Encore Simputers for Bhutan postal dept

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Wednesday, 14 January 2004, 20:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: Encore Software Ltd, which jointly developed Simputer along with the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, has signed up with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN organisation, for the supply of 50 Simputers to Bhutan. The handheld devices are being supplied to ITU’s 6-month pilot project for Bhutan’s postal service. Speaking to ET, Encore Software’s chairman and CEO, Mr Vinay L. Deshpande indicated that the project envisages the Bhutanese postal department to equip postmen with Simputers in providing chheap and reliable communication to remote areas. The postmen carrying Simputers can provide agriculture-related information, deliver e-mail messages to receipients and colect healthcare statistics from the ground level. The ITU project is part of an overall e-post services being envisaged by Bhutan. Encore is supplying handheld devices with simultaneous translation software and agricultural and healthcare applications to boost literacy and computer familiarity. Though more than 3,000 Simputers have been in use till date, the company has not gone for a commercial launch. “The acceptance of Simputer is just fast catching up and we expect to sell 100,000 Simputers this year. The company is planning for the commercial launch of Simputer by March this year,” Mr Deshpande said. To support its marketing initiatives, Encore plans to raise $1 million from private equity placements.