Tuesday, October 14, 2008

NComputing will supply virtual desktops to 1.8 million Indian students

India street scene

Millions of children will soon be have access to virtualised desktops in India in a deal that will deal a crushing blow to the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project.

The computers will be supplied by NComputing, which managed to secure the deal over other low cost computer providers, including OLPC and Intel, that also target the developing world.

The IT firm was contracted by the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to supply 5,000 schools and their 1.8 million students with the NComputing X300 system, which enables up to seven users to share one PC at once.

The system will run on Microsoft’s Windows Server operating system and use the Microsoft Office suite.

“At about $70 per seat, our solution is the ideal platform to enable schools, businesses, and governments to maximise their PC investment,” said Stephen Dukker, NComputing chief executive.

“This computerization project shows how forward thinking governments can use proven and practical technologies like NComputing to bridge the digital divide,” added NComputing chief marketing officer, Raj Shah.

NComputing is offering the Indian government a lower cost alternative than OLPC’s laptop priced at $188 per user and Intel’s Classmate PC priced at $200.

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