Why is the PC penetration so low in India? Do people really need PC or a device that brings TV like family viewing and a PC like interactive content (from web)?
HP India has unveiled DreamScreen, a tabletop product “developed in India, for India” designed to enhance education, deliver news and entertainment, link families, enrich spiritual life and provide access to the web via a touch interface.
The touch-based device will offer content through the Internet like education, video chat, e-mail, movies, news etc and has developed partnerships with the leading regional content and service providers.
“HP DreamScreen comes with complete Entertainment package which includes Music, Bollywood Movies, Bollywood TV and Games. It also addresses the Lifestyle and Education needs of the users and offers Live Darshan, Education, News, Daily Astrology, web browser and an e-book on Weddings. The result: children, parents and grandparents benefit together on a single platform. Families can connect with anyone on the web by just dialing a number through video calling capabilities, watch Bollywood movies on the device or on a DVD/ VCD, listen to Bollywood and spiritual songs, play games, book train and air tickets and do a lot more. Children can access rich, interactive multi-media content that mirrors the curriculum followed in their schools.
On the content side, a tap on the screen brings up school curricula, streaming video from temples, Bollywood movies and music and local news. On the services side, we realized that Indians spend hours waiting to do things like pay a bill or purchase a train ticket. Video calls can be initiated by tapping an onscreen number keypad or touching a photo. Real-time religious services are brought into the home from webcams stationed in faraway temples, bringing spiritual satisfaction to the comfort of the home. And we made it easy for bi-lingual families to toggle between English and Hindi. ”
The company has partnered with operators (Airtel and Tata Teleservices) for providing Internet connectivity. Other partnerships include Apalya for Darshan, Bill Desk for paying bills online, Edurite for education, Hungama for music and movies, India Games for thrilling games, India Today for media content, Music Today for Music, NDTV for news and Daily Astrology, Tata Communications for Live Darshan and Yatra for booking Air and Train travel.
The price of Dreamscreen in India is Rs. 19,999 (plus taxes) – the device has 18.5-inch diagonal touchscreen display, a DVD optical drive and is expected to be available in India from November 25th at approximately 700 outlets across 60 cities in the country.
[From Gadget site, Gadgethon]
