Binatone is a UK-based company that specializes in the field of telecommunications, and in one big swoop, has entered the Indian market with a product that will surely grab the attention of millions – an affordable Android tablet it calls the Home Surf Touch Tablet.
Running Android 1.6 and featuring a resistive touchscreen, the 8-inch tablet’s features will not inspire awe, but its price will surely enhance its appeal, at Rs. 8,995. While that’s cheaper than most smartphones, keep in mind that it can’t make calls. However, as a handheld media consumption and web-browsing device, it will probably serve relatively well, if one takes into account it doesn’t support Flash, and, has not revealed its WiFi specifications, which we assume to be 802.11b/g. The company refers to the device as an MID, or mobile internet device.
Calling it “almost as slim as an iPad”, the company is “committed to breaking the barriers of technology reaching the masses” with the device, and bring the high-end to everyone at “affordable prices”.
Other specifications of the device include 2GB onboard storage (once again we are forced to assume it will feature microSD or SD expandability), 128MB RAM, and as the brains behind the device, an ARM 11 667MHz processor. As for battery life, the company said the Home Surf Touch Tablet can “retain its charge for several hours in video, web browsing, and many other applications for daily use.”
If you are wondering whether this will be the first and only device to be introduced by the company, Mr. Murthi, EVP Binatone India, assures you with these words: “Binatone plans to invest Rs 50 crores in the next 12 months in technology, product development and marketing. Our products are specifically “Indianised” with special features like “Audio boost”, “Power saver” and “Binatone Zone”, which all have been carefully market researched and implemented to address the specific Indian needs.” He added: “[Binatone] is also bringing in low cost 3G handsets by the end of the year to cater to the deployment of newer technologies in India.”
Binatone apparently has an Indian software team based out of Bangalore, which is exploring newer technologies to deliver cost-effective solutions in collaboration with the company’s semi-conductor partners. Compared to the OlivePad, which runs Android 2.1, is capable of telephony, and is priced around Rs. 25,000, the Home Surf Touch Tablet does stand a chance, if only in the media consumption space.