With a view to bridge the digital divide in developing countries, a Hong Kong-based company, Asiatotal.net has come up with a unique business model to provide free computers to communities. The company has developed a simple, portable desktop computer called iT, which has features to connect to the Internet, home entertainment devices, printer and USB card reader.

What sets this low-cost or free-cost computer model is that iT will be distributed free of charge to individuals and small businesses through the participation of sponsors and partners.

iT's keyboard includes around fourteen hotkeys which enable features like music, entertainment and e-mail with the touch of a single button. Judy S Chen, Asiatotal.net's president and CEO, hopes that this would attract partners and sponsors in areas like telecommunication, retail, financial services, entertainment, health care, media and others to establish brand loyalty and target new markets. “Ten hotkeys will be solely owned by sponsors while the rest would be for generic purposes like financial services or health care.”

Chen said that the company had not yet signed up with any sponsor in India and was on the look out for companies interested in signing up. The software on iT would be available in Hindi and English. Chen said that the company had already shipped orders to Brazil and is banking on markets in emerging countries like India, Russia and China.

“Our project is based on a business model to supply cost competitive computers free of charge for universal Internet access by sharing profits with partner companies in designated markets.”

She added that the free computer is aimed at families whose average annual income is around $1500.

CYBERMEDIA NEWS
BANGALORE

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