Thailand Buys Chinese Tablet Computers For Schools

[Soi Sauce]

is the price of tablets getting cheaper part of why there is no inflation?

[hellodolly]

Why's everyone so concerned with the Chinese being able to produce the goods in the time frame? Is it not beyond the realms of possibility that there already are millions of these units lying around ready to ship? Or are things hand made to order these days in that bastion of quality known as the Chinese tech market?

Ya I was thinking along those lines. How many do they all ready have that need very little change to match the low standards set by Thailand. Being as 2,000 schools don't have electricity and they can't take them home it would be unfair to expect any thing usfull out of them, And that is figuring in qualified teachers which are probably more rare than one would expect.

[Buchholz]

Being as 2,000 schools don't have electricity

No word on that, but apparently the 20,000 schools previously without WiFi are soon to be sorted.

The ICT minister added that the first batch of tablet PCs will be delivered within 60 days after the contract signing, with all one million units being delivered within 90 days.

He is confident that the students will receive their new tablet PCs by July, while revealing that the accommodating Wi-Fi network is nearly complete.

TAN Network - May 10, 2012

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1054693

.

Edited May 10, 2012 by Buchholz

[pipo1000]

Being as 2,000 schools don't have electricity

No word on that, but apparently the 20,000 schools previously without WiFi are soon to be sorted.

The ICT minister added that the first batch of tablet PCs will be delivered within 60 days after the contract signing, with all one million units being delivered within 90 days.

He is confident that the students will receive their new tablet PCs by July, while revealing that the accommodating Wi-Fi network is nearly complete.

TAN Network - May 10, 2012

http://www.thailando...?DataID=1054693

.

Ohla,here we go again

The ICT minister added that the first batch of tablet PCs will be delivered within 60 days after the contract signing, with all one million units being delivered within 90 days.

the ministry is set to sign the procurement contract with Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development, the supplier of the free tablet PC project, today, after the project's details have already been reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General.

with the procurement contract expected to be signed today, and the delivery expected by July.

Just some more pie in the sky.

Edited May 10, 2012 by pipo1000

[MEL1]

Steak and kiddley pie?

That's what I asked for, diddle I?

-mel.

[MEL1]

"The ruling Puea Thai party, linked to former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, promised to issue free handheld computers to a million students as part of a raft of pledges that helped it to an election victory last year.

"The first batch of 400,000 tablets, costing $32.8 million, will be delivered within 60 days," he said in statement, adding that a repeat order would not exceed one million machines."

------

but there just aren't that many students in governmental positions, such as PM, MPs and so forth, are there?

-mel.

[gand]

Maybe they should have went with the iPads.

yahoo headline "Orangutans at Miami zoo use iPads to communicate"

[rakman]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

Hats off if they can make that target.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

One US wireless carrier (cell phone company) sole 3.2 million iPhones in the first 3 months of this year.

I think the manufacturer won't have a problem.

[OzMick]

May be I shouldn't be but I am a bit surprised how quick people are to criticise most things Thai here. There's an assumption that if it doesn't appear in a newspaper article then it probably hasn't been considered by those making decisions. Half the time it could just be bad / vague reporting.

The Thai news networks have more detail and have explained, as you would expect there is more thought/ planning/ training, etc than the English newspapers tell us.

For example- there is software that has already been developed for these- 8 e-books for 8 main subjects already and waiting, there is only 8 Mb of memory and the e-books already use up 4 - the other 4 are for students to upload. There is a word processing program and a learning game programme as well as past papers of relevant exams also ready to be pre-loaded. Some other stuff too but it gives you the idea that there has been some thought gone into this. Think of all those paper based text books that won't need to be printed each year- saving money and hassle to carry about!

Sometimes, it wouldn't hurt to just give Thailand the benefit of the doubt before jumping on the moaning band wagon. We all know there's a lot to sort out here but there are a lot of Thais doing their best to make their country good. It will be a long road but one every country had to travel at some point in it's development!

I wish them luck.

"........ as well as past papers of relevant exams also ready to be pre-loaded."

These things are to be given to 6 year-olds. In an education system that fails nobody. So how many of these tykes do you expect to download prior exams to study?

What use is a word processing program to someone yet to learn how to write? Are we talking about the theory that if a million monkeys were given typewriters, after a million years one would produce the works of Shakepeare?

Please understand that it is hard for thinking people not to be critical when faced with idiocy.

[Buchholz]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

One US wireless carrier (cell phone company) sole 3.2 million iPhones in the first 3 months of this year.

I think the manufacturer won't have a problem.

