Low cost computers, affordable software, bandwidth = India 3.0? By Frederick Noronha
Rajesh Jain hit the headlines when he sold his IndiaWorld site for a few thousand million rupees. Today, his focus has shifted -- to taking computing to the commonman. "Most technology has been priced in dollars, putting it beyond the reach of a large number of businesses and consumers in emerging markets like India. The computer, which is the lynch-pin of an economy, is still seen as a luxury by many," he argues. But, Jain believes his lateral thinking and innovative solutions could battle the stumbling blocks. "We're working on something that could really make a difference," Jain told this correspondent. Currently, he argues that India needs "computers for Rs 5,000 (rpt five thousand) so that there can be one in every home and office; ubiquitous and cheap high-speed wireless communication; and software as a service for Rs 250 per month so that it is affordable". This, says Jain, would create a mass-market for the adoption of technology in India. No, these are not pipe-dreams for the managing director of Netcore Solutions who earlier founded IndiaWorld Communications, that grew into one of the largest collection of India-centric websites (comprising Samachar.com, Khel.com, Khoj.com and Bawarchi.com -- portals dealing with news, sports, Indian search-engines and food). Jain, who made history in Indian cyberspace when his earlier firm was acquired by Satyam Infoway in November 1999, says his goals are entirely feasible. "Fulfilling the list (of what Indian needs) may seem like a tall order. But the interesting thing is that the building blocks to put the solutions together already exist," argues Jain. Netcore, his current firm, is working to lower the cost to make computing affordable. To reduce computer prices, Jain suggests we go away from the "treadmill of enforced obsolence". New software is driving hardware upgrades every 3-4 years, he says. Thin Client-Thick Server Computing. That's Jain's new mantra. The solution, he believes, lies in making the computers discarded by the developed markets into thin clients. These clients don't need a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, they just need the bare minimum processing power and memory to run a windowing server (like the X Server). Essentially, the recycled PCs become graphical terminals, which connect to "thick servers". All computing and storage happens on these servers. The 'thick server' can actually be the latest desktop system, with enhanced memory and processing power. While the Indian market is pushing out slightly older models of computers, Jain suggests the large-scale use of recycled computers from developed markets. The US itself is disposing -- read, upgrading -- computers at the rate of more than 25 million each year. Netcore is working on a thin client-thick server solution. This means older, lower-configuration PCs would work off more powerful new computers. "The Rs 5000 computer can provide all the functionalities that users are accustomed to seeing on a computer in the corporate environment.... The next 500 million users across the digital divde are just as hungry as we (in universities) were a decade ago," he argues. Says Jain: "Technology is essential to bridge the digital divide. Yet, most technology has been priced in dollars, putting it beyond the reach of a large number of businesses and consumers in emerging markets like India. "The computer which is the lynch-pin of an economy, is still seen as a luxury by many. What can be done to create mass-market adoption of technology? What can be done to ensure that there is affordable and ubiquitous access to Internet-connected computers in developing countries like India?" The first India, argues Jain, built on its Independence to become agriculturally self-sufficient and feed its own people. The second India produces more software engineers than any other country and is a force to reckon with in the world of outsourced technology services. And yet, the technology revolution has touched but a handful. Yet much of India still remains "frozen in time". For India to progress, Indians have to progress. For Indians to progress, technology has to become a utility for the masses. Jain points to some interesting figures: The installed base of computers is 7 million for a population of 1 billion. Annual computer sales are stagnating at between 1.5-2 million since 2000. New computers still cost more than Rs 25,000, with the basic additional software (MS-Windows, MS-Office and anti-virus) costing an additional Rs 25,000. There are only about 6 million Internet connections in India, even as an hour of connectivity could still cost more than Rs 30. In a word: India is a great concept, but with poor execution. Interestingly, Jain is suggesting a switch-over to the Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) solutions based on GNU/Linux. Says he: "The total cost of these applications: zero. At a conservative estimate, the hardware-software savings with an Open Source-based thin client can be 75% or more as compared to a Microsoft Windows-Office fat desktop." In terms of broadband connectivity -- a fast linkup to the Net -- he suggests WiFi, the Wireless Fidelity technology also called 802.11. "It uses open spectrum, so there are no license fees applicable. WiFi enables the build-out of grassroots, bottom-up networks," he argues. Jain argues that there is a solid business model for all this. But wil India actually get its act together? Whether we can upgrade to India 3.0 (beyond post-Independence agricultural self-sufficiency, and producing more software engineers than any country in the world) depends on the next steps we take, argues Jain. 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