Computer chip manufacturer Intel, which has been working hard to promote devices based on its chipsets, is all set to launch its first Android-based tablet with an eye for the education market.

While a number of low-cost device makers such as Datawind and HCL Infosystems have already launched tablets for this segment, Intel wants to bring in devices that are more robust and with relevant content.

“We are on the verge of launching our first Android-based tablet and we are planning to do it for education specifically,” Gregory M. Bryant, Vice-President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, Intel told Business Line .

“Intel is very capable of producing a cost-effective tablet for education. I would not pre-announce the details, but we are very close to it. I don’t think the price is the only consideration, you also have to worry about quality of the device. We do not want the device to break when a kid drops it at the first time. There are engineers in India who are capable of developing contents and software at affordable cost and we are working with them,” he added.

Price concerns

Intel had placed huge bets on the ultrabooks segment but initial uptake has been lower than expectation. Gregory said that overtime, the market will pick up, especially with prices coming down in the near future. “Overall, we are making steady progress quarter-on-quarter. Earlier, people were worried about prices, but as any new technology when it comes out, they tend to start in high-end (price), then as economics and sales kick in, the costs come down. We have been working with ecosystem partners to drive down the cost and we can see it has come down to around Rs 45,000 now,” he said.

There are over 40 ultrabooks designs based on Intel chipsets with more than dozen are convertibles and hybrid (between ultrabook and tablet), he said.

>ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in

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