Intel Signs Up Vendors for Classmate PC in India

Intel Corp. has tied up with three large Indian PC vendors, including HCL Infosystems Ltd., Wipro Ltd., and Zenith Computers Ltd to assemble the Classmate PC, a PC specially designed for schools. The company will start shipping the product to Indian schools in September, 2007.

The Classmate PC will be sold only to schools, and not through retail channels to consumers. The Classmate PC has been specially designed to work in a networked classroom environment, and comes with software and features that give the teacher in the classroom control over the dissemination of content to students' PCs. The PC, which can run both Linux and Windows operating systems, is powered by a 900MHz Intel Celeron mobile processor, and comes with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. The price of the product with the control software will be INR 18,000 with the education software and Wi-Fi connectivity available at extra cost.