Datawind -- a Tablet for the Masses: Cases C to H

Datawind -- A Tablet for the Masses: Cases C to H 1  (C) Launch Challenges (2011/10- 2012/4)  (D) Announcing Generation II (2012/04-05)  (E) Back Into the Market (2012/05-06)  (F) Reaction to Ubislate 7+ (2012/06-08)  (G) Ubislate Upgrades & the Aakash 2 (2012/09-2013/01)  (H) Gaining Scale in India, Launch in Canada (2013)

1 Updated: January 20, 2014

Datawind -- A Tablet for the Masses ($70-100), to include low cost Internet service. Engineers at IIT Rajasthan were working on the design of a new (C): Launch Challenges tablet that would resist falls and work in the high- humidity monsoon season. In April, two states announced that they would purchase X-O laptops from OLPC for about $230 each, rather than pursue the cheaper Aakash. The HRD, meanwhile, announced plans to invite tenders for an Aakash 2 upgrade, targeting the same price of Rs. 2,276, with the initial goal of announcing a winner for a 5 million unit contract in April 2012. In addition to Datawind, potential bidders included HCL, Bharat Heavy Electricals, and Wishtel. The HRD announced that IIT- Photo: Ubislate7.org Mumbai and the Centre for Development of Advanced Following the initial excitement, concerns about the Computing and Indian Telephone Industries public Aakash set in rapidly (Exhibits C1 and C2). Reviews service agencies would manage procurement of the new following the October 2011 launch highlighted the device, in place of IIT-Rajasthan. At the same time, the excitement and pride in developing the tablet for India. HRD reportedly was irritated that Datawind was offering Many of the same reviews, though, identified limits of the the first generation of the tablet in the open market before tablet. Concerns about design included non- completing its deliveries to the Ministry. responsiveness of the resistive screen, the fact that the By February, Datawind reported more than two million student version included only Wi-Fi for internet access, pre-orders for UbiSlate7, the commercial tablet. However, few file formats, lack of access to the Android the company also announced a delivery delay until May, Marketplace for apps [Google charges for access to the when it planned to release a version with superior touch Marketplace], and short battery life. Quality issues screen and 3G capability (Exhibits C5 and C6). The included over-heating, sub-standard assembly, and low company’s overall corporate financial situation, quality components. One review concluded that “cheap meanwhile, was challenging (Exhibit C7). and cheerful don’t necessarily add up to a good system.” On April 13, Datawind severed connection with Quad, Formal tests of the tablet identified issues. After initially further delaying the assembly of UbiSlate 7. The two highlighting its role in the Aakash project, including firms offered competing explanations for the break-up: leadership of the initial design, IIT Rajasthan rejected the Quad stated that Datawind owed it $1.12 million, while first lots of Datawind’s tablets, reporting slow the Canadian company alleged that its former partner performance, screen problems, and reliability issues. infringed its intellectual property rights by trying to sell The issues soon became public. In late February 2012, the directly to IIT Rajasthan. IIT-R, meanwhile, claimed HRD reported that fewer than 600 Aakash tablets had damages of about $500,000. been distributed, mainly on the launch day, owing to the Datawind had good news to report globally. In February, technical issues, although Datawind reported that it had the company displayed an updated Aakash tablet at the delivered nearly 10,000 units to IIT-R. The Minister of CAN Info-tech 2012 technology exhibition in Nepal, HRD, Kapil Sibal, meanwhile, faced strong criticism from receiving substantial interest and 20,000 pre-bookings for the Indian press for his support of Datawind. the Ubislate 7 at a price R750 higher than in India. The Observers offered competing explanations for negative company reported buyers in Nepal faced a two month reactions. Some believed that consumers and testers, even wait for the tablet but that “customers seem to be in no in the low-price market, expected high-end Apple iPads. hurry”. In March, Datawind announced a $10 million Others focused on what they viewed as fundamental contract with Movicel, a telecom operator in Angola, to design and production flaws, together with limits in develop 100,000 3G tablets to be delivered in two Datawind’s customer service. Datawind posted a video on months. The contract included plans for an upgraded the HRD website showing that the Aakash worked after device later in 2012, to run on a 4G network that the being dropped (http://media.sakshat.ac.in/aakashdroptest/), but Chinese firm Huawei was installing in Angola. Suneet nonetheless noted flaws while pointing to issues with IIT- Singh Tuli and Movicel's CEO Yon Junior signed the deal R and with Quad (Exhibits C3 and C4). during a meeting of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "The deal was struck in one meeting. I had a look at Competition quickly emerged. Reliance – India’s largest Aakash, asked my technical team members to examine it private enterprise – launched a 13,000 ($250) tablet in and the next moment we were signing the contract," March, running on its proprietary telecom network, and Junior told Indian Express on March 1. Junior said that announced plans for a 4G tablet priced about 3500–5000 the tablets will be customised according to local needs.

Discussion questions (C): Consider the launch Exhibit C2. User Reactions challenges from the perspective of your role as VP of Global Strategy. 2a. I Have Got Aakash Tablet (excerpt)  Within India, how would you respond to concerns http://www.aakashtablets.in/resources/2767-I-Have-Got-Aakash-Tablet.aspx about start up issues from the multiple stakeholders involved in this case, including consumers, product 16 Jan., 2012 (Hardeep Singh): review sites, the Minister of HRD, engineers at IIT- Finally I have got Aakash tablet Rajasthan, and Quad Electronics? If you redesign the (R 2500) [from ncarry.com]. tablet, what will be your priorities for revised After payment [Jan. 7] I got the features? tablet within 8 days through  What are the implications of the challenges for your Aramex courier. strategy outside India? The tablet is as expected as I read many articles about it on different websites. It has merits and limitations. Merits Exhibit C1. Pride and Concern  Good for students residing in urban area having Wi- http://techbits.co.in/forum/index.php?tid=6467&title=Aakash:_A_Histor Fi connectivity. It is of less use in villages of India ical_Mistake%3F_%5BMUST_READ%5D due to lack of Wi-Fi connectivity. December 19, 2011, Techbits.co.in: This article is for  Good for students as all office documents are those who are ready to buy Aakash tablet … but before supported by it. You can read and edit all your that just look at here => India created history by essential documents on the go. launching the world’s cheapest tablet, Aakash. It almost looked like we had conquered the world… till the reality  It is light weight, easy to handle. came to light …  It comes with a 2GB micro sd card and a charger.

What it calls a resistive touch-screen is an interface that is  Many media files are supported. quite unresponsive, and not user friendly. The student  Low visible cost only Rs. 2500/- edition of the device supports only Wi-Fi. A problem encountered while operating the device is that it heats up It has got certain limits also; as you don't pay much for it really quickly, even in an air-conditioned room. This can you must endure them. be attributed to the poor design and cheap components  A main thing that is missed is support to regional used in the device. The Aakash tablet reads pen drives, languages. A Punjabi person is unable to edit the but the natively supported file formats are pretty limited. documents in Punjabi language and so on. Reviews mention that the device is incapable of playing  Battery lasts for 2hrs. It ends up all of a sudden. common formats like AVI and FLV on the stock player, so you'll need a video converter. Users cannot install apps  Processing is moderate. If u are using touch screen from the Android Marketplace, which is a big drawback. first time it doesn't matter but otherwise you will be The battery life of the device (just 3 hours, tired of scratching the screen. approximately) is really poor.  It doesn't have camera. U have to pay extra for it. The internals of the device are even more disturbing. The  It doesn't have speaker … also a hidden cost. troublesome part is the way the components are put  It doesn't have microphone. together. The components and wires within the tablet are  Android platform has many software that have no use held in place by simple electrical tape. The quality of in the tab. It seems operating system of something wires used appears to be cheap. Aakash clearly else is inserted - many functions are useless. underlines the fact that “cheap and cheerful” don’t necessarily add up to a good system.  Above all problem is that you are unable to contact I Have Got Aakash Tablet (User's review) customer care. If you have a problem you may call http://www.aakashtablets.in/resources/2767-I-Have-Got- the customer care numbers that remains always busy. Aakash-Tablet.aspx There is little chance of solution.

Overall I think it is a fair deal to have this tablet because price is low. But the time will tell its durability. Remember one thing "Aakash is not only a product it is also an effort in field of technology so we should appreciate it".

2b. User Complaint & Datawind Response Exhibit C3. IIT Rajasthan Caused Failure of www.consumercomplaints.in/complaints/datawind-aakash- Aakash I: Datawind tablet-bikaner-bikaner-rajasthan-c698178.html http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/IIT- A. “Not work” (January 28, 2012) Rajasthan-caused-failure-of-Aakash-I- Datawind/articleshow/12540744.cms I purchase Aakash tablet from narry.com to pay Rs. 2700 at 16th Jan. … it,s touch is so poor, no sound, no any kind April 5, 2012, Times of India - New Delhi, by Javed of vedio playback possible, very slow prosses, heatup Anwer: Six months after ministry of HRD formally very fast within one hour, no usb connectivity possible, launched Aakash tablet, barely a few hundred units have whithin a day SD Card Slot outof work, … at 23rd (6th reached the hands of students. The manufacturing of the day from purchase) set is fully out of service. only device has been stopped and now the ministry and 'ANDROID' screen apair & all out, after all swtch-off by Datawind, the manufacturer of the tablet, are focusing on reset button … contract to company by Toll-Free No. its Aakash 2, an upgraded version of the tablet. only froud, no contrac possible, by email friest no Datawind concedes Aakash tablet, which is supposed to response but now no receive mail … All is froud & digitize the way students study in India, has not been a chitting with poority … kindly help me to save my hard success in its first version. But it squarely blames IIT earned money & how can i replace it … S.K. Jain Rajasthan, the nodal agency overlooking the project, for B. Datawind response (March 1, 2012) the fiasco, saying the concerns over the tablet's quality and functionality were overblown by the institute in a bid Dear S K Jain, to "favour other firms". If you are still facing any problem, For issues with usage Datawind's CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli, told TOI that after of the device please call our Technical Support Helpline winning the bid to manufacture Aakash tablet with a cost at 01832580177 or 01832581330, 9:00am – 9:00pm IST. of $49.98 for each unit, the company had supplied 10,000 Our trained technical staff will help troubleshoot and tablets to IIT Rajasthan. The units were part of an initial address any issues and if required, the device will be order of 100,000 tablets. As soon as few hundred tablets replaced with a new one. reached students as part of pilot project, IIT Rajasthan If these numbers are not reachable please be patient and started rejecting Aakash tablet, allegedly after reports that try again as the customer service number is experiencing the device was failing during pilot testing and did not a very heavy call volume. We apologize for the meet the quality criteria set by the institute. inconvenience caused. We are working hard to increase Tuli, however, disagrees. "IIT Rajasthan was simply our capacity to handle this call volume. You can also trying to defame us by saying that we could not meet the reach us via email at [email protected] and we quality required by it," he says. "When we were awarded will contact you. the contract, there was only a specification sheet. But Thanks, Team Datawind when we started supplying the tablets, IIT Rajasthan started rejecting the tablet based on biased and unscientific testing methodology. " "IIT Rajasthan put up roadblocks. It jeopardized the whole project. I can say the dirty tricks by the institute put us around six months behind on the project ... they did it because they were favouring other firms... Even now, the institute is trying to sabotage the project," he adds. There are reports that IIT-R has been issued a show cause notice by MHRD last month over the Aakash failure . The notice asks institute to explain why it did not set up a tablet testing facility and procedure in time and why it failed to resolve its dispute with Datawind. Incidentally, the institute also worked with Wishtel, a company that launched low cost tablet called Ira last week. TOI tried contacting Prem K Kalra, director of IIT Rajasthan, over the email and phone but he wasn't available. Datawind says that after the fiasco, it had to take back the tablets supplied to IIT Rajasthan. "We have not been paid for a single one of them. But mission is more important to

us... we believe in Aakash project," says Tuli. Datawind said that the company has paid Quad Electronics for all units delivered to Datawind, except for The company is now working on Aakash 2, an updated the 600 units that remain unpaid by IIT-Rajasthan. version of the original tablet. It will have a capacitive "Datawind's counter claim against Quad exceeds any screen instead of resistive and hence support multi-touch. amount due to them. There is no further payment due to It will also have a better processor - based on Cortex A8. Quad, contrary to their allegations," Tuli said. It was "We are working with IIT Mumbai for Aakash 2 [IIT reported that a Quad executive had alleged that payment Mumbai/Bombay has replaced IIT Rajasthan as the is due and it has served legal notice to Datawind. HRD’s agent for the project] and will start supplying the Tuli said that it is working on the second generation of the tablet to government this month. Our original order for Aakash tablet and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal has 100,000 units has been transferred for Aakash 2 now. announced in Parliament that DataWind will be supplying After the order of 100,000 units is met, MHRD will invite 1 lakh [100,000] Aakash tablets through IIT-Bombay. bids for more tablets. We will bid again," says Tuli. "In response to concern about tardy customer response. Kapil Sibal, minister of human resources and Datawind would like to state that their toll-free number is development, said that Aakash 2 will be available in May. working - but since it receives almost 40,000 calls per Datawind also sells a commercial version of Aakash day, there is often a logjam resulting in incomplete calls," tablet called Ubislate. Tuli claims the firm has received he said. over 3 million prebookings for Ubislate. Tuli added that any person that has made a deposit is responded to within 48 hours of receipt of payment and is Exhibit C4. Datawind Alleges Quad Violated provided a specific e-mail address and specific phone number to call for queries, instead of the toll-free number. Agreement, Serves Notice http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04- Raminder Singh Soin, Managing Director, Quad 15/news/31345289_1_ceo-suneet-singh-tuli-datawind-iit-rajasthan Electronics (photo: The Hindu, October 8, 2011) April 5, 2012, The Economic Times: Datawind, the maker of the world's cheapest tablet Aakash, today said it owns the copyright of the tablet and alleged that contract manufacturer Quad Electronics was violating its right by signing a direct agreement with IIT-Rajasthan for development of the device. "Datawind's team internally developed Aakash and sub- contracted the assembly of Aakash Tablet to Quad Electronics based on its own design. Therefore, the Intellectual Property Rights of the tablet belong to Datawind," Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said in a statement today. He claimed that Quad had signed a non-disclosure agreement and a manufacturing services agreement confirming this. "Quad Electronics breached Datawind's intellectual property, circumvented their relationship with IIT-Rajasthan, signed a direct MoU with them for development of next generation device and then sold off their inventory in the open market," Tuli said. Quad Electronics and IIT-Rajasthan did not respond to emails sent for comments. [Quad’s managing director later said that his firm was building a smart communications device in partnership IIT-R, not a competing low-cost tablet.] Tuli said that Datawind has sent a notice to company and will approach the court against violation of agreement by Quad Electronics. "We have served notice, and will file in court if it cannot be resolved," he said.

