New $100 Laptop on sale this year

The backers of the One Laptop Per Child project are looking at the possibility of selling the machine to the public. One idea would be for customers to have to buy two laptops at once - with the second going to the developing world.

Five million of the laptops will be delivered to developing nations this summer, in one of the most ambitious educational exercises ever undertaken. Of plans to sell the machine, he said: "Many commercial schemes have been considered and proposed that may surface in 2008 or beyond, one of which is 'buy 2 and get 1'

The OLPC project is working with Google who will act as "the glue to bind all these kids together". Google will also help the children publish their work on the internet so that the world can observe the "fruits of their labour", said Mr Bletsas.