Datawind offers 1 year free BSNL internet for Ubislate tablets

DataWind has announced retail partnership with Univercell to sell its Ubislate tablets 7Cz and Ubislate 3G7 tablet PCs through 500 retail outlets across southern India and buyers will be provided with 12 months free unlimited internet through BSNL.

"The relationship with UniverCell significantly expands our distribution by adding a significant player from the retail channel to support our tablet sales," Suneet Singh Tuli, chief executive at DataWind, said in a statement.

Until now, DataWind products were primarily available to the customer through e-commerce and direct-to-consumer channels such as TV home-shopping.

RK Mishra, chief general manager, BSNL – Karnataka Circle, said: “The association with DataWind will assist BSNL to expand its 3G customer base and promote BSNL services.”

The company was first to make tablet PC Aakash, which cost the government Rs 2,276 per unit. The company has been also selected for supplying Aakash 4 which is expected to cost around Rs 3,500 and will support 4G services as well.

Aakash was launched in India in 2011 and was dubbed the "world's cheapest touch-screen tablet". It was aimed at schools and colleges. The first version was not well received by critics, but an upgraded version, the Aakash 2, fared better.