Exhibit C5. Datawind Requests Patience Exhibit C6. Link from Datawind Site to News Following Launch Story & Consumer Comments http://www.ubislate.com/mediareviews.html Datawind India web site, April through early May, http://www.ubislate.com/ SMARTPHONE, TABLET & WEB DEVICE 6a. Baap [father] of The UbiSlate7+ is an Android 2.3 touch screen tablet that has a HD video co-processor for a high-quality All Tablets multimedia experience and core graphics accelerator for http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabl faster application support. This tablet is the only Android oid/hyderabad/baap-all-tablets-593 device in the market to offer DataWind's UbiSurfer browser, based on 18 international patents. The UbiSurfer browser accelerates web pages by factors of 10x to 30x, allowing for a web experience who's speed is Dec. 27, 2011, Deccan Chronicle: After having their fill unrivalled. Internet access is available everywhere on a with iPhones and iPads, city technophiles are now looking GPRS network at Rs.98/mo. for 2GB forward to the UbiSlate. The notebook-cum-mobile phone The device includes WiFi & GPRS connectivity has been termed as “the dream tablet” and is an upgraded allowing anytime & anywhere internet access and phone functionality. Optional 3G modems are also supported version of the Central government’s Aakash. Even before via USB. In addition to a micro-SD card slot, a full-sized hitting the markets, UbiSlate has seen record pre- USB port is integrated into the unit allowing pen-drives, bookings and with a price tag of Rs 2999 (a 16GB iPad external keyboards, web-cams, dongles and other inexpensive peripherals to be attached. 3G costs roughly Rs 37,000), making it ideal for students and young professionals. “I planned to buy the Aakash Specification UbiSlate 7+ tablet but realised that it had already been sold out and the Mar/12: Sold Out company had the upgraded version available. I booked Availability Apr/12: Sold Out two UbiSlate tablets. It has all the features of the iPad or May/12: Book Now [link: order form] any of the smart phone available in the market and since the price is very affordable, it is bound to be sold out in Device: Rs.2,999 (Optional Internet: Price no time,” says Vishal Jain, an employee at a bank. Rs.98/mo.) While Aakash has already been declared as sold out by Processor Cortex A8 - 800 Mhz Datawind, an important attraction for buyers is that Battery 3200 mAh Internet will be available at Rs 99 for 2 GB. The touchscreen android tablet offers WiFi connectivity and support OS Android 2.3 for optional 3G modems while integrated USB ports Network WiFi & GPRS (SIM & Phone functionality) allow pen-drives, external keyboards, web-cams, dongles and other peripherals to be attached. “I have booked the Patience Requested UbiSlate tablet after seeing the features offered for such a Dear Friends: Please allow me this opportunity to nominal price. A large number of my friends too have thank you personally for the encouragement and booked it, some for their family members and some for generous support you've been showing for the past themselves. It’s like a dream deal no one wants to miss,” many months. Along with you, we're very excited by says techie Anjali T. this journey on which we've embarked to bridge the digital divide, by delivering low-cost computing and 6b. Comments After Deccan Chronicle Story internet devices at breakthrough prices. (linked from “Media Reviews” on Ubislate site)  24 Jan [adnan]: yes it is very nice but how to buy it? The response has been overwhelming. With tens of  26 January [Nitin]: Hello, i am waiting for Akash thousands of calls daily to our call-centre, we are tablet 2nd version, and thanks the company owner. unable to adequately respond to all the queries we  30 January [Ramakant]: I am waiting to get it. are receiving. As we work with extreme urgency to  31 Jan [naveen]: i want this tablet, i booked it but i build-up our response capacity, if you have difficulty will nt get it, i really want dis, plz give it to me as in getting through to our toll-free number, please fill- much as possible, this is the awsmst tab in the world in the query forms on this website or Email us at  31 January [tarika jotsinghani]: is the battery good? [email protected], and we will revert back to  2 Feb [Abhilash]: I like this tablet because this is a you at the earliest. mini computer at a very affordable price Thank you for your continued patience. o Reply 9 February [Rahul]: Yeah me too  2 February [usama]: i want this tablet soon With best regards,  2 February [nisarg]: sir what is a status of tablet i had Suneet Singh Tuli, President & CEO, DataWind Ltd. allready book it but some pepole says tablet is close in market so my tablet is deliverd me ya not?

 3 February [Tanmay]: I have booked the 'Ubislate' form Aakash tablet. I think that's have been amazing. I just loved it at first to see Exhibit C7. December 31, 2011 Financials o Reply 10 April [Aman Singhal] Hey tablet is very cool I have recd it and I am using it it is sexy and fun loving.. I got it for 2499 plus Datawind UK PLC (£000) 31/12/2011 31/12/2010 199 handling charges Profit & Loss  9 February [Rahul]: I have booked the 'Ubislate' form Aakash tablet. I think that's have been amazing. I just Revenue 872 2,255 loved it at first to see Gross profit 207 379  11 February [Prathamesh]: whare in coming in akash tablete so i wait for akash tablete so give me to Wages 757 628 answer akash coming and no Payments to directors 343 146  11 February [Vijay]: When is the tablet going to be Operating Profit -3,796 -2,580 delivered for my booking.  16 March [Arold]: i have booked a aakash tablet, in Depreciation 3 3 the month of December, 2011 and at that time it was Interest Payments 193 119 said that the tablet will be delivered within 1 week of Net profit -3,989 -2,699 order on payment on delivery, but when the delivery was delayed i have emailed the aakash support team Balance Sheet and they replied saying that if an advance payment Tangible fixed assets 2 5 will be done the tablet will be delivered in the 1st week of march, believing this i sent a cheque of 2999 Intangible Assets 415 948 which was cleared in feb, 2012, even after a month Total Fixed Assets 417 953 the tablet is not delivered to me and neither are they Total Current Assets 2,052 3,417 replying to the emails nor is the customer care no ever working whenever tried. i am now in a delima if Accts payable 593 794 all the hype about aakash is really true or are the Short term finance 0 1,957 public being fooled in a really big scam. request the concerned authorities to look into the matter. Other current owing 642 753  24 March [Kafeel]: whare in coming tablete so i wait Total liabilities 1,235 3,504 for tablete so give me to answer akash coming and no Capital & Reserves  26 March [Ifran crony]: i am a new 2 nd year inter student from santosh nagar, hyderabad ..... i want to Called Up Share Capital 123 100 buy this upgraded aakash tablet .!!!! how can i buy P & L Account Reserve -12,246 -8,257 this ..plzz i love it and i want to know how i could buy ???? plzz frndzz give some answers ..!! Other reserves * 13,357 9,023  28 March [Laxmi]: im booked my tab on dec 18 .... Shareholder Funds 1,234 866 and await the respond but nothing till date....so sad Net Worth 819 -82  28 March [parth]: I got my tablet on the date 1-4-12 to 7-4-12 i m bery exiting to hold my UBISLATE tab * Datawind drew on its investors to provide additional  31 March [Biswajit]: i booked a aakash tab on funds to cover the continuing negative cash flow. january 2012. no till date to get this tab so sad fo this.  10 April [sanjay]: This is a bull shit. The company datawind is making a mockery of all those who have booked this tablet. I also booked one in nov. 2011 but not yet recieved. Suggest every one not to go by the price, if there is a necessity of buying a tablet buy any one available in the market, don't believe in this cheater firm who is making fool of all Indians.  11 April [Amarjeet]: Hi i have new tablet but it is very slow and touch screen also not good it was also going to hanged after hanged it is not going to reboot also what can i do with that?

Hyderabad were proud about the local production, although many people who had followed the problems questioned whether it was possible to design and build a viable device at Datawind’s price point. Datawind -- A Tablet At the same time, disputes continued between Datawind for the Masses (D): and its partners. Datawind and its former producer, Quad, Announcing were pursuing countersuits. Quad was suing for payments Generation II that it claimed were owing, stating that Datawind had paid for 1500 tablets rather than the contracted 50,000 for which Quad had purchased inventory. Datawind stated Datawind responded actively to the challenges. In the face that Quad had been paid for all tablets produced other of the negative media and consumer reactions in late 2011 than 600 that IIT-R had retained. Datawind also claimed and early 2012, together with the difficulties with the that Quad sold off its inventory in the open market. production partner and the testing at IIT-R, the company halted the launch of the first generation of the Aakash and On May 6, meanwhile, the Sunday Guardian reported the commercial tablets. The company worked instead to IIT-R had stated that Datawind had tried to “defraud” the upgrade the devices, while seeking a new assembler. HRD by charging for tablets that failed tests and were withdrawn from IIT-R, but then sold these in the open On April 26, Datawind announced two versions of the market. Datawind countered that their bills had been upgraded tablet, the Ubislate 7+ and Ubislate 7C, priced presented against deliveries received by IIT-R – and that at Rs 2,999 [$60] and Rs 3,999 [$80], with two levels of they had not been paid for devices delivered. However, memory and different touch screens. The devices would the company did not plan to pursue a legal battle with IIT- be assembled by VMC Systems in Hyderabad (Exhibits R and the government. The Sunday Guardian article also D1 and D2). Both versions would be offered to the surfaced issues concerning the testing, reporting that IIT- consumer market. The company intended that a basic R wanted to reject entire lots of devices if they contained version of the tablet would fill the HRD contract for the 5% or more defective pieces, while Datawind contended first 100,000 Aakash tablets, in place of the version that if more than 5% of devices are defective, each device launched in October. IIT-Mumbai would be responsible should be tested and all the good devices accepted. for testing the devices for the HRD, in place of IIT-R. The HRD, meanwhile, stated that the responsibility for the In another conflict, DataWind filed a defamation suit project lay with IIT-Mumbai, rather than the Ministry. against the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) for allegedly issuing statements that damaged the company’s Datawind expected to begin delivery of the new tablets in commercial interests. The ICA had written to the HRD May, planning to catch up to the backlog of orders ministry saying that companies such as Samsung and quickly. Earlier, the company had reported about 3 Nokia were better choices for the Aakash project. The million pre-bookings, some of which with pre-payments president of the ICA said that the association had simply for the tablets. A report on LiveMint.com on April 21 advised the government about what it believed to be “best quoted Suneet Singh Tuli stating that the company was interests of the country and its visionary Aakash project”. receiving 8,000-10,000 bookings every day, as well as receiving corporate and institutional bulk expressions of Meanwhile, the overall tablet market in India was interest for about 4 million tablets. growing rapidly (Exhibit D5). Several competitors had new tablets in the pipeline, at multiple price points and Datawind planned to offer multiple complements to the specifications. Indeed, in early 2012, the mobile telecom core device. It expected partnerships with content partners operator, BSNL, announced a tablet with a similar price such as Indian Express, InMobi, Poketalk, and Yahoo to the Aakash, but then experienced similar delays in India, as well as the Getjar platform for apps, Reverie delivering the product. In May, tablet maker Kobian Language Technologies for local languages, and Aircel announced the iXA tab with a resistive screen, priced at for data plans. Datawind planned several accessories, Rs 3,999, targeted at students. The HRD Ministry, promising low prices, including an Aircel 3G internet meanwhile, was reported to be discussing the Aakash access dongle, screen protector and cover, silicon bumper, project with Israeli companies. neoprene zip pouch, wi-fi antenna, earphones, car charger, keyboard case, and USB memory drive. Discussion questions (D): Now that you have redesigned Media and consumer response in India to the April 26 the tablet to address the initial problems, how will you announcement was cautious (Exhibit D3), while reflecting relaunch the device? How will you regain confidence of hope for the potential accomplishment. Preliminary the multiple stakeholders involved? How will you manage assessments based on reports of the new design suggested your relationship with VMC, your new assumbler? How both improvements and limits (Exhibit D4). People in

will you position the Datawind device versus the growing Exhibit D1. Datawind May Replace Quad set of competitors? with VMC for Making Aakash-II http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04- 26/news/31410365_1_aakash-ii-tablets-datawind) April 26, 2012, The Economic Times, New Delhi, by Harsimran Julka: Aakash tablet maker Datawind is likely to replace its ex-supplier Quad with Hyderabad's VMC Systems for assembling of Aakash-II devices. On Thursday [April 26], Datawind is expected to launch its Ubislate7+ tablets, which will carry similar features as expected in Aakash II tablets, now expected to come out of VMC's factories. Datawind has upgraded the processor to Cortex A8 (about 800 MHz) from the earlier 366 MHz processor, after complains of slow processor speed in Aakash-I tablets. Datawind declined to disclose the name of its new suppliers. But sources said that VMC is expected to assemble the tablets, after Datawind broke its relationship with Quad, few weeks ago. Hyderabad based Vuppalamritha Magnetic Components Ltd (VMC), claims itself to be an OEM of telecommunications, networking, and power conversion products. Datawind cited for breakup with ex-supplier, an MoU Quad signed with IIT Rajasthan. But Quad also shot a statement alleging that Datawind has tied up with the ex- vendor/customer of Quad based out of Hyderabad, for manufacturing Aakash II. Quad has sent a legal notice to Datawind for non-payment of tablets for which it procured inventory, on its behalf. Datawind has said that it has no dues left with Quad, and will not procure any more tablets from them. Besides, on Thursday, Datawind is also likely to tie up with Aircel for offering GPRS based internet plans (about Rs 98 per month) on the tablets, which will come with both capacitive and resistive screen versions. For Aakash II tablets, IIT Bombay is in the process of preparing a purchase order for about 100,000 for Ministry of Human Resource and Development. Aakash II tablets priced at Rs 2276 for the government are likely to start shipping May 2012 onwards.

