In what could be the largest single order made for PCs in India, Skumars.com is planning to source 30,000 high-end multimedia computers from IBM India Ltd.

IBM India will be supplying PCs to Skumars.com for installation in their e-business kiosks in 1,600 locations across India, for a consideration of over US$23.3 million.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Ranjit Limaye, managing director and CEO of IBM India, and R.N. Bhaskar, managing director of Skumars.com.

"The PCs, which will be pre-installed with a management software Tivoli, will roll out of IBM's manufacturing facility in Pondicherry," said Limaye.

Skumars.com is currently processing some 53,000 franchisee applications from over 1,600 cities, of which 30,000 would be selected by September 2000, said Bhaskar. He disclosed that more orders for IBM PCs would be placed as and when the company decides to add more franchisees.

Skumars is collecting $4651 per franchisee, and providing hardware such as computers, modems, printers and other paraphernalia associated with running a kiosk.

The communication backbone of Skumars.com would be based on very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology, where each of the 30,000 kiosks would be provided with a VSAT dish.

The IBM PC in the kiosk would be connected to the VSAT, scanner, printer and other peripherals to facilitate imaging and digitization. The franchisee will have to pay the annual VSAT connectivity fee to the government.

Skumars.com is also in talks with other broadband access providers to use their networks for its franchisees. "We are not limiting themselves to VSAT. If there are alternatives, our network is capable of using them too," claimed a spokesman.