Slashdot Mirror

India has over 20 languages in widespread use, and just localizing Linux to these is a mammoth task.

A couple of projects which are worth mentioning:

Indlinux

and the Simputer

The basic limitation that I've seen is that most of us Indians are a bit more inward-looking, which means that a lot of open-source work in India looks to solve local problems.

I know ya'll like pictures and here are some (before the final outer design):

More recent picture
Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Use of Simputer for Spot Billing of Electricity Metering

More Case

Studies

I know ya'll like pictures and here are some (before the final outer design):

More recent picture
Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Use of Simputer for Spot Billing of Electricity Metering

More Case

Studies

The Simputer is intended as a community-shared device (hence it's smartcard), but its sad that you're mostly right. The Simputer's progress has been a bit of a disappointment so far, with only development kits available... I wish it's creators had GPL'd/LGPL'd the hardware right from the beginning (IIRC, the software is GPL'd anyway) and had gotten hardware developers the world over involved in on this... this could have done the same thing for the PDA, as Linux did for Operating systems.

Right now, the hardware seems pretty dated (the Dell Axim you mentioned runs 100Mhz faster for $50 less -- but it doesn't have the smartcard, USB, or modem of the Simputer). However, it's the Simputer's software that could be the breadwinner -- the claim is (haven't tested it myself) seamless integration of smart card access, SSL security, document annotation, voice-to-text, etc. Simputer hardware development kits are available, but are expensive. My understanding is the software should compile/work on another StrongARM platform like the IPaq/Cerfcube/Lart, maybe even the Axim!

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

Simputer Development Kits PicoPeta's Simputer Development Kits are all that you would need to develop applications for the Simputer platform. Kits have the following components, and are available in three handy packages:
Components of the Simputer Development Kits (download as PDF)
1. Simputer units (with accessories - power supply, battery, bag, user manual, cover, stylus, serial cable)(specifications)
2. SmartCards
3. PC-based Dev. Tools
SimPCync (data transfer)
Snaps (PC-side graphical display)
Malacca (IML interace)
Layout Manager for IML
Flite (Text-to-speech in English)
PicoPeta Flash Cooker (loads OS)
Package Manager
Linux Distribution (includes Perl, TCL/Tk, MySQL)
Cross Compilation Tools (C/C++ toolchain, Arm libraries)
4. Simputer-side Software
Malacca (IML interace)
MySQL for Simputer
SQLite for the StrongArm
Perl for the StrongArm
TCL/Tk for the StrongArm
FileSync
Printer driver
Dhvani (Text-to-speech engine)
Tap-a-tap (soft keyboard)
Package Manager
5. Simputer Applications
Spreadsheet
Notepad
Scientific Calculator
Image Viewer
MP3 player
Web browser
Address Book
6. Developer Documentation (code samples, how-tos, tricks & tips)
7. Technical Support for one month (email and instant messaging)
You could also download the above information as a PDF file.
Denominations
Simputer Development Kits are available in the following denominations:
Platinum: 10 Simputers, 20 SmartCards, 10 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 190,000 in India, US $4,599 overseas)
Gold: 5 Simputers, 10 SmartCards, 5 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 98,000 in India, US $2,499 overseas)
Silver: 2 Simputers, 5 SmartCards, 2 licenses for software (pricing: Rs. 49,000 in India, US $1,299 overseas)
Who should buy Simputer Development Kits?
The short answer is, "anyone interested in developing software for a cutting-edge handheld computer."
The long aswer:
Software companies whose clients require mobile computing solutions based on SmartCards, Text-to-speech, a high degree of mobility, simplicity, computing power or Linux (Technical Advantages)
Engineering Colleges and other educational institutions who want their students to learn Embedded Systems, Linux, Handheld programming, Pervasive computing, Simple-to-use interfaces and non-Engligh interfaces in a hands-on manner
Corporates who want to empower their road warriors with a full-featured mobile computer (Business Advantages)
Use the Simputer Development Kits to conduct pilot projects in your company / at your client's organiation. In a typical case, a company may use 3 Simputers for development and testing say, a Sales Force Automation Application, while deploying 7 Simputers on the field (ie, with various user groups).
How to buy Simputer Development Kits Please contact us for details of payment, terms, delivery period etc.
(2)Encore Software Ltd :
http://www.simputerland.com
http://www.ncoretech.com/simputer/index.html

REPLY TO MY MESSAGE FROM CEO of Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd :
> Hi, Thanks for all the views and anxieties expressed vis a vis the Simputer and Sharp Zaurus. I would like to give a view to the world from an Encore Simputer perspective. 1. Sharp Zaurus or indeed any other PDA approaches the market from a product perspective. Simputer is a platform and we approach the market for Encore Simputer as being a customizable platform for industry vertical applications. We will provide the Simputer in various form factors - pocket sized, larger screen, embedded device etc. 2. We offer the Simputer along with a industry/enterprise specific solution as a dedicated, total offering. Not as an off-the-shelf product. 3. We are building a common platform for all our partners to leverage each others' strengths and offer their solutions globally. For example, at our recently conducted partner meet in Singapore, our partner who has developed and is currently implementing a solution for utility meter reading in India has demonstrated the solution to the rest of the partner community in meet representing 10 other countries. This solution attracted interest for Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa and Eastern Europe markets from where the other partners that were here hail from. One of the partners from UK has a solution for Insurance agents that has attracted interest in India. The number of such possibilities is limitless. In contrast, Software developers building solutions on the Sharp and other such devices have to fight among themselves as well as with the product developer to make a market. 4. A product's destiny in the market is determined by several factors - timing, pricing, specifications/features, as well as application/implementation. We do not have a drawback on any of these aspects. There could be an overlap in some specifications with Zaurus or other such products but that is in no way a threat to the Simputer and its potential or mission. 5. Members of the community who are committed to building solutions and businesses based on the Simputer should visit http://www.simputerland.com our partner portal and consider joining our partner program.
Best regards
Ravi Desiraju
CEO, Encore Technologies(S) Pte Ltd

The real important design differences are in software. Simputer FAQ. One of the big focuses of the Simputer was the IML information markup language, which is an XMLish application designed to be really convenient for multilingual applications, which in India means multiple alphabetic systems as well (so there's an input system), people with limited literacy, support smartcard media well, etc., and they've got some multilingual text-to-speech Kaii doesn't seem to have anything like that - their language support is English, with optional European , Arabic, and East Asian language support, and the possibility of developing something for Indian languages, and they're running a bunch of non-Indian-developed application suites. (There is Unicode support, at least.) The Simputer also has a built-in softmodem capability, which makes sense for something targeted toward the village computer market, while the Kaii lets you plug in standard cards, which could be modem, memory, ether, wireless, etc.

As a guy going about to join Simputer Licensee, Picopeta, I know that the device is not aimed at just the poor. In fact, the market during the initial 2-3 years may be large companies looking for custom-built apps on powerful hand-held computers. In that sense, it may compete with iPaq et al. But finally, the hope is that the Simputer would be India's first truly world-class *product* of any type.