So you believe them when the company providing them says that within a span of 15 days, it has increased their production capability of tablet computers a multiple of 20?

http://www.thaivisa....50#entry5289671

really?

.

Edited May 10, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

One US wireless carrier (cell phone company) sole 3.2 million iPhones in the first 3 months of this year.

I think the manufacturer won't have a problem.

So you believe them when the company providing them says that within a span of 15 days, it has increased their production capability of tablet computers a multiple of 20?

http://www.thaivisa....50#entry5289671

really?

Excuse me, now it's up to 30 times in the span of 16 days..

Shenzhen Scope's Liu said the company was confident of delivering all the tablets to the Thai government within the timeframe specified in the contract. The company's production capacity is 30,000 units per day.

The Nation - May 11, 2012

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bt1-billion-tablet-deal-inked-30181747.html

.

[DrTuner]

It could well be the subcontractor has made a deal with another company to increase the throughput. Chinese are not beginners in mass production. Still, comparing Apples Foxconn to a more generic assembly line is a bit far fetched.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[gand]

Is the PM's brother the middleman on this purchase?

[Woodcaulk]

I'd like to know where the tablets are going, are they for the hi-so kids in Bkk or the rural village kids?

Assuming they are ever delivered, I do so hope that only kids from hard-core red-shirt villiages get them. As effed-up as we know they will be, I wouldn't wish them on anyone else

[toenail]

Using modern technology in schools is a must but having a "tablet" in class does not mean that the education quality will improve in these classrooms. Schools must be hooked up with wi-fi, you must have a computer technician that can fix the wi-fi when not working or the "tablets" that need to be coded into the school's wi-fi. Next, how many educational web sites are in Thai? True, there are some great web sites for students in English. Next, do the students know how to do keyboarding? I feel the money should have been spent on reforming the whole educational system where creative/ problem solving is done in the classroom and better text books.

[webfact]

POLITICS

Bt1-billion tablet deal inked

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation

ICT Ministry permanent secretary Jeerawan Boonperm, second right, shakes hands with Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development chairman Liu Jun after the signing of the tablet purchase contract between the ministry and the Chinese manufacturer yesterday. Chine

Model specifically produced for Thai school project; 2,000 units to be delivered next week

BANGKOK: -- After a delay of nearly two months, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry yesterday inked a tablet-computer supply contract with the Chinese manufacturer, with the first 2,000 devices due to arrive next week and the rest to be delivered within 60 days.

"The specs are higher than what was specified in the terms of reference. This model is being produced specifically for this project, not according to the general specs offered in the market," said ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap at the signing ceremony yesterday. He promised that the ministry's committee would thoroughly check the devices' specifications.

Present at the ceremony were ICT permanent secretary Jeerawan Boonperm; Guan Mu, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand; and Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development chairman Liu Jun.

Shenzhen Scope was one of four suppliers recommended by the Chinese government.

Thailand Post will deliver the devices, which will have software installed, to schools nationwide. Under the contract, Thailand will buy 400,000 devices for US$32.8 million, or Bt1.02 billion. A contract for the remaining 600,000 would be signed later. They would have the same price and must be delivered within 90 days from May 10.

The devices come in four colours - red, blue, silver and gold. Each costs $82, with 2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM and a 3600 mAh battery. The tablets feature the Android 4.0 operating system and built-in GPS for monitoring and tracking purposes. They also come with two-year international standard warrantee.

The signing was delayed from March, due to technical issues. At first, Shenzhen Scope failed to produce a bank guarantee. Then, there was a problem with the warranty period for the battery; while the supplier offered a one-year period, the ministry demanded two years.

To secure the contract, Shenzhen Scope came up with a Bt51-million bank guarantee, or 5 per cent of the total contract value.

Shenzhen Scope's Liu said the company was confident of delivering all the tablets to the Thai government within the timeframe specified in the contract. The company's production capacity is 30,000 units per day. It has reserved 80 per cent of its total capacity - around 24,000 units per day - for the government's One Tablet Per Child (OTPC) project. The company plans to set up around 30 service centres nationwide by the end of this year to support Thai users, Liu said.

"Our main business is to produce display monitors. Our revenue is around $1 billion. About 80 per cent of it comes from export and 20 per cent from the China market. Meanwhile, about 70 per cent is generated from producing OEM [original equipment manufacturer] models, while 30 per cent comes from our own brand, Scope. Our OEM customers include Samsung, Daewoo, JVC, Telefunken, Hyundai and Akai," Liu said.

He said the firm had 20 years experience in the OEM/ODM (original design manufacturer) service and in exporting Scope. The company can produce large lots of devices for delivery to the OTPC project. Its business ranges from LCD/LED TVs to tablet PCs and advertisement players/digital signage.