Exhibit D2. Datawind Launches New Tablets Exhibit D3. Datawind Launches UbiSlate 7+ http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Fw270412launches.asp) & 7C Tablets – Plus Comments http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/apr/datawind-launches- ubislate-7-7c-tablets.html)

DataWind officials in New Delhi while launching the two tablets on Thursday (photo: Naveesh) April 26, 2012, Tehelka.com, New Delhi, by Binny Sharma: Datawind, the Montreal and London-based April 27, 2012, YourMoneySite.com, by Konar creator of the UbiSlate 7 (Aakash) tablet, announced the Arundhati (excerpt): UK-based Datawind has launched launch of two new seven inch low-cost tablets — the two new tablets worth Rs. 3,000-4,000, which is amongst Ubislate 7+ and Ubislate 7C on Thursday. While Ubislate the most inexpensive in the market. 7+ is priced at Rs 2999 [$60], the 7C model will cost Rs 3,999 [$80]. Both the tablets come with similar The new tablets that are named UbiSlate 7+ and 7C, have specifications, only that the Ubislate 7C comes with 4 GB a 7-inch display, 256MB RAM and are powered by of internal flash memory compared to 2GB in the Ubislate Cortex A8 800 MHz processor. UbiSlate 7+ and 7C are 7+. DataWind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said, “We have powered by Android Gingerbread (v 2.3) and come with a now created a product that removes the barriers and levels 3200 mAh battery. Both the tablets have the support of the playing field (with other nations).” Datawind’s co- GPRS as well as Wi-Fi. The difference between UbiSlate chairperson and chief technology officer, Raja Singh Tuli 7+ and 7C is that the former has an internal memory of said, “We had to create a technology that could deliver 2GB and a resistive touchscreen, while the latter has 4GB internet access everywhere at an affordable price.” internal memory and capacitive touchscreen. [Capacitive screens (e.g., the Apple iPhone) are more responsive than A version of this product will be sold as the Akaash II via resistive touchscreens, which require a stronger swipe or a the Indian government, with a subsidy, for school stylus (but are less expensive).] Reports suggest that for students. The project is strongly backed by Human UbiSlate 7+ and 7C, launched commercially today, Resource minister Kapil Sibal. Datawind has joined hands with mobile operator Aircel for voice and data services. Aircel is said to be offering The 2nd generation brings in a faster (800 MHz) Rs 100 unlimited plan for the usage of internet. processor, a (claimed) better battery life. The tablets have micro USB slots for memory expansion and also include a During the launch, Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli USB port that can also be used for optional 3G USB said, "we will first deliver pre-bookings, which are over modems. The included DataWind UbiSurfer browser uses 30 lakh." Tuli further said that the company has got compression to optimally use GPRS and versions of the around 8,000 orders and is still counting. He said that product will ship with unlimited internet access for Rs 99 conversion from pre-to-firm bookings is 88%. a month. Both models are 7 inches and ship with Android 2.3, though the Ice Cream Sandwich flavour (upgrade) of Comments following YourMoneySite article Android is due on the product by July, said Tuli. Friday, April 27 2012 Aakash and Akaash II beyond the first 1 lakh units is  Data wind is very intrested to popular around the subject to a re-tendering process that DataWind and world by name of low cost tablet, But still they didnt others are bidding for. The project, originally associated delivered Ubislate which is second version. First with IIT-Rajasthan, has been moved to IIT-Bombay, after version already flop. Redindian Indian disagreements with the testing process, specs and results. o April 30. They have launched the second version-Ubislate7 on April 26th. It has amazing features! Vikram Sharma.  First deliver previous orders and then go for new ones. Shivam Joshi

 Why this company is busy in fighting with o April 30. Make online booking on government and other organisations instead of www.ubislate.com. Vikram Sharma focusing on customer and fulfilling their commitment Sunday, April 29 2012. by providing deliveries. Lincon Singh  Plz mri teblet kyare submit thshe. Dharmesh Hadiya o April 30. lol! They are a foreign comapny April 30. Delivery of the devices will begin so have had to face a number of bureaucartic o in May. Those who have sent in advance hurdles which turned out into disputes. But payment will get it first. Vikram Sharma thatz a part of business! They begin deliveries in May. Vikram Sharma.  Have also prebooked for ubislate 7 about 3 months ago and still I am waiting for its delivery. Reyaz  Just wait until it available in brick shop. Do not book Ahmad Bhat Online. Please don't waste even time for reading April 30. If you have sent advance payment, Aaksh tablet news. Tulip Fraud o you should get it in May. Vikram Sharma o April 30. I agree with U. Pramod Borkar. o April 30. Keep waiting! u will surely Tuesday, May 1 2012. progress! Vikram Sharma.  Ubisltae 7C will be available in mobile shops by end  This is going to be another scam. Datawind are of May, 2012??? Dinesh Sahitya launching new product but not in the market. If they o May 4: Why accepting the order's if unable fail to launch Aakash 2 they will said that they are to comply, customer's are waiting since 4-5 launching Aakash 3 & Aakash 4 next year. Orders months & not getting the tab's even after are more than 3 million & capacity is 700 tablets per advance payment ? Ashok Kashid day. I am just married I think my son will use this tablet. Retesh Parab o April 28: u hv opend my eyes. Thnz. Exhibit D4. Preliminary Reviews of Aakash 2 Rajendra Sharma o April 27: good one this is true. Retesh Parab 4a. May 2: Aakash 1 vs Aakash 2 (excerpt)  This all bakwas this company is a great cheater after http://akashtablet.in/aakash-2-review-aakash-tablet-reviewed/ receiving payment for ubislate-7 not responding at all. Why the present government not initiating legal Note on site: “This site is created by aakash tablet fan action against this company? Nishit Dey and has no relation with official site”  When its come in market. Nitin Kaushik  Hi all, Please do not book this tablet, I booked on Dec 2011 and paid the amount Rs.2999/- too on March 2012. but not received the tablet yet. Sanjeev o April 28: Very sad and socking news. I think this is going to be another scam. Kapil Sibbal should give the answer that why the Datawind not delivering the tablet to the people who had paid the price in advance. Rajendra Sharma  Good feature. But its coming soon in market. Abhishek K  Coming, coming but when will it be in the market. There is much advancement from the Aakash 1 in Booked for Feb-12 delivery. April-12 getting over Aakash 2: Aakash 2 is the latest version of Indian government Initiative Aakash project which aims at and no sign of delivery. Mukund Mane providing tablet to every child of India. The first phase Saturday, April 28 2012. suffers a huge setback of performance but the latest  I have deposited Rs.2999/-in Jan 2012 for March version is improved a lot. booking but till date I did not receive tab. Ramji Hardware and design: Aakash 2 tab is available in black April 30. If you have sent advance payment, o color with boxy design. The weight of this tiny priced you should get it in May. Vikram Sharma tablet is 350 grams. Its build solidly to cope with the There is no particular information about the way of  frequent falls in the monsoon’s in the India. Aakash has 2 purchase this tablet- Guha Prasath USB ports for plug and play connectivity of external April 30. Make online booking on o devices. You can use any 3G USB data card to connect to www.ubislate.com. Vikram Sharma Internet or you can use your Pen Drive to transfer data  I want to get pre booking Ubislate 7. Please inform from it. A video co-processor is added for better rendering me. Devraj Makwana

of graphics on video playback. No SIM card is provided download apps and content designed for Aakash 2. in aakash 2 but its present in commercial version Ubisalte Network and connectivity of Aakash 2: Aakash2 7+. 35% of hardware components of tablet will be supports Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN or Wi- outsourced from South Korea, 16% from the USA, 16% Fi). No SIM card slot is provided to enable any GPRS or from India, 25% from China and 8% from other countries. 3G connectivity with Aakash tab 2. But you can use any Performance and battery life: Aakash tablet 2 is 3G stick or Modem to connect the device to Internet. A powered by a solid ARM Cortex A8 700 MHz processor Wi-Fi port is provided to connect the tablet to internet. which delivers you about 1500 MHz if we are comparing it with ARM 11 processor which is present in BSNL tablet. Means it’s about 1.5 times faster than BSNL tablet 4b. Datawind Launches New Tablets for India even with lower configurations on paper. In the testing http://liliputing.com/2012/05/datawind‐launches‐two‐new‐ phase IIT Rajasthan released the specification of 1200 ubislate‐tablets‐for‐india.html MHz processor and 1GB RAM in Aakash 2 which was not feasible in this budget. RAM of Aakash tablet 2 is 256 MB which lets you to execute most of the apps function smoothly. The internal memory of the tablet is 2GB flash storage and with a use of simple memory card (SD) card you can extend it up to 32GB. The battery life is also enhanced than and instead of 2100mAh battery of Aakash 1 you will get 3200mAh battery in Aakash 2 tab which can runs for 3-4 hours smoothly without any power supply. Aakash 1 has suffered a problem of low memory and frequent system freeze which are worked upon this newer version and looks better than before.

Display, sound and camera: Unlike the resistive touch screen of previous version this version owns capacitive May 3, 2012, liliputin.com (excerpt): The UK-based touch screen of 7” inches (18 cm). The resolution of the company that designed the Aakash $35 Android tablet screen is 800×600 which are fine for small screen. The that’s available in India has introduced two new dirt tablet consists of a built in microphone for voice cheap models for the Indian Market. recording and voice chat while using any voice chat Neither the UbiSlate 7+ or UbiSlate 7C are exactly android app. A 3.5 mm jack is provided with aakash 2 for premium devices. They have slow processors, little RAM, the connectivity of external speakers and you can also use and run older versions of Android. But they’re designed the earphones that comes along with the tablet. A headset to be dirt cheap — and they even offer cheap mobile control is also present in aakash 2. A front end VGA internet access. camera is also present in aakash 2 tab commercial version Ubislate 7+ but not in aakash tab. The tablets cost less than $75, and Datawind has partnered with Indian wireless carrier Aircel to offer up to Software specs: Aakash tablet 2 runs on the Android 2.3 2GB of GPRS internet bandwidth for about $2 per month. platform also known as Gingerbread. Aakash tab supports The tablets have built-in 2.5G cellular modems. If users (DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP, want to upgrade to 3G they can use a wireless dongle. PDF), image (PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF), audio (MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA) and video (MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV) file formats and also you can access youtube with 4c. First look: Datawind Ubi Slate 7C aakash 2 via an android app. A special browser is made or www.themobileindian.com/news/6317_First-look:-Datawind-Ubi-Slate-7c_7 the tablet by Datawind to send the data in compress form to speed up the data streaming even at lower bandwidth. It April 30, 2012, The Mobile is expected that normal data will transfer about 6 times Indian, New Delhi, by Rahul faster in this browser than other browser due to the use of Gupta (excerpt). When it comes to advance data compression technology of Datawind. When low cost Android tablets, the this data is combined with server side data compression market today is flooded with non you can get speed about 30 times faster than normal. The branded imported products from commercial version of Aakash 2 (Ubislate 7+) can Chinese manufacturers. connect to Google Android market place for downloading But Datawind has announced war with every low cost of aaps but nothing is said about the aakash2 tablet. But it tablet makers with the launch of its ultra cheap tablets. can connect to the upcoming government apps portal to We got a chance to get hands on with the UbiSlate7C

during its launch that took place in Delhi. The UbiSlate [Growth has] attracted over 15 players into the category. 7C is the advanced version of the UbiSlate 7+ tablet that By 2017, the number of tablets sold in India will reach was launched along with it. Users can book their tablets approximately 23.38 million as its sales are expected to after May end this year when this device will be made roughly double every year, said industry experts. available for the public. In 2012, many more Indian and Chinese vendors like The UbiSlate7C in terms of look and feel is identical to Micromax, G’Five, and Karbonn are expected to enter the the UbiSlate7+ with a plain and simple design with an market. While global vendors like Apple, Samsung, RIM, only black colour offering for the device that makes this and Motorola cater to the high-end segment of tablet PCs device look great as well as similar to other tablets in the priced between Rs 29,000 to Rs 48,000 many Indian market. The rubberised finish given to the device adds players including, Reliance Communications, Beetel, fingerprint and smudge protection for the device as well Wespro, and LACs Magnum cater to the middle and low as makes the device easier to grip and handle also which segments. According to Frost & Sullivan, Indians bought is a big problem with devices with glossy finish that tend three lakh [300,000] units of tablets in 2011 compared to to slip off the hands if not handled carefully. 60,000 tablets in 2010. Despite falling in the economical category, Datawind has Lakshmi Access Communications Systems, a Benagluru- managed to provide a capacitive multi touch enabled based company, has its tablet range called Magnum touchscreen for the device that is very easy and much starting Rs 6,999. “The tablet market is in a very nascent more fun to use than its resistive touchscreen bearing stage with lots of players vying for customer attention. cousin - the UbiSlate7+. In terms of colour reproduction Actual market share figures can only be realised in the and brightness levels, the display is impressive but it lacks following year,” informed Sharad Satyanarayan, head, colour vibrancy but for the price we have no problems Business Development, LACs. “We did sell our first lot with the device. The low resolution is one of the major of 5,000 units of tablet PCs in a very short period and constraints as most things look slightly pixilated and dull. now we have plans to sell our tablets through over 10,000 But overall the device offers a great bundle for the price special experience zones called ‘easyez’,” he added. and a normal user would not have any problem. Talking about the new competitor in marke, Satyanarayan said Aakash has a completely different market and The processor coupled with 256 MB of RAM is a bare technical focus. “It is too early to gauge its efficacy. minimum in terms for the operating system. It works just Consequently, it is not possible to compare different fine but users will have to watch out for heavier apps tablet PC brands purely on the basis of technical won't work on the UbiSlate7C. Being a low cost tablet, specifications and features,” he said. the UbiSlate7C is good for all round tablet works like documents, entertainment and low level gaming but a Beetel Magiq, a tablet PC by Bharti Group has its range more detailed review for the device will follow soon. starting from Rs 9,800. “Just in a span of four months, we have launched three models in India. The response to low- 4d. Hands-on with Datawind Ubislate 7+ cost tablet PCs has been overwhelming and we see the http://gadgets.ndtv.com/tablets/news/hands-on-with-datawind-ubislate-7-223404 market growing manifold next year,” said Satyajit Borah, head, Corporate Communications, Beetel. May 15, 2012, NDTV Correspondent: We spent some time with UbiSlate 7+, and found the tablet sluggish and With an eye on corporate buyers, Simmtronics tablet PCs non-responding at many occasions. While the pre- have gained 300 per cent growth in their sales in the last installed apps worked fine, the tablet hung many times few months. “Though our tablet PCs are ranged between while trying to change settings or opening resource heavy Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000, we have all the same prominent apps. Although the pricing is unbeatable, we still found it features like Samsung tabs,” claimed Inderjit Saberwal, a little disappointing for basic computing experience. managing director, Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd.

