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Low-Cost Simputer Fails to Win Indians' Interest
prostoalex writes "The Associated Press looks at the Indian low-cost Simputer project and registers it as a failure. Picopeta sold 2,000 units over the past year, while Encore Software sold 2,000 Simputers. Only 10% of the devices were bought for rural areas, which the device was originally designed for. The reason? The companies need to sell quite a few simplistic monochrome devices to allow for the low price tag of $200. Meanwhile, anyone can buy a powerful device with a color screen for $199 from a major vendor."
I had blogged about Amida approximately a year back. The conclusion: serious marketing and pricing issues.
More than mere navel gazing.
There are several reasons, IMO, that simputer failed, or things like it will continue to fail. 1. lack of awareness: Something like 99% of the country hasn't heard of what a simputer is, and some 70% of the country doesn't know what a computer is either or what it is used for. You introduce a cell phone to a man who doesn't know what a landline is, or what a phone is, for that matter and you will realize. 2. Lack of government support: Never heard of any state govt using state owned media to propegate the use of computer. 3. Industry backing (lack thereof). No industry, to my knowledge ever backed simputer. 4. Electricity. However small, simputer will still need power to work. The place where I was born and raised has power 3 hours in the morning and 4 in the evening during which people are busy trying to make as much use of power as they can, like to heat water, watch TV/listen to radio. Not that simputer is dead. The product might be, but I get a feeling that the idea will continue to remain alive.