The next model of low-cost tablet under Aakash project will possess calling facility and high speed 4G services support, as per specifications released by government.
The specifications released by government suggest it will have "Driver for Phone Functionality with external dongle" and support "Data functionality with external 2G or 3G or 4G dongle".
The Aakash project was Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's brainchild when he was the HRD Minister. The idea is to provide low-cost computing device at subsidised rate to students so that they can access Internet for educational purposes.
The first version of the tablet was launched on October 5, 2011. The tablet PC then launched had basic feature and costed government around Rs 2,276. Government later upgraded the tablet with some advance features at the same price.
The latest version will have multiple new features but the final price of the tablet has not been disclosed. The new version of the tablet will have Bluetooth in-built which was missing in the previous versions.
Sen said that the scheme is valid for users of other branded Smartphones but the discount in that case will be on the discretion of retailer.
"Our retailers will estimate the resale value of the phone brought for exchange and accordingly offer discount," Sen said.
The scheme is available across 1,400 outlets in 17 cities including four metros, National Capital Region, Lucknow, Bangalore, Baroda and Chandigarh.
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