Exhibit D5. Tablet Market in India, 2012

5a. Low Cost Tablet Market Hots Up in India http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Ws191211Low.asp) December 19, 2011, Tehelka.com, by Binny Sharma (excerpt): The tablet PC market is all geared up for intense competition in 2012. Among tablet PCs priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 48,000, those below the Rs 10,000 price seem to be a great hit with the consumers.

5b. BSNL Tablet and Aakash on Same about the data service provider. Frequency: Delay, Delay But what's the use of attractive pricing and data plans if http://www.themobileindian.com/news/5799_BSNL-tablet-and-Aakash- the device is not available for consumers. We had on-same-frequency:-Delay-delay expected BSNL to whole heartedly push its tablet to give Pantel & Datawind a boost to its data services but the thrust is missing. have failed to reach Some of the Indian consumers who pre booked BSNL the retail market in tablet said to The Mobile Indian, "We had booked BSNL spite of being backed tablet on March 1 and we have still not got its delivery by BSNL and the and most of the customer care numbers listed on Pantel Technologies website are not working." Even after government. repeated calls the Pantel Technologies spokesperson was March 22, 2012, The Mobile Indian, by Sandeep Budki unavailable for comment. (excerpt): In a span of six months, two low cost Android 5c. HCL Launches Two New Tablets tablets - Aakash and BSNL - were launched in the Indian http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Fw030412hcl.asp) market. While Aakash is being manufactured by Datawind and has the backing of the Indian government, April 3, 2012, tehelka.com, by Binny Sharma: In a bid BSNL tab is being made by Noida-based Pantel to increase its market share Technologies. of 15% in tablet segment, Interestingly, both tabs have something in common - both HCL Infosystems unveiled generated tremendous interest in the market and both have two tablet computers on Monday. HCL ME U1 has failed to reach the retail market in spite of backing from been introduced with a price the HRD Ministry and the state run telco BSNL. of Rs 7,999 [$160] & HCL Aakash, at a subsidised rate of just Rs 2,250, was hailed photo: Naveesh MyEdu Tab — K12 Version is priced at Rs 11,499 [$230]. as the cheapest tablet in the world. It was projected as revolutionary and was talked about the world over. “The tablet market in India is growing at a rapid pace and the However, its manufacturer has been missing the retail device is fast enriching consumer’s lives by finding unique availability deadline month after month since November. usages from a learning companion to a productivity enhancer. Along with the growing tablet market we are witnessed 100 per On the other hand, public sector telecom operator BSNL cent growth year on year basis,” said Gautam Advani, EVP and has come out with an extremely low cost tablet of its own. head, mobility, HCL Infosystems. Manufactured by Noida-based Pantel Technologies, the MyEdu tablets will feature NCERT content, quizzes, solved Penta IS701R Tablet, priced at Rs 3,499 was supposed to examples, problem solver, educational applications and other be available in the retail market from 5 March but its curated interactive content for students. The U1 tablet is availability has since been delayed. powered with the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich Operating Software. HCL claims that the tablet is equipped with 17 local Another common thing between the Aakash and BSNL is ready to use applications. It has a 7 inch 800X480 pixel screen that both took bookings for their tablets online before the and a 1Ghz processor. “We have plans to export these tabs to devices became available for retail. But the similarities middle east countries by June this year,” informed Advani. He didn't end there. A majority of the consumers who had said that currently all manufacturing is taking place in China. booked the tablets online are yet to receive the products. The tablet has a front camera and 512 MB RAM, with an When quizzed by The Mobile Indian, Vijendra Singh, internal memory of 4GB expandable to 32GB. HCL ME U1 also managing director of Pantel, said some days back, "We has a full USB, mini USB and a Micro SD card slot. The U1 have the shipments ready and we will definitely see to it also provides for Wi-fi connectivity. On the other hand, the MyEduTab tablet is meant to cater to the needs of learners that our tablet reaches the store by March 1." However, across schools and higher education institutions. we fail to understand why there was a delay in retail availability when the shipments were ready. We reviewed both the BSNL and Aakash tablet and were not impressed by the devices in usability and quality. On the pricing front there is a difference of just Rs 500 between Aakash and BSNL. But users will get 5 GB for data download for 60 days with BSNL's tablet. Whereas in the case of Aakash, users will get internet access at Rs 99 for 2 GB, but the company has not provided details

Datawind -- A Tablet for the Masses winners of their app contest, promising prizes of R10,000 and a share of any advertising revenue. The winners (E): Back Into the Market included apps for providing market data to farmers, quiz applications for students, promoting health eating habits, English language training, and searching for jobs online. By late May, some buyers who had pre-paid for their devices began to report deliveries of the upgraded Ubislate 7+. On May 24, a posting in response to a negative article in The Hindu that it had been “worth the wait” for the device that had arrived the day before, and said that all those who had paid in February were now receiving their tablets. An on-line comment war began, however, in which someone claiming to be the “Datawind Support Team” posted that the company was out of stock and would not be delivering tablets, while others The upgraded Ubislate eventually began to reach responded that the claim was false and that that they had consumers, though with continuing controversy. Early received their new devices – and that they were happy May passed without Ubislate 7+ or 7C deliveries. By mid- with the product (Exhibit E5a]. Even in June, though, May, Datawind’s Ubislate site had moved its expected continued to report delayed deliveries (Exhibit 5b). delivery date for new orders to July 2012 (Exhibit E1). Throughout May and into June, buyers continued to In late May, meanwhile, versions of the older generation complain of undelivered devices (Exhibit E2). Ubislate 7 tablet began to become available through online sellers, typically for a price of about R2,999 (though In early May, reports began to emerge that Datawind was one seller on eBay.in listed the device for R9,999 because losing executives in India and might be facing cash it was “very rarely available”). It was not clear whether challenges. Several reports listed at least six executives these devices were being supplied by Datawind or came leaving between February and April, with responsibilities from another source. Several customers reported for technical, production, sales, and customer support problems with the older generation devices (Exhibit E6). activities. Ex-employees reported issues (Exhibit E3a) including unpaid salaries for executives (though a May 3 Datawind’s sales in the UK and other traditional article in the Economic Times reported that staff with less developed markets, meanwhile, had become more than Rs 20,000 a month salary were being paid on time) focused. In the UK, the Ubisurfer netbook, now in a 9 and unpaid pension contributions, objections to the daily inch version launched in April 2011, was listed on reports to the CEO, and concerns about business progress, Amazon.co.uk for £120 with one year of 3G internet plus unpaid back wages after leaving. access, while the Pocket Surfer browser was no longer listed. Amazon.com in the US listed an unbranded version In response to comments from ex-employees, Suneet of the Pocket Surfer 2 for $50, but did not sell the Singh Tuli stated that only a few executives had left the Ubisurfer. Datawind’s international sales partners in company in 2012, that the daily reports deterred people Australia, Spain, Germany, and elsewhere provided few from working elsewhere, and that back wages were not or none of the company’s products. Pre-orders of the first paid until ex-employees returned company assets. He generation Ubislate7 were posted on the company’s UK noted that the company had enough cash to sustain website, with availability listed for early 2012. operations (in an April interview with the New York Times, Suneet had been unwilling to estimate how much The HRD’s plans for the Aakash 2 tender, planned for money the company may have lost on the project). launch in May, faced delays (Exhibit E7). In June, the Datawind continued to recruit new executives for both Ministry announced that it continued to work with IIT- India and Canada (Exhibit E4). Mumbai to develop specifications, which it planned to announce by the end of the month. Whether Datawind The ex-employees also provided estimates of the number would play a role in the Aakash 2 was unclear. of back orders and production rates. One suggested that Datawind had received pre-payment from about 18,000 Discussion questions (E): Would you encourage your customers for Rs 5.7 crore (about $1.15 million) by early friends to apply for one of the posted jobs with Datawind, May, while claiming that production capacity was less in either India or Canada? How will you deal with the than 400 units a day. Consumers continued to express negative on-line comments that are carrying over from the frustration about the delays as well as growing concerns past delivery delays, even as the new tablets are finally about the company (Exhibits E2 and E3b). reaching buyers who had paid months earlier? In mid-May, meanwhile, Datawind announced the five

Exhibit E1. Posted Delivery Dates on waste for waiting a product after booking worthless? Ubislate.com, mid May-June 24, 2012 Similar complaints on the GrahakSeva site  [many other postings about non-deliveries & lack of Specifications UbiSlate 7+ response from call centre, May 17-June 9]

May/12: Sold Out  Ubislate 7+ not received though paid in advance since mar'12 – 17 May Availability Jun/12: Sold Out Jul/12: Book Now [link: order form]  Datawind has not delivered ubislate 7+ yet even after making prepayment - 16 May Device: Rs.2,999 (Optional Internet: Price  Aakash ubislate 7+ not delivered yet – 16 May Rs.98/mo.)  Akash tablet quality is very poor - 16 May Microprocessor Cortex A8 - 800 Mhz  Datawind cheating with the customers - 16 May  Aakash tablet not received - 16 May Battery 3000 mAh  Still no ubislate7+ by datawind - 15 May OS Android 2.3  Non delivery of ubislate 7 after payment - 15 May WiFi & GPRS (SIM & Phone  Still no ubislate 7 + by Datawind - 15 May Network functionality)  Datawind not sending ubislate 7+ - 15 May  Ubislate 7+ not delivered yet - 15 May  Aakash Tablet got delayed from Datawind - 15 May Exhibit E2. GrahakSeva Consumer  Against datawind innovations pvt. Ltd - 14 May  Ubislate 7+ pre paid, no information - 14 May Complaint Site – Undelivered Pre-Bookings  Full payment for Ubislate but no delivery - 14 May http://www.grahakseva.com/topic/ubislate  Aakash - ubislate yet to receive - 14 May Complaint (May 16): Ubislate not receipt from Datawind  Ubislate 7+ not delivered as commited - 14 May Amount loss/claim: Rs. 2,999  Ubilslate 7+ not delivered - 14 May  Non delivery of ubi slate (Aakash table) - 13 May Detail: I had booked ubislte7 (Aakash tablet) about 6 months ago through online portal and I made an advance payment against my booking ID for Rs.2,999 dated 21/03/2012, sent through speed post dated 21/03/2012 to Exhibit E3. Employment Challenges the address: 8148 Jubilee Comlex, Sultanwind road, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/careers/job-trends/Datawind- facing-trouble-in-paying-salaries/articleshow/12976480.cms Amritsar. It has been a long time passed and I have not received the product till the date. I try to contact customer 3a. Datawind Facing Trouble Paying Salaries care many times but none of call/mail is answered. May 3, 2012, The Economic Times, by Harsimran Complaint (May 16): Datawind doing partiality on Julka (excerpt): New Delhi: Despite getting a Ubislate delivery government order for making the world's cheapest tablet Amount loss/claim: Rs. 0 computer Aakash, Datawind is finding tough retaining Detail: Sir, myself, has been booked a ubislate7 on 3rd key executives or paying their dues. In the last two January 2012. At that time there was no any option of months, the firm started by Canadian non-resident Indians advance payment but I came to know that they are giving has lost at least six senior executives. Some of the priority on delivering the product those who paid in employees cite non-payment of salaries at the company, advance. When I tried to contact them on their toll free which is believed to be facing a severe cash crunch as its number nobody picked the phone. Then I emailed my flagship product is yet to hit the market. complaint along with an attachment of the booking Vijender Gupta, Datawind's vice President for customer conformation mail provided by Datawind. After few days support and operator relations [Datawind since 2010] left I have received a ready made reply from Datawind that if in February, followed by Khushnud Khan, vice president I will prepaid for Ubislate 7+ now then I could get it in for sales [Datawind since 2011] who resigned in the same July 2012 (this is the same reply mail they are giving month. [Surendar Singh, VP Sales, Marketing, and those who are booking now in May 2012). I again mailed Operations for India and ASEAN, who joined Datawind them 3-4 times that I have been booked it on January 3rd in 2008, also left in February]. Sanjay Mendiratta, so if they will assure me for 7 days delivery then I will associate president [Datawind since 10/2010], Ramneek make my payment in advance but every time they are Kohli, senior vice president for enterprise sales and sending me the same ready made reply. Is not cheating? It Gurjap K, vice president of operations join the list of is true that I have not any financial loss but is the time I executives who walked out in March this year. In April, it

was the turn of Nipun Padha, senior vice president The government has also given Datawind a contract of (technical) [joined in January 2012]. [Shabnam Aggarwal, supplying 100,000 tablets. Besides, Datawind has also SVP Strategic Relations since 11/2011 left in May.] received about 30 lakh [3 million] pre-sale interests through its online portal. Some of the ex-employees say that a proper human resources structure was missing in the organization, 3b. Comments after Economic Times article forcing the executives to "justify each day's salary,  Girish Nair (3 May): That is not good news. directly to the CEO via an email." "We had to send daily  antrikshsingh03 (3 May): Waiting for CEO who can reports to the CEO, which would in turn justify our salary. make delivery on time. Failure to do so meant a deduction in that days's wage,"  ayushkumar2k (3 May): Datawind should look after said a vice president, who resigned on the same grounds. the proper payment of the employees. If the company Datawind CEO Suneet S Tuli counters saying that "less breaks down on such grounds, how will they be able than 6 or 7 people have been terminated or have left this to provide products to their costumers on time. This year”. He adds that he has enough cash to sustain his will further aggravate the issue. You have created business operations. Regarding daily report measure, Tuli "the cheapest" table ever built, now you need man adds that employees have to sign on this as part of their power to drive things. contract. "Those that don't submit daily reports, and o Sohal (23 May): Dont forget Datawind took instead work elsewhere, then complain of the daily-report on a project no one ever has taken on till requirement. Submission of a daily report is a pre- date. It is the cheapest tablet ever built so requisite." He adds that Datawind does not use this learn to appreciate that its made in our measure to justify daily wages. country. They started their deliveries. I got mine!..theres hope people! Several sales officials said they resigned because with no  arup.ganguly (3 May): Its high time the management product in sight for testing, large corporates were afraid of takes a firm decision on the workings & structure of giving orders. The company had a break up with one of its the company before its too late. Human asset is more key suppliers Quad, which led to a virtual stoppage in important in the company than any other asset. supply of tablets. "It was difficult to get sales orders when the products were not available to show to clients or  Super-Mamu (3 May): Datawind to Data-Wind-Up in handover for testing," said an ex-vice president, who said a short span of time...good going!! his dues are still not paid in full.  Unsibal (3 May): I worked with Datawind. They didn't give my salary. In fact I kept some of their Tuli counters saying that employees that are terminated devices. Later I threw them in junk. 'need to return company assets (computers, data etc.) and  Sundaram (3 May): They should have first mass- require handover briefs before full release.' (of cash produced the product and then open the floodgates. payments). But employees give a different picture. "We o Manoj (3 May): too paid Rs2999/- in march had to beg the company to release our paychecks," said and awaiting for the product delivery. pl another ex-employee. He added that the company was not intimate if some one gets this contributing to the Employee's Provident Fund. Datawind o Dr Satyaprakash (3 May): Same here. I got a did not reply to the query on compliance to provident mail from them in Feb saying, if you pay in fund norms. advance now, you will get the tablet in Mar. Former officials in charge of operations say that with no It is May now and no sight of either getting customer relations management solutions, the contact the money or the tablet! Call center number centre in Amritsar just boasts a spreadsheet for a database. does not respond. They also do not respond The call centre has about 30 employees, which get about to the emails! It seems we will have to 40,000 calls a day. "We were able to handle only about forget the 3000/- paid to Datawind. 2000 calls a day, out of the 40,000 calls landing each o Madan singh (25 May): Chor company U day," said an ex-call centre agent. "Most of the callers should donate this money to some charity were 'abusive' as the product was not landing for weeks at sociate instead of buying chinease maal/ their doorstep despite having paid for it in advance," said bogas product a senior ex-employee, who was based in Amritsar.  madan singh (4 May): Requesting Anna Hazare to oppse Datawind Ltd.. According to another employee, Datawind has till date  madan singh (4 May): If anyone has complaint received payment from about 18,000 customers across against datawind Please contacat us. i am advising all India (about Rs 5.7 crore [$1.15 million]). He added that the Indians not to buy Datawind Product. also 'its production capacity is less than 400 units a day. ET requesting to Kapil Sibal first check history of could not independently verify this. datawind and their management. Chor [lazy]

