Tablets that support 23 Indian languages launched

Wishtel, a Mumbai-based company, last week launched two tablet PCs, Ira and Ira Thing, which support 23 Indian languages.

The seven-inch portable devices run on Taiwanese chipmaker VIA Technology's 800 MHz processor and operate on the Google Android ecosystem. While Ira sports a TFT LCD resistive touch screen, 256 MB RAM and 2GB of storage, the top-of-line Ira Thing features a

capacitive touch screen, 215 MB RAM with 4 GB of storage. They are priced at Rs. 4,000 and Rs.5,500 respectively.

Wishtel CEO Milind Shah told The Hindu that the company engineers had included in the Linux kernel of the gadget the Indian language packs available for the ecosystem. Users will not only be able to see the menu option in their regional language, they will also be able to type and view regional language content. Native Apps also includes an eBook reader that will allow users to read content in Hindi and other languages.

Wishtel plans to sell its tablets through its nationwide network of 350 distributors. First preference will be given to educational institutions. The company is running trials on a proprietary content delivery network, through which it hopes to deliver educational content, including digital textbooks and multimedia.

The low-price tablet segment is booming in India ever since the Union government announced ‘Aakash Tablet' in October 2011. Ira was designed as per the specifications of the Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan, as part of the low-cost computing devices project under the National Mission of Education through the ICT and sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resources. They are made in factories in Maharashtra and Gujarat.