Screen grab from CNN IBN
Pepper.pk, which is the mobile applications subsidiary of Pakistani technology company Five Rivers, said it would begin porting a relevant subset of their over 150 applications to the new platform.
In a video statement uploaded on Youtube, Mahe Zehra Husain, Co-Founder of Pepper.pk congratulated their “friends in India”, and said that their decision to add further value to Aakash was an effort on their part to enhance “friendship and cooperation in South Asia”. The company has developed three World #1 titles, including the four-time AppWorld #1 app, Photo Editor.
Watch video:
The Aakash tablet was formally launched on 5 October although it is not yet freely available on the retail market. According to the official Aakash website, it will first be distributed to students through universities in about two months. A retail version with faster, better performing specs is also expected to be released soon.
The specifications of Aakash are as follows:
Screen – 7” resistive
Operating System – Android 2.2
Processor – 366 MHz in addition to Graphics Accelerator and HD Video Co-processor
Storage – 2GB Flash Memory with 2GB Micro SD card which is expandable up to 32GB
Memory -256 MB RAM
Network – Wi-Fi Enabled
Connectivity – 2 USB ports
Battery – 2100mAh
Web Browser – DataWind Accelerated Browser
Modem – Inbuilt cellular and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
Watch an introduction of the tablet:
A pilot run of 100 000 units will be given to students for free, with the first 500 handed out at the launch to a mixed response. There has also been some doubt cast on the real life practicality of Aakash for students.
Watch a review of the tablet: