Designed as a low-cost alternative to PCs, the Simputer is now seeing a greater degree of adoption in e-governance projects, education and NGO sectors besides enterprises in India. Experts however, feel the need to promote this technology better and educate the users on its latent potential.

It is a handheld device, regarded as a PDA, having features that enables seamless connectivity. It is a device that's a low-cost portable alternative to PCs, through which the benefits of IT can reach the common man. This is the Simputer-an affordable PC with multiple connectivity options.

Launched in 2002, the Simputer was the result of an initiative from academics and technologists in the industry with a broad objective of benefiting all sections of the society. This group of people formed the Simputer Trust, which comprised individuals from the Computer Science and Automation at the Indian Institute of Science and from Encore Software in Bangalore. Two Bangalore-based firms-Encore Software and Picopeta Simputers-later decided to commercialize the Simputer.

Variants Of The Simputer

Encore Simputer Based on GNU/Linux software technology that is open and modular with a Linux Kernel version 2.4 ported on it Has Intel's StrongARM CPU, which is a RISC microprocessor designed for embedded applications Has V.34/V.90 modem and an IrDA interface for inter-working with PCs and compatible peripherals Built-in USB host port OS, tools and main application reside in flash ROM User profiles stored in flash memory or in the SmartCard Available in four models - 6432C, 3216C, 3216M, 1616M Picopeta Simputer Marketed as Amida Simputer, it comes with a Linux-based OS Has two USB ports Integrated SmartCard reader A touch screen interface that does away with input devices like a mouse or keyboard A standardized interface language called Information Markup Language (IML) Available in three models - Amida 1200, 1600 and 4200

The Encore Simputer
This Simputer is based on GNU/Linux software technology that is open and modular. The Linux Kernel version 2.4 has been ported to it. The initial version of the Simputer is based on Intel's StrongARM CPU, which is a Reduced Instruction-set (RISC) microprocessor designed for embedded applications.

The StrongARM has a high level of integration and performance at a relatively low level of power consumption. To enable rapid development and deployment of application software, the basic development platform uses GTK. A Java Virtual Machine can also be provided for those application developers that want to benefit from platform independence for their applications.

The primary connectivity option is a V.34/V.90 modem. There is also an IrDA interface for inter-working with PCs and IrDA-compatible peripherals such as printers. Finally, there is a built-in USB host port that can be used for extension and peripherals that cannot be integrated within the device.

The Simputer operating system, tools and the main application reside in flash ROM so that the system can quickly start operation when powered up. User profiles can be stored in flash memory as accessible files or also in the SmartCard. The Encore Simputer is available in four models 6432C, 3216C, 3216M, 1616M.

The Picopeta Simputer
Picopeta's Simputer is globally marketed under the brand name of Amida Simputer. It comes with a Linux-based operating system and has two USB ports, which ensure that it can work well with an array of devices like printers and digital cameras. This product is available in three models - Amida 1200, 1600 and 4200.

Picopeta's Simputer-based solutions provide their customers the advantage of power, compactness and mobility, simple-to-use icon-based interfaces and integrated SmartCard reader. The Simputer includes a touch screen interface that does away with input devices like a mouse or keyboard, and the development of a standardized interface language called Information Markup Language (IML).

Connecting people
The Simputer works as a shared device that permits truly simple and natural user interfaces based on sight, touch and audio, through a browser for the IML. This has been created to provide a uniform experience to users and to allow rapid development of solutions on any platform.

An important feature of the Simputer is the SmartCard Reader/Writer. The SmartCard is emerging as a credible delivery vehicle for financial transactions on the Internet and has become an important tool for electronic commerce. The incorporation of a SmartCard Reader/Writer in the Simputer increases the functionality of the mobile device for deployment of a richer set of value-added services, including services such as home and micro-banking through personal ATMs, home shopping, etc.

The SmartCard Interface enables a diverse range of applications that require security. Electronic commerce, on-line banking and multi-purpose citizen-cards will all require SmartCards in the near future.

A local community such as the village panchayat, the village school, a kiosk, a village postman, or even a shopkeeper should be able to loan the device to individuals for some length of time and then pass it on to others in the community.

The Simputer, through its Smart Card feature also allows for personal information management at the individual level for an unlimited number of users. It can also be personalized for individual use on a changing basis.

The SmartCard is the basic method by which this device can be personalized. A user's individual profile can be stored on a SmartCard, which he can carry around with him. Once inserted into the SmartCard Interface, the Simputer will read the profile from the SmartCard and also update changes if any, during the current transaction cycle.

Applications in diverse sectors such as micro banking, large data collection, agricultural information and school laboratory are now being made possible at an affordable price (Rs 8,000 to Rs 14,000).

Customer adoption
In spite of its user-friendly features, the Simputer was not adopted as well as it should have been by customers. In fact, four years after the launch, the adoption at the customer level began showing an increment in the last year or so.

Indicating the reasons for
the slow adoption, Vinay Deshpande, Chairman and CEO, Encore Software said, "First of all, the market believed that the Simputer was just another PDA. What was not recognized was that the Simputer was a more powerful hand-held device although it felt much like a PDA. In addition, customers who were given the sample products indicated that they required at least 10 to 12 additional features, which took time to get incorporated into the device."

Adoption of technologies like the Simputer takes time because they begin as pilot projects initially and only then get into large-scale customer adoption, said Deshpande.

Future prospects
As it stands now, the Simputer is not yet available at any retail outlet and has to be obtained by placing an order with the makers themselves. However, Deshpande indicated that Encore has begun talks with the channel community to look for a viable channel model for distribution of its Simputer.

"The Simputer has begun to find application in vehicle diagnostics also. Mahindra Scorpio is one example for this," said Deshpande, while indicating that the Simputer is also being used by migrant African laborers in the UK to transfer money back home and also for micro credit facilities in Mysore.

Subbalakshmi BM

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