HCL to launch multi-lingual PC

HCL Infosystems is going to launch Indic PC - a multilingual PC - in March 2004. In the first phase, the PC will be available in five Indian languages. Disclosing this, HCL Infosystems Chairman and CEO, Ajai Chowdhry adds that Hindi being the first version, the launch would happen in North India.

The Indic PC, which will be priced at Rs 20,000, will be targeted at the government, banking and the SOHO segment. In the next phase, HCL plans to make available Indic PC in nearly about 15 languages. HCL is also looking for tie-ups with companies that are developing multi-lingual software.
Delineating on the hardware market, Chowdhry remarks that last few months have witnessed major changes in the hardware market following the reduction in the duties by the Central Government. “This indeed is a remarkable step which will enable computers to penetrate in the smallest of homes. We are going to bring products in the range of Rs 17,000 to Rs 15,000 so that even the small home users can get into the usage of IT,” he adds. 

HCL is now focused on becoming the dominant leader in India in the hardware market. “We want to become like Legend, the Chinese IT hardware vendor who has a market share of 30% in China itself. In India the penetration of IT and PC is still very low and the potential for the hardware market is quite phenomenal," Ajai states. For PCs to make inroads into India, he feels that it should be available in much affordable price. Secondly, there should be growth in multi-lingual software, so that more people can use it.

In yet another development, HCL will shortly be launching a product, which will be an integration of TV, VCR and a PC. This uses Microsoft Media Center technology. The product, which is currently is in an experimental stage in HCL’s Pondicherry
manufacturing plant, will have a starting price at Rs 49,000.

(CYBERMEDIA NEWS SERVICE)