DataWind Inc. the maker of Aakash and Ubislate tablets, on Wednesday announced a retail partnership with UniverCell, to market the Company’s UbiSlate tablets. The Company also announced that it will provide with the purchase of its UbiSlate 7Cz and UbiSlate 3G7 tablet PCs, 12 months of free unlimited internet browsing with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL).
 
Until now, DataWind products were primarily available to the customer through ecommerce and direct to consumer channels such as TV home-shopping. The Company will now offer its entire product range of UbiSlate Tablet PCs and Pocket Surfer Smartphones available off-the-shelf at UniverCell’s more than 500
retail outlets spread across southern India.
 
Moving a step closer to its mission of bridging the digital divide for the digitally disenfranchised, DataWind continues its partnership with BSNL to provide bundled internet access on the Company’s UbiSlate tablets.
 
DataWind’s breakthrough web delivery platform, offered on the UbiSurfer browser delivers a fast web experience on even congested or rural 2.5G mobile networks. Covered by over 18 U.S. and international patents, the Company’s proprietary acceleration technology reduces bandwidth consumption by 20 times
on average for basic internet browsing, while delivering a faster and more broadly accessible internet access.
 
“We are delighted to find great strength in UniverCell as our retail partners and we view this association as a first significant step towards making our products available across the country. This relationship significantly expands our distribution by adding a significant player from the retail channel to support our tablet sales. Association with BSNL for bundled internet service to our customers is a major breakthrough. We’re happy to see that our partner in connectivity – BSNL, shares our aspiration of ubiquitous connectivity for all. With affordable technology and free internet, we are now one step closer in our quest of bridging the digital divide. This unique partnership validates our technology and belief in low cost internet connectivity sans barriers”, said Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO DataWind.
 
“Tablet has been a focus area for us. The DataWind proposition of affordable tablets bundled with data is sure to be a super hit. UniverCell is happy to partner with DataWind in making India, especially children, smarter. Backed by our expansive store network and value added services like easy payment options meant for the middle class, techspert service – where we provide post purchase set up support to the customer, we are confident of breaking all records and reaching new milestones in tablet sales”, said Sathish Babu, Founder of UniverCell Telecommunications.
 
“We’re mandated with bringing the internet to the far reaches of this country. DataWind’s technology and UniverCell’s retail reach will help bring internet penetration to the next stage. We are pleased to partner with Datawind who have created the category of ‘low cost tablets’ in India. In fact it would be our endeavor to provide internet services uninterrupted to all the users”, said RK Mishra, Chief General Manager, BSNL, Karnataka Circle.
 
He also highlighted some key elements which are central to this alliance and which will help the business interest of BSNL to expand its 3G customer base & Promote BSNL services.