In tech stores soon: PCs as cheap as iPod shuffles

New Delhi: Chipset maker Intel Thursday announced the launch of a desktop range that starts at Rs 5,000 (around $125) — a move that could trigger a major computing revolution in the country.

"We recognise there is an urgent need for industry and government to collaborate to enable people to connect to the Internet," said R Sivakumar, Intel's South Asia's managing director of sales and marketing group.

"The Internet is capable of transforming lives and the future of our country. Through the 'Connected Indians' movement, we hope to achieve precisely that," he added.

Intel India Thursday launched the 'Connected Indians' movement, which aims at providing to users cheap machines dubbed as nettops and netbooks.

Collaborating with Intel are industry partners such as original equipment manufacturers and Internet service providers, as well as the government.

Less than a decade ago, personal computers came attached with a price tag of more than Rs 50,000, and the average person could at best own an 'assembled' desktop at anything between Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000.

Based on Intel's Atom processor - the chipmaker's lowest priced processor launched earlier this year - OEMs such as Acer, HCL, Zenith, Intex, Lenovo, Wipro and Novatium, showcased various designs at the event.

"The 'Connected Indians' movement will bring with it rapid broadband deployment and help harness the powers of Internet to accelerate inclusive social and economic change," Communications and Information Technology Minister A Raja said during the announcement of the initiative.

The launch of the low-cost connectivity initiative marked the coming together of Intel, the various OEMs and the government, as well as other stakeholders such as talent developer NIIT, telecom operators such as Tata Teleservices, Tata Communication and Reliance Communications, and industry lobbies CII, Assocham and WiMax Forum.

Intel also signed an agreement with state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd to jointly popularise broadband Internet and wireless broadband technology WiMAX.