Intel joins the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative

Intel has surprised practically everyone by announcing their decision to join the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative.

Incidentally, the laptops provided by the project are supplied by AMD which is the primary rival Intel has in the PC microprocessor industry.

And Intel is also behind a similar project as they are selling Classmate PC laptop in bulk quantities.

OLPC has till now supplied beta editions of their 100 dollar laptops to schoolchildren in Argentina, Brazil, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, and Uruguay.

The governments of these countries have promised to purchase the OLPC laptops in bulk when they are available after regular shipment begins.

Will Swope, vice president and director of corporate affairs at Intel said in a statement on their surprise decision to join the OLPC project: “Our role here is one of how do we have the biggest impact on education and on children around the world? How could we make that more impactful and reach more children?” He said that the answer was to join this initiative.

Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of OLPC added his opinion: “Collaboration with Intel means that the maximum number of laptops will reach children.”

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