Rest of us

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

: way before they establish their importance in our lives. “Computer ads have to stop looking like a laundry list of components and should start talking of what it can do for you. We need to facilitate a certain type of usage rather than the current mishmash of software,” explains Microsoft general manager (unlimited potential programme), Latif Nathani. Microsoft tested its affordable pay-as-you-go computing initiative, FlexGo software in fiscal year 2007.

Modelled on the successful prepaid mobile phone cards, Flexgo is learnt to be undergoing modifications and might appear in a new version but “not for another six months in India”. Even as it is early days yet for the pre-paid model, Novatium is trying out a pay-as-you-go model.

The target segment is clearly youth and primary needs—education, entertainment and connecting on the internet. Connectivity seems to be emerging a bigger hook than computing. “We started with productivity solutions like spreadsheet and word processing. But we are now realising internet-based mail, chat, browsing, VoIP and media player applications are more popular,” reflects Novatium CEO, Alok Singh.

The entire solution should not cost more than Rs 5,000 upfront and Rs 500 per month, inclusive of the broadband and financing costs, he adds. Opportunity is huge in a country with about 40 million internet users and 200 million mobile phones, but PC as a service will require a much faster rollout of broadband connections and better interest rates.