This was a year of high drama for Indians as far as technology is concerned — be it the nightmare experienced by Blackberry owners who almost saw their lifeline go on the blink, or the hiccups in the unrolling of the 3G network or the no-show of the iPad in India.
If this was the year that saw the launch of Apple's iPad which revolutionised the way we look at computing devices, cellphones and computer keyboards, India was bypassed. If you don't get the hottest innovation that is happening in the world, obviously something is wrong. Simply put, the iPad has transformed the way people access their newspapers, play games, network and get their work done.
Imagine a scenario like this: the iPad is launched in India at a price of Rs. 23,000 for the 16GB WiFi version. Millions are bought countrywide by people who want to adapt to technology and others who like the ease of its use. To cater to them, apps get written by Indians. Thousands of jobs are generated for code-writers and creative people.
Missing the technology bus does not take the nation forward. Each delayed year in adaptation results in loss of billions of dollars in opportunities, innovation, discoveries and taxes. The delay in the launch of number portability and the 3G rollout has similarly affected the business environment by stifling innovation and killing competition. 3G is not just about technology, it is also about possibilities. As 3G promises roaring bandwidth speeds, it would have spurred innovation. To put things in perspective, the first commercial 3G network was launched nearly a decade ago by NTT DoCoMo in 2001 in Japan and we are yet to get our version of it. The 3G network in Japan, South Korea and other countries changed the reading habits of people by putting hi-res graphics into mobile devices and creating an innovative niche in the market.
A few days ago, Google launched its ebooks store but its message for India is: “The latest Google eBooks are not available for sale in your location, yet...” Another milestone missed.
