Hong Kong-based company launches 'free computer'

With a view to bridge the digital divide in developing
countries, a Hong Kong-based company, Asiatotal.net has come up with a unique
business model to provide free computers to communities. The company has
developed a simple, portable desktop computer called iT, which has features to
connect to the Internet, home entertainment devices, printer and USB card
reader.

What sets this low-cost or free-cost computer model is that
iT will be distributed free of charge to individuals and

small businesses through the participation of sponsors and partners.

iT's keyboard includes around fourteen hotkeys which enable
features like music, entertainment and e-mail with the touch of a single button.
Judy Chen, Asiatotal.net's President and CEO, hopes that this would attract
partners and sponsors in

areas like telecommunication, retail, financial services,

entertainment, health care, media and others to establish brand loyalty and
target new markets. "Ten hotkeys will be solely owned by sponsors while the
rest would be for generic purposes like financial services or health care,"
she said.

Judy said that the company had not yet signed up with any sponsor in India
and was on the look out for companies interested in signing up. The software on
iT would be available in Hindi and English.