The Hindu Business Line : NComputing sees huge market here for terminals

New Delhi, Oct. 28 Imagine if you could harness the unused processing power of your regular personal computer (PC) to transform multiple sets of monitor, keyboard and mouse into full-fledged standalone computers! Imagine what such technology could do for schools which cannot afford multiple PCs for students.

With most users barely tapping up to 10 per cent of a PC’s processing power, a technology by California-based NComputing Inc allows a single PC to support multiple users all at once.

“Most users end up using the PC for word processing, Internet browsing, e-mail and spreadsheets, thus utilising only 1-10 per cent of the processing power of the machine. NComputing access terminals and software can allow as many as 30 users to access the capability of one PC. Each user can work on different sessions,” said Mr Raj Shah, Chief Marketing Officer of NComputing.

Two models

According to the company, the customer only needs to invest in keyboard, mouse and monitor, PCI card and NComputing access terminal. These terminals come in two models. “The X-series can support up to seven users and is targeted at schools and labs, but comes with a distance limitation of 33 feet from the actual PC. The cost of X-Series works out to $70 per user. The L-Series is aimed at businesses and schools, supports up to 30 users, has no distance limitation and is priced at $169 per user,” he said.

Huge market

The company which has sold 5 lakh access terminals in various countries is all set to sharpen its focus on India. “There is a huge market for such products in India including schools, e-governance projects, SMEs and retail segment. In fact, we are aiming to make India our top five markets globally by the end of next year,” he said adding that the company was in discussion with certain PC manufacturers in the country to bundle its access terminals with PCs to target orders in these three segments.

“There is a strong business case for PC vendors to tie up with us, as we offer attractive low-cost solutions for schools and education institutions. For a PC manufacturer, it would mean incremental business as they can sell more peripherals in the same contract,” he said.