"Thailand is the first country in which we have provided large lots of tablets for students. Now we are talking with other governments to provide this kind of tablet device for students, including Pakistan, Brazil and South Africa," Liu said.

According to its website, the company is one of the top 100 manufacturers in Bao'an district of Shenzhen, China, and certified as a hi-tech enterprise. Scope's factory at Shiyan, measuring 100,000 square metres, mainly produces tablet PCs, mobile phones and GPS devices. It employs more than 1,500 people, including a professional research and development team of 60 people, with a number of patented technologies to its credit. It has seven product lines, silk-screen devices and painting workshops. Annual production capacity is more than 5 million units. Ten new product lines are being built with an estimated annual production capacity of 10 million units.

-- The Nation 2012-05-11

[PoodMaiNgai]

That made me laugh: "delayed due to technical issues". From what I can see the whole plan was insanely naive in its planned timescale and was delayed because those involved could, to use the technical terminology, be regarded as "idiots".

[MaiChai]

Money would be better spent improving the education system. For example most Thais are terrible at maths and can't do mental arithmetic. But of course buying tablet computers is more sexy and popularist. Teaching kids how to use computers is very time consuming and would be better spent on basic education.

[Woodcaulk]

Money would be better spent improving the education system.

Yes it would.....if that was the point of this. But since this was cooked up to buy red-shirt votes, improving the education system is of no concern

[timber]

In our area probably a lot of seminars or teaching courses for the teachers to learn about the computers which will again cut into the teaching time.

[AleG]

And so the trainwreck, ever so slowly, continues.

[sparebox2]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

Hats off if they can make that target.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

They have more chance of platting fog than meeting that deadline. I am sure the price was 79 USD before. Now it is 82 USD? What about the other 8 or 9 million kids?

Given an inch, you want a foot.

[whybother]

Under the contract, Thailand will buy 400,000 devices for US$32.8 million, or Bt1.02 billion. A contract for the remaining 600,000 would be signed later. They would have the same price and must be delivered within 90 days from May 10.

Wasn't the budget 1.9 billion baht? Now it's looking like it's 2.5 billion baht.

Why would they wait to sign the contract for the rest of the tablets?

[Bakseedaa]

I'd like to know where the tablets are going, are they for the hi-so kids in Bkk or the rural village kids?

Hi-so kids already have i-pads and Samsung phones.... get a life..!

[ginjag]

I think what Mr78 was meaning 400,000 out of millions promised --where are the first ones going--To SELECTED kids, SELECTED schools, WHERE ??? All this shady planning-cost-time table-surely they know where the first batch are going to be delivered to---OR when they arrive someone may say what shall we do now??? I'll make a call and hopefully we can get to know ?? laughable--unprepared--promise.

[thaimat]

A waste of money. How many will be broken or clogged up with BullSH** computer games after a week?

Most likely the ones that are not broken within a week from careless handling will be fitted with a custom android firmware filled with games, a small business opportunity there. Something for the kids to do while being bored to death in school. I truly doubt the government will be able to produce any meaningful educational software, much less the teachers bothering to learn how to use one. Oh well, at least the kids get toys.

Or the kids can just follow Parliament's lead, and look at porn instead of paying attention in class.

[Markaew]

Not even the Chinese can produce so much with so little in such a short time.

Not even the Chinese can produce so much - wrong

with so little - wrong

in such a short time. - wrong

[Markaew]

And of course nothing is mentioned of how it will fit into the teaching plan. What materials have been specifically developed for this device. And what support has been budgeted for this. Support is usually 2-3x times the cost of the hardware. Probably more with regards to getting it to integrate into educational programs.

It doesn't matter. Appearances only matter.

[Semper]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

Hats off if they can make that target.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

I would guess that they already have some of them in stock.

[Markaew]

400,000 tablets in 60 days.

If they work 24 hours a day that is close to 300 per hour.

Hats off if they can make that target.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

They have more chance of platting fog than meeting that deadline. I am sure the price was 79 USD before. Now it is 82 USD? What about the other 8 or 9 million kids?

As an earlier poster said -"they kept their promise" apart from the other 8 million ???? These first few will go to hi So schools, who have electric and internet-and charge up outlets and teachers familiar, with a Chinese parts and repair centre nearby. Ha Ha Ha Ha

Whats a Hi-So schools got to do with Thai government schools? At least the hi-so actually pay people to teach their children.

Actually that's not true. Hi-so people pay money so they can have a guarantee that people will give their child a high grade no matter the output of the child.