Aakash tab or some call it Akash Tab, the cheapest Tablet PC available in the world would come up in a different avatar by October, almost a year after it was unveiled to public. Called Aakash 2, the tab would have enhanced features and would be fitted with a faster processor and enhanced battery life
Kapil Sibal, who was the driving force behind making of Aakash 1 said, Â “It (the idea of low cost computer) was rejected throughout the world and it was said that India would not be able to make it.
Our HRD ministry was committed to the Aakash project and ultimately we came out with the first version of the Aakash which costs Rs 2,276. Truely it was Kapil Sibal’s effort in making the tablet which needs recognition.
“Now, Aakash 2 has been rolled out with battery life of three hours, 800MHz processor, providing internet access everywhere and it has a capacitive screen. The process to distribute this device has begun and it would be formally launched very soon,” Sibal said at the first convocation of BITS Hyderabad. Sibal had already  inaugurated  Aakash 2 Tab at IIT-Bombay in June.
“That was the dream and I as minister for Human Resource Development, asked myself the question can I provide a tablet to the students throughout the country that costs a reasonable amount so that all children can afford it and yet is able to deliver through the best technology, the vast information available on the net to them sitting wherever they are,” Kapil said.
Sibal had announced in June that 100,000 upgraded Akash-2 tablets will be given to engineering colleges, for which deliveries were expected to begin in July.
“We have realised a dream that was germinated a few years ago. We have been able to tell the world that through our frugal innovation system we can conquer the world and that’s exactly what we need to do for India as a country,” the minister said.
Soon after its launch in October 2011, Aakash faced many a hiccup. Following this, IIT-Bombay was handed over the responsibility of the first phase of the project.