AMD and Tata Indicom is launching a low-cost, rugged PC designed especially for first time technology users in developing countries. AMD’s Personal Internet Communicator will be manufactured by Solectron. It is about 8.5 inches long and 5.5 inches wide, four USB ports, VGA and modem ports and stereo headphone jacks. It runs on the AMD Geode GX processor with integrated DDR memory and has a 10 GB hard disk drive.
Microsoft has a specially developed Windows XC OS for the PIC. It will be loaded with Internet Explorer 6.0, Macromedia Media Flash player 6, Windows media players, PDF document and image viewers, and WinZip.
“The PIC is targeted at first time technology users. In India, the PIC will be offered by Tata Indicom to broadband customers as part of a bundled Internet service including all the hardware and software a consumer would need”, said Prateek Prashine, Head of marketing, VSNL.
The pricing of the PIC was not officially available but a suggested price for the PIC is $185 with a keyboard, mouse, and pre-installed software or $249 for the same with the inclusion of a 15″ CRT monitor. The PIC will enable a user to view .pdf documents, work on spreadsheets, email chat, browse and surf the net, work on a word processor, etc.
“The PIC is a step towards AMD’s initiative to provide 50% of the world’s population with internet connectivity and computing capabilities by the year 2015.” said Ajay Marathe, President, AMD India. It’s called the 50×15 initiative by AMD. “Due to lack of affordability and infrastructure the penetration of the internet has not been strong in India,” he added.
HP’s Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard and PocketPCs like the the iPAQ h6315, Qtek 9090 or Motorola MPx might also be handy for email.
Store and forward LEO satellites relay messages. The 13,000 lb Inmarsat I-4 satellite, is the world’s largest commercial satellite and will support the new Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), to deliver Internet, video on demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, phone and LAN access at speeds up to 432 kbit/s to easily-used terminals the size of laptops. BGAN is expected to become operational for land services in 2005.
In the UK, BroadBandNow! is using Proxim MP.11 with satellite backhaul to deliver 2 Mbps connectivity in a village with over 25 homes. First there was Freeview, then Freesat, now Freeband is the latest initiative to emerge from the BBC.
Proxim recently announced the addition of roaming capabilities to its Tsunami MP.11/MP.16 family, enabling wireless connectivity for trains and emergency service vehicles. Perhaps a solar-powered Access Point with integrated 802.16 backhaul ($500-$700), might feed several dozen families at low cost…at Dignity Village in Portland.
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