Technology Newsday New York > Business

News Corp.'s Amplify division to unveil $299 tablet for schools

Published: March 6, 2013 10:05 AM
By BLOOMBERG NEWS

Photo credit: Getty Images | A visitor tries out a tablet computer next to a cloud computing and technology symbol at the Deutsche Telekom stand at the 2013 CeBIT technology trade fair in Hanover, Germany. (March 5, 2013)

Videos

When Apple released the iPad in April, it

Samsung Galaxy Pad Delivers, but Is No IPad Tablets and tablet-notebook hybrids are creating a buzz

Tablets of the future New versions of Microsoft's word processing, spreadsheet and

Microsoft revamps Office for tablets, Internet

Galleries

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos introduces the new Kindle

Amazon unveils Kindle Fire tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 CNET rating: 3.5 stars

Thinnest (and lightest) 10-inch tablets Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime CNET rating:

Tablets that go where the new iPad doesn't

News Corp.'s Amplify division, an education unit run by former New York City schools chief Joel Klein, will unveil a $299 tablet computer Wednesday that's designed for schoolchildren.

The 10-inch device will run on Google Inc.'s Android software and use Wi-Fi to provide children with a personalized learning service, New York-based Amplify said in a statement. The company is showcasing the tablet today at the SXSWedu conference in Austin, Texas.

"Technology has revolutionized the world, but not the classroom," Klein, who joined News Corp. in 2011, said in the statement. "Our hope is that this tablet will help change that." The company said it's working with AT&T Inc. to test the product in school districts across the U.S. The $299 price requires a two-year subscription at $99 a year. The higher-end Amplify Tablet Plus costs $349, with a two-year $179 annual subscription.

MORE: Google's new 'scentsation' | Chromebook offers $249 laptop option | More tech news
PHOTOS: Google cameras at Grand Canyon trails photos | Google hardware devices | Google's driverless car
VIDEO: Samsung Galaxy Pad Delivers, but Is No IPad | Tablets of the future | Microsoft revamps Office for tablets, Internet

The device represents a new revenue source for News Corp., as well as a bid to challenge Apple Inc.'s dominance in tablets and educational technology.

Klein is spearheading the project after spending a year leading an internal committee investigating a hacking scandal at News Corp. He stepped down from that role last June.

Amplify will join News Corp.'s publishing business when that company is split off from the Fox entertainment division in June.

Be the first to rate:

Click to rate