverage the web wirelessly" the company pulled a courageous publicity stunt when " on the main stage at the Canadian Pavilion at 3GSM, DataWind CEO Suneet S. Tuli presented the new PocketSurfer 2 to an audience of international press and analysts. Mr. Tuli then challenged the audience to see if anyone's handheld device or PDA could download web pages faster than PocketSurfer - anyone that managed to beat PocketSurfer would have received a free device. However, as expected, PocketSurfer held strong with its claim of the fastest speed of a handheld Internet device!"
Give or take, specs or price, the Ubislate will undoubtedly be an alternative for those with a restricted budget, and only need a device with minimun functionality, adequate portability and always connected. For those seeking a more robust but affordable tablet, with greater funtionality will have to ponder over the likes of Sumvision Cyclone Voyager II, GoClever Tab R974, Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Acer Iconia A1 or Nexus 7 amongst others.
The growing popularity of connected devices, connected homes and into what is consequently becoming a connected world. Earth Online, is the trajectory and as more & more companies jump into the connected devices market, we would see more and more range of products offering somewhat similary functionalities with the occassional oddities to refresh the scene. As the cost of a tablet drops, the rate of people getting connected will increase.
The winds of change are certainly upon us, will Datawind's $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet be a grassroots success and penetrate market share, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain, affordability is a thought prominent on everybody's mind.
Additional Useful links
The company behind this is non other than DataWind Net Access Corporation, "DataWind", is "a leading provider of wireless web access products and services" and recently unveiled The $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet, available on their website. "The London-based firm plans to sell three models in the United States, ranging in price from $38 to as much as $149 with varying specs and capabilities" according to the WSJ who interviewed Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli.
Mr.Tuli went on to state that “We want to specifically reach a customer base that right now is not on the Internet.” but he didn't stop there he went on to mention that cost rather than specifications should be the determining factor. “Affordability shouldn’t be the reason people can’t get on the Internet,”
The tablet does not match the established markets tablet leaders (Apple’s iPads, Amazon’s Kindle Fire’s and Google’s Nexus devices) but it beats them hands down when you factor in cost.
The $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet, runs on Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, featuring a 1-gigahertz , single-core processor (the sort of CPU found in the first-generation iPad introduced in 2010). Just 4 gigabytes of storage is built in, although microSD card slots are included for those looking for more space to store apps and media. The 7-inch display offers a resolution of 800×480 pixels, again a "far cry from the HD displays found on Apple’s iPads, Amazon’s Kindle Fire’s and Google’s Nexus devices" but it costs just $38...
This is not the first time DataWind has let jaws drop, back in February, 2007. It launched PocketSurfer™ 2, which at the time was claimed to be "World's Fastest Handheld Device"
Mr. Tuli at the time went to describe the release as follows "With PocketSurfer™, mobile users can surf the Internet anytime, anyplace and enjoy the same rich media graphics and browser functionality of the desktop experience! This device is going to revolutionize the way we work, play communicate and fully leverage the web wirelessly" the company pulled a courageous publicity stunt when " on the main stage at the Canadian Pavilion at 3GSM, DataWind CEO Suneet S. Tuli presented the new PocketSurfer 2 to an audience of international press and analysts. Mr. Tuli then challenged the audience to see if anyone's handheld device or PDA could download web pages faster than PocketSurfer - anyone that managed to beat PocketSurfer would have received a free device. However, as expected, PocketSurfer held strong with its claim of the fastest speed of a handheld Internet device!"
Give or take, specs or price, the Ubislate will undoubtedly be an alternative for those with a restricted budget, and only need a device with minimun functionality, adequate portability and always connected. For those seeking a more robust but affordable tablet, with greater funtionality will have to ponder over the likes of Sumvision Cyclone Voyager II, GoClever Tab R974, Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Acer Iconia A1 or Nexus 7 amongst others.
The growing popularity of connected devices, connected homes and into what is consequently becoming a connected world. Earth Online, is the trajectory and as more & more companies jump into the connected devices market, we would see more and more range of products offering somewhat similary functionalities with the occassional oddities to refresh the scene. As the cost of a tablet drops, the rate of people getting connected will increase.
The stats are worth noting, 2,405,518,376 internet users worldwide, which is 566% increase, put simply 37.3% of the world's population uses the internet according to some estimates. If DataWind's $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet, does pickup wind and sales figure go up, it would signal a pivotal change in the tablet market, forcing established players to re-think the focus of their design to fit consumer's budget and not the other way round, as Apple tried to do with iPhone 5c.
The winds of change are certainly upon us, will Datawind's $38 UbiSlate 7Ci tablet be a grassroots success and penetrate market share, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain, affordability is a thought prominent on everybody's mind.
Additional Useful links
- The 10 best budget tablets - http://goo.gl/boZrmw
- Life in the internet - http://goo.gl/CLt3h4
- UK tablet adoption hits 50% - http://goo.gl/Q58L34
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