company never paid dues of their employees. dues of Tata and pick one of their senior manager to run the courier companies, dues of clearing agent/ Cheated show, and still things can change. lacs on indians. We are preparing PIL and requesting o XYZ replies to Rajiv (9 May): Do not talk supreme court to take action against fraud datawind. about stuffs which u do not know. Company o Meheraj (7 May) replies to madan singh: I is very motivated and we are sad becuase of have booked Ubislate 7 on 30 January 2012 negative publicity from ToI [Times of & according to company's offer I have also India/Economic Times] and other anti- made a pre-payment to them on 31st January Datawind websites. 2012 via a D.D. of SBI. They have o Jamal replies to XYZ (23 May): I agree with promissed to deliver the tablet in March. But you.. People you have to stop being soo now today is 07th of May & still I haven't negative and maybe become a little patient. got any answer or response about my tablet They ran into some business hardships that and payment. My booking ID put them behind schedule. The media is o Jamal (23 May): wat you know about the clearly showing that they are still working company? I just got my tablet! its awesome on it and they haven’t just disappeared like product. Stop discouraging people! Big scamming companies would. And i can tell project requires great time and effort so quit you this becuz i got my tablet. So relax and bringing people down! quit being so negative. o Madan singh replies to Jamal (25 May):  Ex-Datawind manager (8 May): This is not a proper Wait some time u will get result company. No HR, no policy, no code of conduct, no automatically. or you r paid person of market-linked salary, no review process, no datawind. U leave your job and join background checks of new employees, everything is datawind bcse they are honest for you. ad hoc, whatever the top boss wants. It is like a 5  Hrishikesh S Masurkar (3 May): Datawind please get man company which has suddenly become very big, out this low cost tablets...... peoples incomes are rising but they are still running like a 5 man company. and they aspire for better options in tablet. Suneet Tuli, you yourself might be a good fellow, but  Raj Kumar Jha (7 May): I have booked Ubislate 7 for you need a professional team to run your company! the month of Nov 2011 according to company's offer You cannot do everything yourself! First pay mkt I have also made a pre-payment to them on 12 salary, and attract good managers. I was being paid January 2012 via a Ch. of HDFC. They have half of what others are willing to pay me. promissed to deliver the tablet in March. But now o XYZ replies to Ex-Datawind manager (9 today is 07th of May & still I haven't got any answer May): You are wrong sir. Back-ground or response about my tablet and payment. My check is done for new hire. Senior booking ID is [order & cheque numbers] management is bit non-focused, but this can o Zaheer (8 May) replies to Raj Kumar Jha be changed easyly. CEO is very vision- Deliveries begin in May end. thinker and long-term planner. o Swapan (22 May): purely cheat compnay.  Madhav (25 May): it doesnt make sense why media otherwise how can they fail so many loves to be biased and tell one side of the story. why commitment would 150 employees still be workign with them if o Madan singh (25 May): well said this is they didnt pay salaries on time! reality of datawind Ltd.  XYZ (26 May): Hi because of DATA WIND, the o Tanav (23 May): Quit being so rude. They tablet manufacturing company QUAD has not paid failed to meet dates and commitments only salaries to their employees. this is a fact because India's people dont know how to be supportive. Read the news and see how hard Exhibit E4. Datawind Job Ads: May 17, 2012 they are working to keep up and overcome obstacles, but all we can do is pick on them and put them down. 4a. India: Senior Manager Tech Support Raj kumar (23 May): dear swapan i am http://chandigarh.khojle.in/ads/senior-manager-tech-support---datawind- o ltd---chandigarh/9639019 already advance payment  Rajiv (8 May): This is a chor [lazy] company. They Job category: BPO call centre & KPO only get contracts due to high-level connections. Location: Chandigarh, India [IT Park between Amritsar Then they cannot deliver, because all their staff is and New Delhi, in north India] third class. One of their VP cannot even speak good Role: Technical support English, he will not find a job as call center agent, Experience: 5 years - 10 years and here he is a top level VP. Just go to GE, IBM, Description: Required for the post of senior manager.

 Looking for experience in managing tech support Qualifications and location division, with knowledge of electronics.  Strong leadership skills, independent thinking, strong  Preferable having experience in GSM and CDMA organizational and planning abilities and excellent devices, manage technical support staff, and to analytical and problem solving skills are essential. provide technical support for mobile Internet devices.  Experience with dealing with Far-East or South Asian Manufacturers essential. 4b. Canada: VP Manufacturing/Production  Can work out of office in Montreal or Toronto. http://www.jobboom.com/en/job‐description/vp‐manufacturing‐ nd production‐manager/1684420 Exhibit E5a. Ubislate 7+ Deliveries (2 Job description & responsibilities: Production manager generation): May 2012 Starting date: As soon as possible http://www.medianama.com/2012/05/223-aakash-tablet-rti-rs-47-72-cr- Hourly/yearly wage: To be discussed for-100000-tabs-cost-49-98-each-no-tender-docs-with-ministry/ We are a high-tech company involved in the production  May 23: Comment removed [The comment claimed of consumer electronic products. We design our products to be from Datawind, saying that they would not in our R&D facility in Montreal and sub-contract make deliveries] manufacture our products such as tablets and net-books o May 23: Jairaj - suprising comment..seems like and laptops and cell-phone handsets in China and India. someones angry enough to act like their from Summary: We are looking for a Production manager that datawind and get people to return their money.. has experience in the following: but I just recieved my tablet..they have started their deliveries, its such a great product, it was so  Management and coordination of plant operations worth the wait! from what i know datawind is still and logistics with overseas factories in the far-east. supplying devices...i called them a few days ago  Understanding of assembly of consumer electronic to ask about my tablet and at that time there were products, including management and coordination of no news about stock shortages... dont believe the supply chain. such comments people...just angry folks trying to  Experiencing with negotiation of contracts with sub- put down customers contract manufacturers and component suppliers in o May 23: Smart_aries4 - Deliveries have started the far – east. and I just recieved my [delivery] number today.  Assure attainment of business objectives and So excited to recieve it tomorrow productions schedules while insuring product o May 23 : Mandeep Singh - This is not true. standards that will exceed our customers’ Someone trying to impersonate Datawind. expectations. Medianama Editors - please take this  Responsible for the management and coordination of misleading comment down. Datawind is plant operations including facility’s performance in delivering devices to customers who have paid. shipping, inventory, and throughput. No such announcement has been made.  Help the R&D team with cost reduction schemes  May 24: Datawind Support Team [purported] - through component or manufacturing process. Dear all, we are short of stock and will not provide  Lead a team of people that include buyers on one the devices anymore. Please send you full details hand (that would be responsible for finding parts and including your booking ids to get the refunds at qualifying them and negotiating prices in the far-east) [email protected]. We will process all the and a production engineering team that would get request by the end of this month. NO REQUEST product ready for production after R&D team is WILL BE ENTERTAINED AFTER 31ST MAY finished with it. 2012. Datawind Support Team 1800 180 2180 Essential duties o May 24: Rahul - THIS IS FALSE MESSAGE....  Need to travel to the Far-East and possibly thirty o May 24: student - Hello , I did not think so percent of the time for purposes of overseeing because as I already receive my device and its production or negotiating contracts or prices. amazing stuff and I am very to using that product May 24: Datawind Innovations Team - This is a  Need to coordinate with separate offices of the o company in London UK, Montreal, Toronto Canada, fraudulent message. Datawind is continuing to Delhi, India and Shenzhen China. take bookings and are delivering to customers. Ubislate7+ has been launched and deliveries have  Report Directly to COO and have responsibility of been started. accountability. o May 29: Rahul - the company has begun  Manage spending against budget, controlling delivering devices.....i just got mine!!!!!!!!!! spending in relation to changes in production volume.

 May 30: Cucko17 -Datawind Innovations has not delivered a single UbiSlate 7+ as prototype still in st testing stage and deliveries will start sometime in Exhibit E6. Concerns about Ubislate 7 (1 July for those who booked and paid up front. Read generation Datawind tablet) media news and one will come to know that this The following complaints appear to arise from first company is in a mess in India. generation devices, sometimes sold as Ubislate 7 (first May 30: Rahul05 - for ur information, there are o generation) and sometimes advertised as Ubislate 7+ alot of people that are getting the tablets because (second generation). It is not clear whether Datawind was they started their deliveries...I got mine just a few marketing them through the on-line dealers or whether days ago..and boy was it worth the wait and the the tablets reached the market through some other source. money!,...the media is biased in so many ways..media news is always monitored so you Aakashtablets.in: http://www.aakashtablets.in/resources/2767-I- cant always believe the news because they are Have-Got-Aakash-Tablet.aspx mostly biased in their own opinion..we should  May 27 (Viqar): Hi frnz, i got the ubislate7 but i support the project because they have much dont know hw to use it. it is not supporting net setter greater intentions than just making money. & memory card also. plz sombdy giv me suggession hw to use tablate and what is the mathod of turnoff tablate to my mail. Exhibit E5b. Delayed Deliveries – June 2012  May 28 (Pramod): THanks Viqar for such a good http://www.aakashtablets.in/forum/1185‐Is‐datawind‐really‐going‐deliver‐tablet.aspx news. when you got this tablet? and when you made Is Datawind really going to deliver the tablet? payment for this ?  May 28 (Viqar): frand i got my ubislate7 tablet June 6, 2012 (Meheraj): Hi friends, I think that Mr. seterday (26 may 2012) and i made payment 18 may Suneet Singh Tuli has changed the meaning of the word 2012 through debit card. lot of problm i m facing to "patience". He has really tested our patience very hard & use it. major problm is it can not turnoff still when to the end. Do you think that the production has started? I the batry is fully down. i am thinking to send beck it don't think so. Because if it has been started we must have to naaptol. what is the procedure get back my mony? our tablets in our hands till now. Everytime they are extending the delivery date by 15 days. They don't have Grahakseva Consumer site: http://www.grahakseva.com/complaints/63629/defective-ubislate7- any tracking system for our booking ID's & payments. tablet-delivered-denying-to-refund-money-by-naaptolcom June 6 response (Vilpin): Hi Meheraj. I can understand  May 28: Dealsandyou sent completely wrong your feelings and concerns about Ubislate7+ delivery. I product [paid R3,200]: I called dealsandyou and told was thinking to go for a refund till this morning as them that I wish to cancel the product and I was Datawind is breaching its promises. For the last time I denied. Ok, I received the product but the called up Datawind CC [call centre] this morning and ask specifications mentioned on their website for the the CC executive about delivery status, once again she product are completely diff from the one I received. confirmed my name, city and mobile no. Afterwards she For ex they have mentioned it had android 2.3 but it told me that I will get my tablet by 15th June for sure. has 2.2. They mentioned 700 mhz processor; it is When I asked what's going on in and why this much about 333 mhz. They mentioned embedded modem; delay, she said there's some technical problem at the end no it doesn't have any. It says GPRS; there is no of Datawind and she asked me to hold on till 15th, when I option. Basically, they provided specifications of asked her if I can trust Datawind after so much delay, she ubislate 7+ and delivering ubislate 7. assured me that this time there will be no delay and  May 29: Ubislate from eBay not switching off: I got dispatch process is well in place and I will get my tablet delivery of my aakash tablet 7 from ebay.in today for sure. So this was the last time I called up Datawind [R3,100]. I read the manual - it said charge the unit and will keep mum until 15th. If I get the delivery as for 4 hours before first use, so I charged it, inserted D confirmed, it's ok and if I don't get a delivery I will memory card, and when I tried to switch it on it definitely go for refund. As I am waiting for almost 6 didn’t switch on. So I read the manual again and tried months and it's just 9 more days to go. So I'm keeping my to switch it on again, but the unit did not respond. I fingers crossed and hoping to get the delivery soon. want the reason why is this problem occurring as June 7 respone (Mas): Dear all. Be positive. We will get soon as possible! Please this is my request to u. device for some day but I don’t know when that day will  May 30: Defective ubislate7 tablet delivered & come. Today I got the mail from Datawind saying that my denying to refund money by naaptol.Com. I tablet has been already delivered. Let’s see what happens purchased ubislate 7 tablet from naaptol.Com through in next 2-3 days. Keep update all. online using my net banking with pre-payment [R

