Three Chinese firms vie to supply tablets

Business > Telecommunications

Three Chinese firms vie to supply tablets

Published: 30/01/2012 at 08:24 AM
Newspaper section: Business

The Thai government expects to sign an agreement with the Chinese government next month to buy 900,000 tablet computers worth 2.2 billion baht.

Getting ready for some serious swiping and tapping to the right websites. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Under the purchase agreement, the three prospective Chinese tablet manufacturers _ ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo _ are likely to supply a combined 900,000 tablets at US$75 per unit to the Thai government, said a source at the Office of the Basic Education Commission.

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: Writer: Suchit Leesa-nguansuk; Position: Reporter

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lazar
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Discussion 5 : 01/02/2012 at 11:21 PM5
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D4 geoffo My take on it is PT will take any opportunity they can to suck up to the Chinese. This trade deal is one of them chances, without sacrificing their backhanders and keeping all profits firmly in the family grasp. Secondly PT can further establish a relationship with the powerful Chinese.
I don't think Thai suppliers or the taxpayers money was ever a serious consideration for PT.
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geoffo
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Discussion 4 : 01/02/2012 at 06:06 PM4
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D3 Lazar; Thanks,I was wrong about ZTE but the key question remains , why not mandate a Thai firm. Why waste tax payers money on unnecessary costs by sourcing off shore and leaving funds there.
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lazar
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Discussion 3 : 01/02/2012 at 04:10 AM3
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Here's the links to the ZTE tablet.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/zte-t98-ics-tablet-hands-on-video/

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/zte-light-tab-2-hits-the-uk-next-month-for-235-still-runs-andr/
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geoffo
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Discussion 2 : 31/01/2012 at 02:43 AM2
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Google ZTE, they do many things but tablets is not one of them but somehow I bet they win.

D1 phetpeter is right about the costs, the budget has already tripled for this project with now wifi for all schools now bundled into the cost. I cannot help but wonder who will get that project., hard not to be cynical when the RFQ is written blatantly to favor foreign companies.

Meanwhile teachers remain underpaid and schools underfunded.
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phetpeter
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Discussion 1 : 30/01/2012 at 02:35 PM1
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That price is still over priced, actual production cost to manufactor would be in the region of 1000baht per tablet..Let the government and its officals and agents and factory dealing with this purchase provide complete open costing and purchase details. One expects the factory providing the tablets to have a margin for profit, but the government doesn't need that margin. It doesn't even need to cost in transport and delivery charges, it has a government postal service and the army and airforce who can deliver free.
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Three Chinese firms vie to supply tablets | Bangkok Post: business