Aakash, the cheapest tablet in the world was probably one of the most spectacular subjects that came up at the seventh edition of the India Semiconductor Association (ISA) Vision Summit that took place last week in Bangalore. The Aakash tablet computer developed and manufactured in India is an Android 2.2 tablet with an estimated public retail price of around $50. Universities however may buy it for only $35 so they can give it for free to their students. According to the Minister for HRD, Communications & IT, Shri Kapil Sibal, the low price of the tablet is possible because the Indian government subsidizes part of its costs. The first version of the tablet was released last October; an improved version 2 is expected next April.

 

During the two day summit, the largest since its inception in 2006, more than 500 industry and government leaders gathered to discuss sector opportunities, market trends and policy directives. The Indian electronics market is expected to become a $400 billion electronics market by 2020, meaning opportunities Bangalore.

 

 

Elektor India was there too, as we partnered the event. Since then it is rumored that Minister Shri Kapil Sibal had to give up his free copy of Elektor to Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the president of India, because she wanted to do the Hexadoku…