BSNL Chief General Manager, D. Varadarajan, handing over netPC to the first customer in Madurai on Saturday

Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited on Saturday launched Nova netPC, a service giving access to Internet and computing applications, without having to shell out a few thousands on a personal computer (PC).
Launching the service in Tamil Nadu circle here on Saturday, the BSNL Chief General Manager, D. Varadarajan, hoped to penetrate rural areas where cost of personal computers was still prohibitive, preventing people from getting broadband connections.
The service would be offered by Novatium Solutions through BSNL’s broadband. “Instead of spending on the central processing unit for the PC, one can get connected to the Internet and other computing applications through the netPC’s central server using broadband connectivity,” said S. Ganapathyraman, of Novatium. The service, called desktop utility delivery model, would provide maintenance-free computing service.
People need not worry about virus, spyware, software upgradation, privacy and maintenance of their hardware, he said. Of course, they need to pay monthly subscription fee, including broadband subscription, starting at Rs. 274 (plus tax).
On payment of Rs. 2,999 (plus taxes), one can buy a sleek processing unit (with Intel Atom) with keyboard, mouse and modem. One can use it with a computer monitor or a television set. The service comes with a processor of 1.6 Ghz speed with Linux operating system. Windows and Mac operating systems are optional. Media player could be operated offline. “This is a service at an affordable cost for people who use computers only for browsing and related applications,” said Mr. Varadarajan. BSNL Madurai General Manager, V.K. Sanjeevi and GM (Marketing), S. Gunasekaran, were present.