Bt50 Million to Be Used to Buy iPads and iPhones for Senators and MPs

BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives has agreed in principle to spend 50 million baht to procure 700 iPads and iPhones for MPs. The deputy House speaker says 'when' the MPs will be the coveted tablets and smart phones is still uncertain and adds MPs have the right to decline.

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol says, according to the information he has, a large number MPs want to try out the iPads and the iPhones. The popular gadgets will be given to all MPs, Senators and governmental department chiefs.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has come out to express his opposition to the procurement plan. He reiterated that each MP is already given a computer and urged the House to consider the necessity of such a purchase.

The committee in charge of the One Tablet Per First Grader project, headed by education minister Suchart Thadadamrongwej, is meeting today to select the manufacturer for the tablets to be distributed to every first grader nationwide. So far, the concession to provide the tablets could go to any of the four companies; Huawei Technoloy, TCL Corporation, Haier Information Technology and Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.

The Thai government is expected to fork out just a little under 1.8 billion baht to buy the first lot of 860,000 tablets. They hope the students will get to try out the tablets by May this year. The tablet will have a 7" touch-screen with 16GB memory and a CPU of no less than 1GHz. The tablet will be run on either Andriod 3.2 or 4.0.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-05

A bit expensive

700 x Iphones at approx 26,000 is under 20,000,000 baht, and Ipads are not that expensive

so where is the rest of the money going?

Assuming 700 iPads AND 700 iPhones ... that's an average of 35,000 baht each.

Need I say more?

A bit expensive

700 x Iphones at approx 26,000 is under 20,000,000 baht, and Ipads are not that expensive

so where is the rest of the money going?

iPocket?

I'm sorry their math is not adding up at ALL...

Iphone 4S costs from 20,900 to 28,900

Ipad 2 costs from 15,900 to 25, 900

using the top prices by 700 still gives under 40 million, so where is the other 10 million going?

Can't they get the same tablets for MP's as for the school kids?

A bit expensive

700 x Iphones at approx 26,000 is under 20,000,000 baht, and Ipads are not that expensive

so where is the rest of the money going?

iPocket?

ipocket or mypocket?

Hmmmmm.... so the 'provide schoolchildren with quality computer tablets' plan somehow morphs into the 'provide MPs with quality computer tablets' plan. How.... surprising and atypical.

and I am still waiting for the money for my house dammaged during the floods ..... I wonder why they want to give away Ipad or Iphone to those who dont need ....and can afford to buy themselve ... what will be next time ? free Mercedes Benz , Free house ? use this money for traffic regulation , road safety etc ...

I guess in their destitute positions they can't afford to buy their own, but they can use taxpayers' money. Next they'll be busking outside Parliament House.

Blech

Can't they get the same tablets for MP's as for the school kids?

Somehow that seems appropriate........

so where is the other 10 million going?

Have seen a nice Louis Vitton case for the iPad2.

so where is the other 10 million going?

Have seen a nice Louis Vitton case for the iPad2.

What about Burberry?

so where is the other 10 million going?

Have seen a nice Louis Vitton case for the iPad2.

What about Burberry?

Sooooooo last year.

And for those that have, eyes, ears and a grain of common what message does this send out?

And for those that have, eyes, ears and a grain of common what message does this send out?

More or less "How about another spoon of s***?"

The problem is, a large percentage of the population goes "Yes, please!"

A bit expensive

700 x Iphones at approx 26,000 is under 20,000,000 baht, and Ipads are not that expensive

so where is the rest of the money going?

Yingluck... Please do something about corruption in your government!

Another red herring/diversion from the Constitution Amendment process, perhaps?

using the top prices by 700 still gives under 40 million, so where is the other 10 million going?

To unlock them

The committee in charge of the One Tablet Per First Grader project, headed by education minister Suchart Thadadamrongwej, is meeting today to select the manufacturer for the tablets to be distributed to every first grader nationwide. So far, the concession to provide the tablets could go to any of the four companies; Huawei Technoloy, TCL Corporation, Haier Information Technology and Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.

And the winner is............................. The company that Thaksin owns shares in.

Iphone 4S costs from 20,900 to 28,900

Ipad 2 costs from 15,900 to 25, 900

using the top prices by 700 still gives under 40 million, so where is the other 10 million going?

And that's not taking account of any bulk discount.

I know you were asking the question for fun.

so where is the other 10 million going?

Have seen a nice Louis Vitton case for the iPad2.

What about Burberry?

Sooooooo last year.

Yes true, but this is Bangkok, not London or Paris.

Burberry will be OK at about B12,000 a copy (genuine)

Must have their piggies smartly dressed and well equipped I suppose

Too bad they have their priorities all skewed.

Still have thousands of people uncompensated for last years floods, students about to be given cheap crap Chinese tablets and flood prevention measures still undecided. Oh well, T.I.T.

what a croc. The kids are getting 3rd rate Chinese made junk and the gov is treating itself to ipads and iphones? what good is that gonna do? a bunch of school children are "running" this country.

^^^ not to imply that the kids getting an ipad would help them in anyway either. The whole ordeal is a @#$ing joke.

I think its a great idea.

Now they can log into Thai Visa and really see how idiotic they look!

Rumors has it that Apple will package the iPhone and iPad together in a special promotional package just for Thailand that will be called the i'mSilly.

using the top prices by 700 still gives under 40 million, so where is the other 10 million going?

To unlock them

Couldn't stop laughing over this!

ICT Minister Anudit will propose purchase of 900,000 Chinese tablets to be distributed to 1st graders in 3 mo to Cabinet for approval /TANN

....and remember this is only the start. As the Government bought them it's only logical the Government pays all the bills (internet, overseas calls, software etc etc etc

Step forward, members of the opposition parties and say "No"!

I can't heeeeeeeeeeeear you!