Nearly 5 billion people live without computers today. What if we could change that?
Endless announced today the release of their flagship computer,named Endless. Endless has created its own hardware and operating system, Endless OS, tailored to the unique challenges of the developing world. The hardware is designed on the premise that affordable devices can be delightful. The software has been designed with the simplicity of modern mobile operating systems, but with the power of a full desktop OS, and an app ecosystem that includes an office suite, games, a photo editor, and more. Beyond the traditional desktop apps, Endless has developed a suite of applications tailored to emerging market users.
"Over the last three years, the Endless team has conducted exhaustive research on the ground in order to understand its users; that research has informed every choice in the design and development of the product." Camila Soares, Director of Ground Research at Endless, said, "We went into the field and into people's homes, sat on their couches and floors and asked them every question we could in order to understand how technology can change their lives. The more time we spent with them, the more we realized that existing software is broken for emerging market users. So we started from the ground up, designing an operating system, applications, and content with and for our users."
"While the concept of building computers for the developing world may not seem new, it comes down to two fundamental differences: product and business model," said Matt Dalio, CEO and Chief of Product. "We are not a nonprofit. We are a business based on one belief. A computer can change a life. If you can make that affordable to more people, people will buy it. We believe that there are many who will."
The company has made thousands of adjustments that make a computer useful for people in these communities, from the way that software updates and app installations are handled to the creation of the apps themselves. "When Endless encountered a man struggling with profound debt, we built a simple budget App that helped turn his life around. This is now a featured Endless application," said Soares. For those without internet access, there are over 100 apps ranging from health to recipes that work without internet. Users consistently speak to the power of education, so Endless includes pre-installed Wikipedia, Khan Academy, curricula, and educational games. Family businesses have a suite of applications from spreadsheets to training in micro-entrepreneurship.
Endless' initial markets are Mexico and Guatemala, with much of Latin America to follow shortly. Additional international expansion is planned, and the company expects to be operational in Asia, the Middle East and Africa in the coming years.
Endless decided to launch using Kickstarter as a platform to connect directly with the people who are most likely to understand and support their vision. The product is ready to ship immediately and the company will use the funds raised to enter their first market, and to drive awareness of their new technology in Latin America.
"We set out to build a computer capable of inspiring and empowering a single individual. We've worked incredibly hard to turn this dream into a reality. Our computer is ready. It is darn special. And we finally get to release it into the world," said Dalio. "That feels really good."
Quick Stats
There are 7 billion people in the world today. 2.6 billion have access to computers; 4.4 billion do not.
Computers on the market today are useless without the internet. 60% of the world sits outside the internet's reach, including 3.2 billion people living in only 20 countries.
Computer sales are declining due to longer replacement cycles, but the number of PC users goes up every year. 14% of the computers sold last year were sold to first-time buyers.
India is home to nearly a quarter of the world's offline population; China houses more than 730 million; Indonesia 210 million; Bangladesh almost 150 million; and Brazil nearly 100 million.
www.endlessm.com
