Intel India is conducting a campaign across the country, especially in Andhra Pradesh, to spread awareness about personal computers and the various applications, as the PC market is expanding rapidly in the State and the country, according to Mr R. Ravichandran, Director (Sales), South Asia.

At a press meet here on Wednesday, he said the PC business was stagnating in the established markets of the west but there was immense scope in the emerging markets such as India, China, and Brazil. “It is estimated that close to 3.2 billion people are without PCs in the emerging markets and it is a huge market. Unlike in the past, when prices were very high, affordability is no longer a barrier in markets such as India. PCs are now available at a price of roughly Rs 20,000 and there are 115 million households in the country with an annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. There are now more than 100 million Internet users in the country, as the connectivity has improved vastly. We are bullish on the Indian market,” he said.

Digital divide

He said it was also important to bridge the digital divide and take personal computers to the rural markets. “We are conducting computer and Internet melas to give the public first-hand experience in the tier-two towns and cities. In Andhra Pradesh, we have conducted 30 computer melas during the past one year or so in towns such as Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Nellore and Tirupati. We are educating the public on the advantages of technology use and adoption and also about broadband connectivity,” he said.

Mr Ravichandran said Intel had also shown technological solutions to 5,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Andhra Pradesh in association with the Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “Andhra Pradesh has, in recent times, made rapid strides in setting up self-help groups of women. We have trained and provided computers to 5,000 SHGs in the State and it is making a lot of difference,” he said.

He said Intel had also imparted training to 3.5 lakh teachers in the State and “it is estimated that there are four million households in the urban areas of the State without PCs. We are confident of making inroads into the market.”

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