You have to wonder whether India will ever get to see the much heralded ‘$35 tablet’ as the manufacturing story descends deeper into farce (see Twists and turns in low-cost tablet saga).
According to latest media reports, Datawind, the UK-based manufacturer of the '$35' Aakash tablet, is refusing to supply any more devices until they get paid for the first 10,000 aleready shipped to its Indian partner on the project, IIT Rajasthan. The press reports say that the cost of the 10k tablets already shipped was around $45 each. Furthermore, the Indian government has refuted suggestions that Datawind has been ejected from the tender for the follow-up Aakash 2 tablet. Breaths should not be held.