3,150; in May 2012, Naaptol listed the device as the unanswered. But officials working on the project told ET Ubislate 7, with positive reviews from October and on the condition of anonymity that the tablets and November 2011]. I got a defective piece and when I associated apps are being tested at IIT-Mumbai. called the customer care, he was trying to avoid the Amidst much fanfare, Sibal first talked about the tablet in situation but after long argument he asked me to send 2010. The plan then was to make a cheap laptop available the product and send me an sms with the address. I to schools by January 2011, but that was not to be as HCL couriered the product on 24th may,2012 and Infosystems, the firm that had been contracted to yesterday on 29th may,2012 I came to know that it is manufacture, backed out. Subsequently , the government undelivered due to wrong address. When I called selected Canada-based Datawind for the $35-tablet naaptol , customer care executive told me that project. product is not having any warranty that's why they cannot refund the money & he was suggesting going IIT- Rajasthan, was mandated to design the features and to a local shop for repairing. I told him that in the box procure the tablets, which were to be assembled in India it’s written that it contains warranty card but when I by Datawind. For its part, Datawind launched a opened it, no warranty card was there. When I asked commercial version of the product called Ubislate-I in to clarify all these things, my call was disconnected 2011, and then failed to supply Aakash on time, causing by customer care executive. I have written an email much concern. to ceo of naaptol & their support department also, but "Many people confuse Ubislate with Aakash, as it carries haven`t heard back anything. Now,I feel cheated and I have 2 more cases where people being cheated in the same specifications and is made by the same vendor. the same manner. I need explanation and I need my It is giving a bad name to the government's project as customers of the commercial similar product are money refund quickly. Regards, prabhat kumar complaining of non delivery," said a senior government  May 30: Ubislate bought from Naaptol is defective. I official on condition of anonymity. purchased ubislate 7 tablet from naaptol.Com and got a defective product and customer care person didn't Datawind ended the relationship with Hyderabad-based talk to me in well manner but after heated argument Quad Electronics, its Indian manufacturing partner, he told me to return the product in the naaptol causing delays in the supply of tablets. Datawind was address in mumbai. I couriered the product and now supposed to supply 100,000 tablets to IIT-Rajasthan. when I tracked its showing undelivered due to wrong Since then, Datawind has contracted Hyderabad-based address. I called naaptol care they do not want to VMC Systems to supply the tablets. About 50 people resolve my problem and I feel my 3000.00 is gone have reportedly been poached by VMC Systems from waste. I want my money back, how they can cheat Quad Electronics who were earlier working on the me like this, sending defective product and now not Aakash assembly line. But VMC Systems vehemently listening to me. Please help me!!!! vikas sinha denied it, saying it employs about 800 people, and can redeploy them anytime. "We do not need to employ Exhibit E7. Aakash 2 v. Ubislate people from outside," said a VMC official. "We are http://www1.m.economictimes.com/PDAET/articleshow/13712480.cms unnecessarily being dragged. The quarrel is between Aakash 2, the cheapest tablet PC, misses May-end deadline Quad and Datawind," he added. June 2, 2012, New Delhi, Economic Aggrieved consumers are already posting messages in Times, by Harsimran Julka: India online forums complaining about non-delivery of Ubislate has missed yet another deadline for the and asking for refunds. But Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO of launch of much-hyped world's Datawind, alleged that rivals are posting such messages. cheapest tablet PC - Aakash 2 - the "We have started delivering thousands daily," he said. dream project of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, even as the wait continues for the country's 220 million students In March, Sibal had made a commitment that the device would be ready by end of May. Priced at about Rs 2,276, Sibal had positioned the new and improved version of Aakash as an educational aid for Indian students. He had also reiterated that the government is working on an improved tablet after the first one proved to be a damp squib due to low battery life and slow processor speed. A query to the minister's office on status of Aakash 2 was

Datawind -- A Tablet for the Masses Suneet Singh Tuli and Raja Singh Tuli, lauding the brothers for their strong leadership skills and record of (F): Reaction to Ubislate 7+ innovation.

As people who had pre-paid for their Discussion questions (F): How will you sustain tablets began to momentum from the early positive reactions, while receive the Ubislate dealing with the issues that people are reporting? How 7+ in June 2012, will you deal with new questions about available features? initial reaction was How can you use the Aakash 2 and Ubislate 7C to regain mixed. market momentum? People were excited to receive the tablets and many liked the device, though some had concerns about differences from announced features. Others reported continuing delivery and technical issues. [Exhibits F2-F5]. Meanwhile, Datawind was encouraging people to upgrade their orders to the Ubislate 7C (capacitive screen), which it planned to make available soon [Exhibit F1]. In late June, Professor Deepak Phatak of IIT-Mumbai unveiled the Aakash 2, a version of the Ubislate 7C capacitive screen device that would fulfill the original HRD order. IIT-M was testing sample devices, with manufacturing by Datawind projected to start during the summer. IIT-Mumbai planned to sell the device to students on behalf of the HRD for R 2,263. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18581885 Competition continued to grow. Even on sites devoted to the Datawind tablets, users continued to post positive reviews of competing devices (e.g., tablets for about R10,000 from Ainol in China and iBerry in India), including reports that some of the companies provided good customer service. Some of the competition, though, generated claims of scams – for instance, a device marketed by Angel Technologies for R 2,250 did not make promised deliveries after taking on-line payments. In late June, Datawind’s new supplier, VMC, announced that it was investing R12-15 crore to increase capacity from 500 units per day to 1,000 units per day by July and 4,000 units per day by August. The company had agreed to deliver 100,000 units to Datawind by the end of August; the deal was worth R25 crore ($5 million). VMC also said that it was working with Datawind to produce a 10-inch tablet in the near future. Datawind also began to encourage people to upgrade their orders to the 7C, promising delivery by August. On the Aakash Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/India.Tablet.Aakash), the company promised that people who pre-paid for the 7C but received late delivery would receive a month of free internet service. Datawind continued to receive international attention. In mid-June, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce awarded the “Technology Achievement of the Year” to

Exhibit F1. Ubislate.com Update: June 25 you have difficulty in getting through to our toll-free number, please fill-in the query forms on this website or The UbiSlate Smartphone/tablets incorporate HD video co-processors for a high-quality multimedia experience and core graphics accelerator for faster Email us at [email protected], and we will revert application support. These tablets are the only Android devices in the market back to you at the earliest. to offer DataWind's UbiSurfer browser, based on 18 international patents. The UbiSurfer browser accelerates web pages by factors of 10x to 30x, With best regards, Suneet Singh Tuli, President & CEO, allowing for a web experience who's speed is unrivalled. Internet access is DataWind Ltd. available everywhere on a GPRS network at Rs.98/mo. for 2GB

The devices include WiFi & GPRS connectivity allowing anytime & anywhere internet access and phone functionality. Optional 3G modems are Link: Quality Page also supported via USB. In addition to a micro-SD card slot, a full-sized USB port is integrated into the unit allowing pen-drives, external keyboards,  Commitment to Quality: Datawind maintains a web-cams, dongles and other inexpensive peripherals to be attached. steadfast commitment to ensuring the highest levels PreBook PreBook Upgrade to of quality in our products and services. We Ubislate 7+ Now! Ubislate 7C Now! Ubislate 7C continuously strive to improve the cost effectiveness UbiSlate 7C (Multi- UbiSlate 7+ (Resistive and performance of all our products and processes Specifications Touch Projective Touch Screen) while focusing on innovation. Datawind products are Capacitive Screen) tested under rigorous conditions to ensure their Price Rs.3,499 Rs.4,299 sturdiness for great performance. We work hard to Internet (option added in Rs. 98/month on make customer satisfaction our top priority. Rs. 98/month on Aircel early fall 2012) Aircel  Warranty: All Ubislate devices in India come with a Internet Optional: Rs.98/mo. on Aircel one year warranty Microprocessor Cortex A8 - 800 Mhz  Certifications: Government of India, Department of RAM 256MB IT -- Standardization Testing and Quality Certification Directorate: ERTL certified and passed 2GB [note: 7C was Flash Memory 2GB Drop, Dry Heat, Cold, Vibration, Damp Heat and announced with 4G] Burn tests; Bureau Veritas Quality International Battery 3000 mAh (BVQI) – now known as Bureau Veritas Certification Android 2.3 [note: initial versions were shipped OS (BVC): Cleared all physical, functional and with version 2.2] operational tests; Ministry of Human Resources and Network WiFi & GPRS (SIM & Phone functionality) Development, Government of India: Durability Drop test report posted on the Ministry’s website. Dear Friends, I'm pleased to report that deliveries have started!

Although thousands of units are being delivered daily, the demand and backlog is very significant. Customers that Exhibit F2. Early Comments: Ubislate 7+ have pre-paid are given priority. The backlog of pre-paid Medianama: http://www.medianama.com/2012/05/223-aakash-tablet-rti-rs-47-72-cr- customers will be caught-up by the end of this month. You for-100000-tabs-cost-49-98-each-no-tender-docs-with-ministry/ may have noticed a price-change on the UbiSlate 7+  June 8 (Laddi) Got my tablet tooo! model, please note that this change does not apply to customers that have pre-paid for their units, they will still  June 11 (Tamil): Great tablet! be delivered product for their original price. To  June 11 (Durga679): I seriously thought it was understand why we had to change it, Please click here scam. But now I get their tablet in mail. Very good. [new price is due to change in $/rupee exchange rate]. Aakashtablet.in: http://www.aakashtablets.in/resources/2767-I- Have-Got-Aakash-Tablet.aspx As you will see in the chart above, we will also soon start  June 15 (Rohan): Hi, I have received my Ubislate deliveries of the UbiSlate 7C model. This is a multi-touch 7+. Its amazing at this price tag but to my surprise it capacitive screen unit. At an MRP of only Rs .4,299, it is is still having Android 2.2 and not 2.3. On contacting a fraction of the cost of any other capacitive screen tablet their customer support they have told that "By computer in the market, and yet also offers smartphone Mistake" this has happened in the first lot and will functionality. Don't worry, even if you've ordered and get it upgraded to 2.3 in a month’s time. Otherwise pre-paid for the UbiSlate 7+ model, you will be sent an the device is good....Happy Tabbingg!!! Email and given an opportunity to upgrade to the UbiSlate 7C model prior to delivery. Please allow me to again thank you personally for your patience, as the response continues to be overwhelming. If

Exhibit F3. Detailed Review: Device & which always sticks out. Service  Operating system: The tablet has Android 2.2 instead of 2.3 (Gingerbread) mentioned in the Ubislate 7+, Hands on Experience: Aakash specifications and there is only one hardware (home) https://sites.google.com/site/sharmavipulk/ button on the tablet which is of poor quality. The back and settings option can be accessed on the right 29 May 2012, Delhi hand top of the screen which are quite responsive for (Vipul): After a wait of a resistive touch screen. five months and sending  Screen: I have had difficulties while registering the the payment in advance, I touch which is resistive. The problem may be that we got my Ubislate 7+ tablet are so used to using capacitive touch screen, going yesterday. This wait was back to resistive makes us uncomfortable. not easy as I was writing an  Apps: The biggest lack is that the tablet doesn't come email every 2 weeks with preinstalled android app market / Google play. following up for my order This leaves me no option but to install applications which was due in March from a pen drive. and the customer support is  Browser: The android browser worked fine and I pretty slow which usually was able to watch Youtube videos as well. responds in 10-15 days.  Battery: The battery works for around 2.5hours  Delivery: It came by Bluedart courier yesterday when fully charged. evening and there was mess up with the information  I shall update more information and usage details on the shipments. My colleague's order had my name here. Till then keep hoping that you get yours soon. but his contact number. So we could identify that it was his order. Anyway, we opened a neat looking 30 May: Day 2 - One tablet out of three goes down :( box and it included the following: Tablet, charger,  My colleague brought his tablet to me which was battery preinstalled in the tablet, user manual (not acting weirdly. Surprisingly it is showing mirror very user friendly), warranty certificate, a small how image on the display and is only working when the to card. charger is plugged in. The display seems to be gone  Case: The tablet is made out of plastic material and bad. I did some research and found that the only way doesn't really feel nice. We shouldn't complain coz to fix this is by a hard reset. Unfortunately, volume we have got what we have paid for. Anyway the rocker buttons are required to do this exercise. As the screen is glossy and leaves touch marks when used. tablet doesn't have hardware buttons for the volume, The back is matt black which also gets dirty easily. we may have to send it back to the technical support.  Turning it on: On the side of the tablet is one small  On the other working tablet, I configured the APN glossy button along with the charging port, press and settings for MTNL Prepaid sim Delhi. The good hold this button to power on the tablet. If you press news here is that this device is not network locked for the button and screen shows a red light and goes off, Aircel. Then I went into the network selection menu do not worry. This shows that the battery is low. and selected the "MTNL 3G" network and created an  Phone: The tablet supports the mobile phone APN with the settings. UBISURFER ONLY functionality; however, you can't make/take a call WORKS ON GPRS and not on WIFI. Don't ask me without a headset because there is no microphone on why?? When we opened the Ubisurfer after installing the tablet. Moreover, the speaker quality of the tablet GPRS settings for MTNL, it took us to registering didn't impress me much. It's quite inferior, I'm sure steps and we did it easily. that could have been made better.  We opened www.yahoo.co.in and it showed distorted  Sim card slot: I had to try a lot of times before the colours for some gif images. This could be due to tablet recognized the sim card, please note carefully poor screen resolution or lack of hardware support. the correct way of inserting sim card in the slot. Be  Browsing experience on Ubisurfer was acceptable as careful with the plastic hinge for sim slot, it's very there was no lag. weak and if not handled carefully it might break.  The keyboard is responsive, It only takes a bit of time  USB port: The tablet has 1 full size USB port instead before it can accept another keystroke (keypress) of 2 as promised in the specifications. The benefit of response from the user. this is you can plug and play any of your pen drives  The tablet gets heated up even after a short use and up to 32GB capacity. I tried hard on all the 3 tablets may be uncomfortable if kept on your lap. which I have got but was unsuccessful in inserting  We even tried to figure out the information and did the microsd card, which is quite annoying for the fact some tests on the tablets. that the only option you have got now is a pen drive

