DataWind enters retail platform; ties up with UniverCell

DataWind, the makers of cheapest android tablet Aakash, has joined hands with electronics retail player UniverCell, to market its UbiSlate tablets, with this the company will be rolling out its products through retail platform for the first time.

The company has also tied up with PSU telecom firm BSNL to provide 12 months of free unlimited internet browsing on BSNL network on the purchase of UbiSlate 7Cz and UbiSlate 3G7 tablet PCs.

Until now, DataWind products were primarily available to the customer through ecommerce websites and direct to consumer channels such as TV home-shopping.

The company will now offer its entire product range of UbiSlate Tablet PCs and PocketSurfer smartphones available off-the-shelf at UniverCell’s more than 500 retail outlets spread across southern India.

Covered by over 18 US and international patents, Datawind’s proprietary acceleration technology reduces bandwidth consumption by 20 times on an average for basic internet browsing, while delivering a faster and more broadly accessible internet access.

Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO, DataWind, said, “This relationship with UniverCell 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.”

“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,” Sathish Babu, founder of UniverCell Telecommunications said.

R K Mishra, chief general manager, BSNL, Karnataka circle, said, “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 he category of ‘low cost tablets’ in India. In fact it would be our endeavor to provide internet services uninterrupted to all the users.”