DataWind to Develop Mobile Educational App for Children Without Access to Teachers

MISSISSAUGA, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 09/17/15 -- DataWind Inc. (TSX: DW), a leader in the delivery of internet access in emerging markets, has partnered with Mitacs, a Canadian not-for-profit research and training organization, to create and deliver an educational mobile app to children in developing countries that do not have access to a formal education.

Funded by Mitacs and a $90,000 infusion by Datawind, this new app will provide a traditional educational curriculum through the use of modern education techniques, like gamification. The app will allow for interaction among students, Q&A, forums and grading, through DataWind's proprietary low bandwidth internet delivery platform.

Under the agreement, Datawind will own the intellectual property rights associated with the app, which is expected to be ready for beta testing by June of 2016 with full commercial deployment later that year.

According to The Economist: "Education in most of the developing world is shocking. Half of South Asia and a third of those in Africa who complete four years of schooling cannot read properly. In India, 60% of 6- to 14-year-olds cannot read at the level of a child who has finished two years of schooling. In a survey of rural Indian schools, a quarter of teachers were absent. In Africa, the World Bank found teacher-absenteeism rates of 15-25%."(1) This data applies to children who potentially have teachers -- many children in the developing world do not even have access to schools or teachers.

The app will be developed in collaboration with several universities working under the Licef research center of Teluq university, under the leadership of the Principal Investigator, Professor Richard Hotte and his co-researchers: Professor Charles Gouin-Vallerand from the Sciences and Technology department at T�luq, Professor Mickaël Gardoni from the Automated Production Engineering Department at École de technologie supérieure (ETS), and Professor Emmanuel Duplaà from the Education department at the University of Ottawa, each working the four different fields of the technology.

"Because of our low cost internet delivery technology, our new app has the potential to educate millions of children around the world and give them an opportunity for a better future," said Raja Tuli, co-chairman and CTO of DataWind. "Given that our Internet-enabled devices deliver a broadband-like experience across virtually any existing wireless data network at very low prices, our tablets present the ideal platform to deliver a much-needed educational tool to developing markets. We have always believed that our unique internet delivery platform would be particularly useful in delivering education into emerging markets."

(1) The Economist, August 1, 2015, p. 9.

About Mitacs Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit research and training organization dedicated to advancing collaborations between industry, academia and government in Canada, and to fostering international research networks between Canadian universities and the world. For more information visit www.mitacs.ca.

About DataWind DataWind is a leader in low-cost Internet connectivity for emerging markets. DataWind's mission is to bring the Internet, which has the ability to create tremendous social and economic benefits, to billions of unconnected people in the developing world. The Company's Internet Delivery Platform offers a low-cost Internet browsing solution by bundling an affordable tablet device with an inexpensive, pre-paid Internet service plan. DataWind is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (DW.TO). For more information visit www.datawind.com.

Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information includes information with respect to our goals, beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking information is identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "may," "would," "should," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "foresee," "believe," and "continue," or the negative of these terms and similar terminology, including references to assumptions. Please note, however, that not all forward-looking information contains these terms and phrases. Forward-looking information is based upon a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors identified in the Company's prospectus dated June 27, 2014, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Consequently, all of the forward-looking information contained herein is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake to update or amend such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release/media advisory.

Company Contact:
Dan Hilton
Chief Financial Officer
DataWind Inc.
+1(613) 277-3266
Email Contact

Investor Relations:
Michael Koehler
Liolios Group, Inc.
+1(949) 574-3860
Email Contact

Source: DataWind, Inc.

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