Via Technologies, a designer of low-cost low-power x86-based computing platforms, announced the appointment of Simmtronics Semiconductors as its exclusive manufacturing and distribution partner for Via pc-1 mainboards in India and surrounding countries. The companies hope that the pact will allow low-income people and organizations to get their own PCs.

Under the terms of the agreement, Simmtronics will assemble a full range of low-power, highly-integrated Via pc-1 motherboards in its advanced manufacturing facility in Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India, and distribute the products through its channel partners in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Algeria and Ghana. Via Technologies hopes that appointment of an exclusive designer and distributor of its platform for emerging markets will help it to increase its presence and boost market share.

Unfortunately, Via pc-1 platforms rely on extremely outdated microprocessors, including Via C7-D and Via C3 launched in 2001 and 2005, respectively, that do not offer contemporary levels of performance; as well as rather old core-logic sets with functionality that do not sport modern features (the chipsets only support DirectX 9-class graphics core, whereas the low-cost solutions from AMD now support DirectX 11-class graphics processing) and some of which only support first-generation DDR memory that is no longer mass produced.

Pricing of actual systems based on Via pc-1 platforms for emerging markets are unknown.

While Simmtronics can help Via to boost its presence in rural areas of India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, Via pc-1 systems will hardly be acquired in large cities due to their low performance and will naturally will hardly be distributed in countries like Dubai, the UAE or Turkey.

"We are extremely excited to be teaming up with Simmtronics Semiconductors to bring our Via pc-1 mainboards to India and surrounding regions. With their world class manufacturing capabilities and extensive distribution channels, Simmtronics are the perfect partner for us and we look forward to closely working with them to develop these high fast growing markets," said Timothy Chen, head of global sales and marketing at Via Technologies.

Back in March, 2010, Simmtronics already teamed up with IBM for an Intel Atom-based netbook with IBM software aimed at South Africa, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The success of the Simmbook for $190 is completely unclear.

Tags: Simmtronics, Linux, Via Technologies, C3, C7, PC-1