 By the way, after using Facebook from the Ubisurfer,  I have installed getjar to download android apps on Facebook on the computer shows that the account the tablet. I did try some other Android application was accessed from somewhere in Quebec Canada. It stores but none of them were as convincing as seems like Ubisurfer works by compressing data Google Play Store. Tubemate, Dolphin Player and through its server which is located in Canada. A other players are working fine. I was able to similar technology is used by Opera for its mobile download youtube videos using the trusted and stable browser application Opera mini to cut down on data Tubemate software which I have used on my cost and rendering is fast. previous Android smartphone. The only problem with these players is that once you play a video you 29 May: Phone conversation with tech support. can't go back..... reason is there is no hardware button Looking at the disappointment of my colleague, I decided on the tablet and the videos are played in full screen to call up the Technical support for live help. The lady on mode by default. So to close the video, you have to the phone was confused when I told her about the peculiar press home button on the tablet, Go to App killer problem of mirror image display on my tablet. She (came preinstalled) and kill the video player app. I brought another guy, Simranpal Singh on the phone who don't like it but don't have a choice either. satisfied me with his responses.  I have installed Angry birds and was able to play it  My tablets are Froyo (2.2) not Gingerbread (2.3), as with some lag due to delayed video processing. promised. All tablets are currently shipped with However, for kids it will work. You can't play a lot of Froyo and soon we shall give you an update for the fun games because you don't have accelerometer on software. the device. But still, you have choice of installing  I can't use Micro SD card in my tablet. The Micro SD games out of the a few hundreds available on card won't go in fully. It will remain outside and different app stores. should work. Please try again.  I was able to install and use all office documents and  My tablet is acting funny and is displaying a mirror pdf using Office Suite professional which is on trial image instead. This is a new problem and we have for 30 days. As I was not interested in paying and not come across it so far. However, we will deal with was only interested in using pdf's, I installted Adoble it, please provide details of the tablet and your Reader which is totally free and very user friendly contact information for us to get back to you with a app. I am using this app on my Lumia and really like resolution of this problem. We may have to it the way it works. reconfigure your device and I shall let you about it soon. 01 June 2012: Phone follow up. I got a call from  I can't make or receive call on the tablet as there is no Datawind informing me about a reference number for my microphone. Yes sir, you can't make or receive a call complaint about the colleague's tablet. I have been without a headset. Please use a 3.5" headphone with requested to visit their service centre [in Jasola District mic compatible with Samsung tablets or iPhones. Centre in New Delhi] to get the tablet fixed or replaced Avoid using Nokia headsets, they are a bit (as the case maybe) upon providing the reference number. complicated. I will visit the service centre tomorrow and shall raise the  He gave me his email address and I am sending him following problems: (1) one USB port instead of two; (2) images of the tablet that I took. Let's see what Micro SD card not recognized; (3) using the mobile happens next. phone feature; (4) upgrading to Android Gingerbread 2.3. Will update here upon return.. 01 June 2012: Phone. I called up to check about the status of my complaint for the tablet. I was informed that 02 June 2012: Visit to the technical division: The they have forwarded my complaint to the technical team location of the technical Division (which I thought was and are awaiting response to it. Mr Simranpal Singh will the service centre) was in a posh DLF building in Jasola be available after 2pm and I call back to check the exact Vihar which is professionally managed. After going status with him. through the security check on the ground floor, I was  We tried using a Nokia headset (3.5mm) with built in allowed to enter. The technical unit is on the fifth floor microphone to make a call using the tablet. and not every lift stops here. Upon reaching the floor, I Unfortunately despite of various attempts and noticed that not many offices were occupied here and as I adjusting the pin and jack we were not successful to located Datawind on the floor, the office seemed well send the voice from the tablet. After failed attempt, I equipped in terms of security at the entry. As there was no tried a phone call on the other tablet but that also bell, I had to knock on the glass door to grab someone's didn't go through. Either the headset is incompatible attention to open the door for us. Anyway, I was allowed or the tablets have some limitation. Will check back in by a young lady who greeted us well and enquired the again using another headset and update it here. purpose of our visit. Upon informing her about the problems of the tablet, she requested us to wait until we

are attended by a technician. After a few minutes, Mr  My tablet doesn't offer any built-in applications to Gurpreet Singh came to help us and enquired about the open word, excel, ppt, & pdf files. Sir, I think your problems I was facing with the tablet. When I told him tablet belongs to the first lot shipped out as we have about the inverse reverse display, he was eager to see how installed many applications since the initial it looked because even he had not seem such a fault. Upon production of these tablets. carefully examining the display and the tablet, he told that  Why didn't you put Google play? Sir, Google charges it would be replaced. He took a copy of the invoice and approx USD 10 per device for installing Google assured me of a replacement soon. I was assured that the marketplace / Goolgle Play Store. This would replacement shall be send to me by courier. ultimately lead to increase in the cost of the tablet. The conversation we had: However, we are currently collaborating with various other companies who are offering android  A lot of people are eagerly awaiting for the tablets application stores. This would benefit our customers and there's a lot hue and cry about it. Sir, we know while locating applications. about it. This was due to some delays during approval and a truly unexpected number of orders we  Can I use 3G device on the tablet? No, currently no received from our Indian customers. 3G USB dongle is currently compatible with this tablet. We are working on our own 3G USB dongle  Although you can justify the delay, how would you which may be released within a couple of months. justify the lapses in your customer care helpline and the inefficient email responses? Sir, we are aware of  What about the keyboard and case for the tablets? the situation and we are constantly working to Sir, we are working on it and it will be available improve our customer handling team. soon. You may get keyboard or case from Nehru Place market, they have them already. They are  I was connected to your call centre but nobody spoke expensive as compared to what we are going to bring from the other side, although I could hear female for our customers. noises from the other side. Sir, we are constantly working to improve and hope that we shall be able to  My display has got so many scratches within a few cater to all our customers. days? We advise you to get a scratchguard to protect your display.  Why is such a delay and how much time do you think these deliveries are going to take? Sir, we have  I can't read the product number of the tablet on the received millions of order and we are currently back of my tablet. Sir, you can see the product dispatching tablets to our customers who have made number by opening Ubisurfer. IMEI number can be payments. It is our obligation to service those who found by pressing *#06# on the phone. We are aware have already paid us the full amount for the tablet. of the problem of the stickers used initially and we have already improved the quality of stickers for our  I have heard that you are bringing a new version of new products. (He showed me a device and it was the tablet with capacitive touchscreen. Indeed, the good) tablet has the same specifications as Ubislate 7+ but comes with a better touchscreen. This tablet is  I am writing a blog on my website and on the Aakash expected to be priced at INR4,000. forum. These are being followed by thousands of your customers and all are very eager to know about  I was expecting my tablet would come with Android the deliveries. Sir, I would like to thank you for Gingerbread (2.3) and it was shipped with Froyo taking the initiative to reach out to our customers and (2.2)? Original plans were to ship these tablets with I assure that very soon our customer care team will Android ver 2.3, however, due to some technical be equipped to efficiently handle all the customers. glitches during it's testing we found it unstable. As we were running behind on the deliveries, we shipped 05 June 2012: Email follow up. I have received an email the tablets with Android ver 2.2. We will soon bring that the replacement tablet will reach you shortly. the update to all the tablets enabling them to upgrade to Android ver 2.3. 08 June 2012: App sources. For all those who are willing to download applications on the tablet may try the  I can't make calls even with a headset. Sir, only following free app stores. These are alternates to the Samsung and iPhone headsets will work with this Google Play Store: Getjar; Slideme; Opera mobile app tablet. Nokia headsets are not compatible with this store; AppBrain; Soc.io Mall; Handango; Onlyandroid; tablet (I actually tried Nokia headset only) Insyde Market; Appoke.  Why one USB port? We couldn't make the other port work so we removed it and this tablet will be shipped 14 June 2012: Replacement delay. I have not received with one USB port only. my tab replacement till today, so decided to call Mr  Micro SD card is not recognized by the tablet? Sir, It Gurpreet Singh. He was surprised to know that I haven't will work and I will show you how (I forgot to learn got my replacement tab yet. He said that he will check :( before leaving how to do this) with his Amritsar office and update me the status. I got a

call from him in the evening informing that there was audio jack doesn't work with this. Tablet hanged some delay in the shipment and it will be dispatched while playing bubble blaster and to wait until battery tomorrow. Once he gets the shipment docket number, he'll drained out to shutdown it. There is no way to pull give it to me. I believe that I have developed a good out the battery. amount of patience while purchasing this tablet, so delay  June 12 (Ramachandran): Thank U for opening a of a week is not considerable now (just being optimistic site like this, I got my tablet yesterday. But it shows and trying to keep myself happy). I am hoping that I get a the time incorrectly. Even if I set the time it shows better version of the tablet this time with upgraded incorrect time, ie the clock is running very slow. How applications. Keeping my fingers crossed. Will keep you can I correct the problem. posted.  June 12 (Prasanna): Datawind is a pucca blade September 19, 2012: No further entries so far. company. GOI should wake up and do something for this type of cheating. Examples of comments following Vipul’s review  June 13 (Rahul): Bad device Tuli is actual fraud. He  May 29 (Darshan): Great work Vipul. Thank you is making money. I heard that so many cases are filed for consoling us after a long wait. against him and he will be sent jail soon for fraud.  May 31 (Deepak): Good work, thanks! I think  June 16 (Vipul): Just a little update to the [delivery] everybody should ask for refund now. information, Datawind seem to have upgraded their  June 1 (Abhirup): I got my Ubislate 7+ 2 days back. courier service provider from DTDC to Bluedart & I am facing a problem of not able to get out of video Fedex because of damages to the shipments. Let's by stopping it midway 2 the previous menu. If I stop hope this works in our interest. Don't lose hope guys, the video mid way the only way 2 get out of it is to Datawind has to make money to run their business. press the home button and go all the way back to the They can't loot you once... Our future president (ex home screen,which is very disturbing. finance minister) will not spare them :)  June 1 (hi5): I called cc to talk abt usb port those  June 17 (hi5): Vipul bro u r talking abt ex minister stupid ppl said one usb port wasnt working so they cmon now even if u give some demandable money removed instead of fixing that port wt a rubbish they will shut their mouth doesnt matter for them wt service it takes  June 4 (Prakash): thanks for this review. I have  June 20 (Venkat): I inserted Vodafone sim and it's decided to cancel my order and book BSNL or other working for internet; to open Google page it has tablet. Thank you again. taken 8 mints. Phone: I tried calling facility but not  June 4 (Vikky): I also got tablet, but it have lot of working properly. I am able to listen voice but my problems. Always goes to hang. Battery backup max voice is not reaching to the end. Same in the case of 1 hour 30 minutes. Sim is also not working. I call cc receiving call; some bad noise is coming instead of many times they are not responding what I do now. other end voice. I tried with Samsung head phones Why not I had taken refund. still no luck. Internet using GPRS: for internet I had  June 4 (Rahul): Sorry for your tablet Vikky. I had added access point so that it worked. I got access also sent request for refund. But they are not point settings in my mobile same as I used in this responding to me also. tablet then only GPRS worked. SMS: I am able to  June 4 (Vipul): Vikky & Rahul, Have you inserted send SMS and receive sms perfectly. Questions: So the sim correctly for the tablet to read it? Please read we need to wait until Datawind 3G dongle come to carefully the steps above because it even took us a the market; Tata Photon is not supported right? Do while to understand the correct procedure to use it. we need to wait until Android 2.3 update by For the hanging problem, this lag could be due to an Datawind to use Skype Video chatting & external installation of an application which is not easily webcam? How can I contact customer care in handled by the processor. Is the tablet hanging on a Bangalore to fix this calling problem? particular or app or in General? Guys, I have sent my  June 25 (Sudhir): I have received tablet week ago tablet for repair/replacement and I am expecting a after a long await. Unfortunately Wi Fi is not replacement very soon. I had a very good working I complained for this problem at customer professional experience with their technical team. I'll service but not satisfying answer. It is hard ware share soon. I'm sure nobody would be willing to problem. Tablet has to be replaced. refund your money once you have got the tablet..  July 16 (Ramesh): I feel collectively all of us can  June 10 (Suneel): Thanks for sharing the info. I also move the consumer forum for refund. If interested pl. received my Ubislate 7+ and having similar issues. mail me at [email protected]. Vodafone SIM is not working. Nokia's Micro SD

card is working with Ubislate 7+. Nokia's 3.5mm

Exhibit F4. Comments: Ubislateforums.com points: My memory card is working!!! I was able to see photos, videos and hear songs. I used my Samsung Galaxy mobile ear phone. The sound clarity is very good. Sim facility is working. Checked with BSNL and Aircel, both working I can hear the call from the other end. Battery backup. I got 3 hrs. and little more. GPRS ok. Internet is ok. but speed is very slow. Summary: For me I think it of no use. If software problems solved and able to use applications, then it will be good for that price. I tried  June 7 (pramod): I got a Ubislate 7+ tab, but its several times to call cc, but as u know it never get Android 2.2 Froyo edition not 2.3 Gingerbread. Can connects. I will keep on trying to contact them, if u pls tell me how can I make it 2.3 Gingerbread? problems solved I will update. So my request to COD Froyo edition doesn't support many apps. Its urgent. customers, think twice before you buy it. If the above  June 21 (hemanthal): I have got a new UBISLATE things are ok, then carry on.... else think again!! 7. It is not switching on. I charged it for longer time.  June 23 (shivasharmaarya @reethesh): Whats the Tried to switch it on during charging and also after standby time; were you able to connect an pendrive; removal from charger. But it is blank. how is screen quality; what speeds are you achieving  June 17 (retheesh): After dispatching the product is using GPRS (rather it depends on network); touch is not reached in 15 days from Gujrath to Kerala. I think comparable to which handset (estimately); they are delivering by walk. Delivery partner said autorotation is avail (g.sensor or accelerometer); they dispatched through DTDC. DTDC said the .should we go for ubislate7c or leave Datawind and shipment was returned due to insufficient address and find another product? no phone number in address. We know no courier  June 24 (rateesh @ shiva): It behaves strange. agencies will accept any shipment without phone Today after full charging, I disconnected charger and number. Then how it will happen? If it happened, powered on device it suddenly displayed an error Datawind is responsible for that. I have given message that the battery is low, and I connected complete address and 2 mobile numbers 1 landline charger and then battery status was 93%. Donno what number. Then maybe Datawind gave then incomplete is going on. About pen drive, I actually didn't check address, because I think they may not be dispatched it; will update it soon. I think screen quality is not original tablet. They are delaying delaying delaying. I bad, I set brightness to full. GPRS speed is as of don't know, will get it or not. Have to wait for next 2 normal GPRS mobile internet speed. Touch screen months to get that waste product. quality is very low, I think old Chinese touch  June 21 (retheesh): Hi, all. Today I got Ubislate7+. I mobiles, but there we can select each item with a will give more updates later. Now I have to check it. stylus but here center part ok, but around 1cm from borders we can’t select anything. So to work with it is  June 23 (retheesh): Hi friends. I am very much difficult. No autorotation or manual rotation. I donno disappointed with my Ubislate 7+. Key complaints: about Ubislate 7c so can’t judge it. Let’s search for No a single application is working!!!!!! Not a game other tabs. Cheap cost products will be cheap working. Every time if select an application I am always..... we all wasted our time and money...... getting sorry the ..... is stopped unexpectedly..... error message I am getting. Not able to register the  June 24 (rateesh): Checked pen drive. It is working product. The Internet Ubi surfer is not working. fine. I was able to play videos from it. About phone, I When I try to type something it suddenly disappears. can hear clear voice from the other caller end. But my When watching movies suddenly the device went to voice is not reaching there; instead they are getting hang and I have to reset the device. To reset we need too much noise. That is the main problem. Messaging a safety pin or small needles. So I think if we want to works fine, incoming and outgoing. The device also use the tablet we have to keep a pin with us. When got a small speaker, from which we can hear songs, calling my sound is not clear to the other end. Too error messages tone, incoming ringtone etc. in a much noise that they can’t hear me. In key pad first 3 small volume. On connecting ear phone the device rows works fine, and not able to type from the 4th speaker mutes. And one more thing about touch row. Done button is there, so not able to finish the screen, I donno whether there is a screen guard in the type function. Software is full of errors. Wifi device. I am suspecting this because when pressing connection ok, but disconnects frequently. Touch some area I can feel some plastic cover pressing screen is very very poor. Because of poor touch effect, that at some area when I press the screen (or screen I think it will not be easy to play games. Plus screen guard) slips downwards to a little point and there I can feel a plastic coating elastic effect. That i

