vodafone’s ‘webbox’ keyboard brings internet access and simple computing tools to any television set

first unveiled in south africa this past february, vodafone’s ‘webbox‘ keyboard is now set to bring internet access to users across india. the device looks like a QWERTY keyboard, but is actually used to transform any television screen into a monitor for web browsing, e-mail, and simple computing tasks, via a vodafone SIM card that supports 2.5G and EDGE mobile networks.

‘webbox’ connects to television screens via RCA cables. its homescreen once connected to the device offers internet access through an android-based opera mini 5.1, SMS and e-mail messaging, internet search, FM radio, a photo gallery, text editor and dictionary, and music player, along with preloaded web bookmarks to job search engines and news and social networking sites. the opera browser compresses data by up to 90% to ensure fast-loading pages.

designed from the beginning explicitly for emerging markets, ‘webbox’ is expected to retail for about 5800 rupees (130 USD), which will include 12GB of free data usage.

webbox internet keyboard by vodafone full view of the device

demo and views of the ‘webbox’ interface’ (0:47)

patrick chomet, a group director at vodafone, introduces the ‘webbox’

via the next web