have to clarify from support team. I will update more configure Gmail sync to transfer contacts. details soon. Tomorrow I will call cc again. Update Alternate way would be to export the contacts you soon. to CSV from the Gmail account and then  June 24 (shivasharmaarya): Resistive screen has import it from SD card: am yet to try it. With two layers of plastic, When they came in contact the a headset, the phone works OK, but the screen operation is performed. You might be feeling that. orientation seems to be reversed (Ubislate logo at the bottom). I think this is because Exhibit F5. Ubislate 7+ First Impressions speaker is at the bottom.

June 26, 2012: http://ubislate7android.wordpress.com/ I Suggestions to DataWind: I think the following got my “Made in India” tab a week back, got some is desperately needed: time to play around with it, and am a pround  Increase RAM owner of the Ubislate 7+. Had pre-paid Rs 2999 to  Move to capacitive touch avoid Rs 200 shipping charges, and it came 2  Add mic, and make it a real phone months later than promised. Email responses were  Test applications properly quite delayed. Had to send payment details again by email to inform Datawind that I’ve already Closing Notes: paid! Here are first impressions:  Overall a good product.  Make “Made in India” tablets better by  Touch Screen: As expected, the touch is as buying / reviewing / reporting issues. good (bad) as any other tablet with resistive  Support people like Kapil Sibbal and touch screen. If you are used to capacitive Datawind who work for the masses. touch screen (iphone / ipad), it would be a bit  It would have been great if DataWind had challenging to get used to the resistive touch. revealed hardware configuration and made the Besides, it become sluggish on putting a development open source. scratch guard, so I am using it without one. I  I will be back once I dig into the tab bit more. recomment that it would be worth spending Rs 1000 more on the capacitive 7C model Exhibit F6. Uncertain ISP Support? (Launched, but not yet available for booking)  Apps: Apps work fine on the tablet. There DeccanChronicle: seem to be some Datawind specific http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/hyderabad/baap-all-tablets-593 customizations, not all good. There is a  June 10 (Shivai): BSNL connection problems default app “learn Punjabi” included. I think may happen with Aakash: The product [Askash] what India needs is “learn English” for the is good and will revolutionize 'Student world' but I unprivileged. A couple of games including fear the GPRS connectivity and service availability Angry Birds don’t work possibly because of problems and sheer non-sense carelessness by limited RAM. Datawind package manager BSNL or Reliance as I experienced in Pune for exits on being started. The menu buttons in GPRS mobile access [for BSNL’s competing tab]. accounts app cause the activity to close. It o I subscribed [for BSNL] GPRS 98/99 plans of indicates how poorly the applications have 3GB by both Reliance and BSNL at Pune and been tested. Tried looking for Adobe’s PDF with unlimited tries and calling them it worked reader in the GetJar application, but did not maybe for 8 to 9 months ago. Reliance did not find one. Used browser to download the apk support for email still. Reliance and BNSL onto desktop, but could not install it.Tried misbehaved in certain areas with no looking for Youtube app like an iPad has, but connectivity for GPRS. Now last three to four did not find one. Youtube loads fine from the months from BSNL I could not fetch few KB's browser, did not find a way to exit the data .Out of 2GB plans 99.99% times BSNL Youtube video (maybe there is one, but did GPRS down in Pune. Apart from harassment not find it intuitively by touching the video) [of] call center it never worked for last three to  Phone: I was quite upset on seeing that the four months. As no choice I renewed as amount phone functionality requires a headset to be is small but still they Do not Care. GPRS by used, since the tablet (possibly) does not have BSNL in Pune does not work or there is a mic. This should have been mentioned on congestion or technical problem. their website. Many people might land up o Now Aakash is competitor for BSNL Tabs. buying the tablet to use it as a phone, and will Then what is the guarantee that they will not do be disappointed. Hiding such an important technical politics. point is cheating! Could not figure out how to

Datawind -- A Tablet for the Masses National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT), N.K. Sinha, (G): Ubislate Upgrades & Aakash 2 projected that “We envision all 220 million students across India to be enabled by low cost Aakash devices in In September 2012, the coming years” Datawind announced [http://www.telecomtiger.com/mobile_tabs_fullstory.aspx upgrades to the ?passfrom=handsets&storyid=16129§ion=S182]. Ubislate, with four new models that In late January 2013, Suneet stated that Datawind would promised better complete its government orders by the end of March and battery life and a would catch up on commercial orders in six months. faster processor. Datawind continued to build a supply chain. The Prices ranged from company announced that it had contracted with at least R3,000 for a basic four firms in India to assemble the tablet, including its model with resistive most recent partner VMC, as well as using an internal screen to R4,500 for a facility in Amritsar; for some of the subcontractors, this capacitive screen and would be their first experience producing tablets. Wi-Fi and GPRS, Datawind reported that the facilities would have a with an additional combined capacity of about 3,000 units per day. Reports charge for broadband in November, though, suggest that much of the initial run capability plus $2 per of tablets was assembled by subcontractors in China and month for data Hong Kong. service. Datawind continued to receive international recognition Initial reactions to the new models were positive. One and some international sales. In November, Forbes review of the Ubislate 7Ci [capacitive screen with WiFi] magazine included Suneet Singh Tuli in its list of top 15 noted that “This new tablet appears to have passed a education innovators. The publication stated that the battery of usability tests, & the new processor [Cortex A8; tablet has "the potential to revolutionise educational 1Ghz] seems to handle most computing tasks quite well” access in the developing world." By early 2013, [http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/20/aakash-tablet/]. meanwhile, Datawind had created small projects with Another review concluded that “Datawind Ubislate 7Ci, a several governments in South America and Africa, such sibling of the much-hyped Aakash 2, is a decent device as Zambia. for those who want a budget tablet for basic usage”

[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-

23/gadgets-special/34679358_1_aakash-tablet-micromax- funbook]. Several users reported satisfaction with their new devices, although some noted continuing concerns about battery life and build quality http://tech2.in.com/reviews/tablets/ubislate-7ci- review/490262]. The upgrade appeared likely to provide tables for the initial contract with the HRD. In the summer, Kapil Sibal announced an expected fall launch of the Aakash 2 to fulfill the contract. IIT-Mumbai continued to test the Aakash/Ubislate, after requesting an upgrade to Android 4.0 and a 1Ghz processor. On November 11, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee formally announced the launch of the Aakash 2. DataWind would sell the tablet to the HRD Ministry for R2,263 a unit, while the government would then sell it to students for as low as Photo: Sanjiv Misra/Agence France‐Presse — Getty Images R1,130. IIT- Mumbai, meanwhile, announced that it had President Pranab Mukherjee, center, holding Aakash 2 in developed new apps for the Aakash 2 platform for use by New Delhi (Nov. 11, 2012). engineering students. Distribution of the units for the 1 lahk Aaksah contract, which Datawind was obligated to fulfill by the end of the year, was likely to begin in late 2012 or early 2013. Looking forward, the director of the

Datawind -- A Tablet for the In December, the company announced launches in the UK and Canada (www.ubislate.ca), with prices starting below Masses (H): Gaining Scale in India, $40. A review by Raju Mudhar in the Toronto Star in Launch in Canada January 2014 concluded that the Ubislate does not compete with top end tablets but, in terms of price to

performance, they are “impressive” and, at $38, it is “good enough”.

Consumer reviews of the Ubislate and Datawind’s service support in India continued to be mixed.

FLIPKART.COM: Reviews Of Datawind Ubislate 7C+ Edge Tablet, listed at R4999 Average Rating = 3.3/5, Based on 51 ratings (reviews listed on November 10, 2013)  5 star: 25  4 star: 3 Ubislate 7C+ Edge  3 star: 3  2 star: 2 During 2013, Datawind finally completed its government  1 star: 18 contract for the Aakash and gained substantial commercial sales with the Ubislate tablet. Examples of 1 star reviews

Worst Tablet (November 3, 3013): This is the worst The Indian market for tablets grew actively during the tablet i have ever used. Purchased in Feb' 13. Initially it year. According to the CMR India Quarterly Tablet PC worked fine for a few months but started showing Market Review, 2Q (April-June) 2013, over 1,150,000 connectivity problems with 2G internet. The service is the Tablets were shipped in the 2nd quarter of 2013, by as WORST of all the products i have ever purchased. many as 70 domestic and international vendors, with Needed to sent the product twice to Amritsar on my own thirteen vendors shipping in volumes of more than 20,000 cost but then to my problem was not resolved. I have now units during the period. The overall growth in shipments dumped it as it does'nt even switches on. My verdict to all of tablets in the India market reached 107% year-on-year the customers buy this product at your OWN RISK. 1 star (2Q CY 2013 over 2Q CY 2012) growth, together with a as it was the min. requirement to post my review. more moderate 27% quarter-on-quarter (2Q CY 2013 over 1Q CY 2013) increase. In Q3, another1,204,410 World's dirty tab (September 24, 2013): Never go for tablets were shipped, by about 43 vendors. this tab these models are flap in india. No service centres no customer care worst tab of all . Single star is too high Tablets available in the country were becoming for this tab for the service they provide increasingly sophisticated. CMR reported that about 80% Don't think of purchasing Ubislate 7C+ Edge tablet of the models launched during the period had both 3G and (November 8, 2013): Datawind Ubislate commitments Wi-Fi connectivity. The 3G functionality reflected while selling the product are false and don't have well growing data consumption amongst telecom subscribers equipped service centre for support even at Delhi. to access social media networks and IM accounts, play Not up to mark (November 1, 2013): you shouldnot buy online games, keep up with corporate and personal mail, it.camera is worst.it hangs too..battery backup poor.better and otherwise browse the web. Tablets with dual-SIM to go for other tablets. functionality also arrived in the India market. Waste of money (October 19, 2013): Please Dont buy Datawind reached the top three position in unit sales in any ubislate product. Total waste of money. No software each of the first three quarters of 2013. In Q1, CMR update, lagging, Display gets hangded after 10-15 mins of reported that Datawind had the leading position, with a use. Try other tablets instead of buying any ubislate tabs. share of 15.3% of shipments. In Q2, Samsung had the leading position (21%), followed by Datawind (12.5%) Examples of 5 star reviews and Micromax (9.7%). In Q3, Samsung again led (15%), followed by Lenovo (13.3%) and Datawind (12.4%). The Ubislate 7c+ (October 22, 2013): This is the first time top 13 vendors had 81% share in Q2 and 88% in Q3. that this type of thing is happening. Aakash project is proving to be revolution in Indian history as the Datawind joins hand with TES which is one of the reputed

community which provides the top quality teaching Summary financials for Datawind UK PLC material to Indian students and teachers .With this 3/29/20013 31/12/2011 collaboration now students don’t have to buy the bulky Profit & Loss (£) and costly books. This will give a great help to students 15 months 12 months they will get the all pre-loaded syllabus in one tablet. Turnover £4,807,000 £872,000 My reviews (November 9, 2013): I have seen negative Gross profit 531,000 207,000 comments for this tablets but it doesn't make any R&D expense 920,000 573,000 difference to my review, I have ordered Ubislate 7c+ and 3,435,000 got the delivery in three days. Thanks to Flipkart,when i Administrative expenses 3,430,000 used this tablet i felt that i should write a review about Net profit -3,824,000 -3,796,000 this tablet which will also guide other customers also. First of all with these kind of features and this price you Net current liabilities/ -377,000 1,234,000 can not find any another tablet in market. Processing is Shareholders' funds fast, Camera quality is good, No lagging, Moreover apps added by company are amazing. So i will give 5 stars to this tablet. Creditors (due within one year) Trade creditors 2,411,000 1,235,000 Good service (October 28, 2013): The service of the Datawind is very fast and good. I faced some problem in Short term finance 1,320,000 my tablet, They have arranged the pickup of the tablet and Employees 137 22 my tablet get replaced within a week. Now my tablet is Geographic segment sales working fine. UK 49,000 673,000 Review on Ubislate tablet (October 30, 3013): After using my tablet for one and a half month I am giving my India 4,015,000 199,000 review about this tablet. First of all i would like to praise Other 743,000 0 Datawind company to provide a calling facility tablet in Note: The parent company’s subsidiary Datawind Ltd., which sells that price. Advantages: 1.Very smooth touch screen; products in the UK, also reports financials; for the 15 months ending March 31, 2013, the subsidiary reported turnover of £904,230 and losses 2.Processing is fast; 3.No lagging. Disadvantages: of £2,394,987. 1.Battery Backup-Its only 5 to 6 hours. But it is acceptable. Awesome Product (October 21, 2013): This product is very low cost according to its services and as i could read all the reviews about this product before buying it 30% customers were uncomfortable with it. But it's depend on how we handle it, otherwise it is very good tablet. due to low configuration it might work slow, because working process totally depends on RAM.