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Wireless Carriers To Start Subsidizing Netbooks?
Michael Dell apparently thinks so....
The day before his company is expected to announce the launch of a sexy new netbook for less than $400, Dell CEO Michael Dell is telling investors that he expects 3G operators to start subsidizing netbooks in an effort to ramp up sales of 3G wireless broadband data services. In other words, expect Dell to start striking deals with North American wireless carriers who'll offer discounted netbooks if you're willing to lock yourself into a long-term contract. Of course, that's traditionally been only common when it comes to regular and smart phones.
quote:

"Telcos will embrace it. It’s the type of product that could easily take advantage of data," said Dell. In other words, Dell plans to emulate the cell phone model as it launches into netbooks.
It's not exactly Nostradamus level foresight, given that in the UK and Japan, Asus has already struck similar deals. Companies are offering either highly subsidized -- or in some cases free -- EeePCs bundled with 3G modems to new wireless users.
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majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029

Member

Awfully hard time

They will have a hard time selling the service even with subsudized notebooks when you limit how much of the service you can actually use.

antwanp
Lovably Pompous
Premium Member
join:2002-05-14
Cedar Hill, TX

antwanp

Premium Member

Good deal...

If we're willing to do it with Smartphones, why not with netbooks? Sounds like a good deal to me.

-Antwan L.

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium Member
join:2005-06-29
Florence, SC

hayabusa3303

Premium Member

What good is it

with a small 5gb cap on it like at&t i just dont see how its going to fly.

If Windows has a big update there goes any surfing for the month.

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike

Mod

Re: What good is it

Oh neat more stuff to clog up AT&T's crap network.

ifarrell
join:2000-08-10
Willow Spring, NC

2 edits

ifarrell

Member

Re: What good is it

Just what I was thinking.
AT&T can't keep their Network stable now.
How the hell are they going to do by clogging more tubes up

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

This story posted twice

This story posted twice:

»Wireless Carriers To Start Subsidizing Netbooks? [21] comments
""http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Wireless-Carriers-To-Start-Subsidizing-Netbooks-97455""

» [1] comments
""http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Wireless-Carriers-To-Start-Subsidizing-Netbooks-97453""

ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA

ninjatutle

Member

1998 all over again

Free PeeC's with Dial Up contracts.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: 1998 all over again

Yup... I remember that.

HardwareGeek
join:2003-11-15
Brooklyn, NY

HardwareGeek

Member

Re: 1998 all over again

People may not care if their phone is locked to a provider, but not their notebook.

ReVeLaTeD
Premium Member
join:2001-11-10
San Diego, CA

ReVeLaTeD to en102

Premium Member

to en102
said by en102:

Yup... I remember that.
I remember it too...and all the fraud that went along with. It wasn't exclusive to computers; just an enticement. It was really just a way to spur sales at Best Buy (unless you're referring to the PeoplePC nonsense).

But see, that was a stupid idea on its face. It was WAY too easy to defraud it.

1: All they did was validate the credit card. Nothing was charged. That meant you could buy 15 GreenDot cards, load each one with $5, and go on a buying spree with phony names each time, for a quick $300 free money each. Best Buy was the real loser; they gave money away like water and couldn't get it back except from Microsoft, who was supposed to pay them back but often didn't.

2: Best Buy issued the gift card instantly and didn't care what you bought with it. My friend and I both got a free PC, and I hooked up my car with a free sound system.

Back to the topic....

IF I could get this from T-mobile for their forthcoming 3G network, I'd be all over it for my second line of service. Their data plan is extremely cheap compared to others, so it would be a great deal for me...that is, if I hadn't just bought a new laptop at the beginning of the year.
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 years vs paying more and useing wifi for free?
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Mr Matt

Member

Re: Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

Do not forget the 5Gb CAP!
EPS4
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

1 recommendation

EPS4 to Joe12345678

Member

to Joe12345678
Last time I checked 3G cellular service covers far more areas than WiFi (of course, for some areas you have enough WiFi that it doesn't matter too much)... so if you were going to get the 3G data plan anyway, a laptop is a nice bonus that could sway some people.
sharksfan3
Premium Member
join:2004-02-16
North Hollywood, CA

sharksfan3

Premium Member

Re: Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

said by EPS4:

Last time I checked 3G cellular service covers far more areas than WiFi (of course, for some areas you have enough WiFi that it doesn't matter too much)... so if you were going to get the 3G data plan anyway, a laptop is a nice bonus that could sway some people.
Agreed. I went out of my way last December to find a laptop with an integrated 3G AT&T card. It cost me $250... I couldn't be happier!
EPS4
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

EPS4

Member

Re: Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

I try to go for laptops without integrated 3G myself- it allows more selection of carriers, and is upgradable... this is the reason I don't like the fact that Intel wants to push WiMax to every single Centrino 2 laptop once its chipsets are ready.

antwanp
Lovably Pompous
Premium Member
join:2002-05-14
Cedar Hill, TX

antwanp

Premium Member

Re: Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

What's your problem with WiMax? There's multiple providers for WiMax. It's a standard.
EPS4
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA

EPS4

Member

Re: Who will want a laptop with $60+ forced data plan for 2 year

But there are competing standards as well. I don't want an integrated EV-DO laptop card either, even if they could make it so you could switch between providers easily (CDMA would be a great standard if it wasn't so carrier-controlled), because if I wanted to use HSDPA, I'd have to have two 3G devices inside my laptop.

Plus, an external antenna could get better reception. (Probably not an issue with plastic laptops)
AVonGauss
Premium Member
join:2007-11-01
Boynton Beach, FL

AVonGauss

Premium Member

I got a great idea...

I got great idea, how about the wireless companies focus on providing a quality 3G experience at a reasonable price and leave the notebook purchases to the consumers, okay? Seriously, we don't need notebook subsidies based on long term contracts, we need affordable quality 3G service options. I can't even bring myself to say something politically correct about the 5 GB cap, based on the price they are charging, thats just highway robbery.
kash1
join:2005-08-13
Houston, TX

kash1

Member

dunno

damm.. already locked into my 2year contract on my notebook.. its stable and fast for me in houston :dunno:

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Thanks

BUT NO THANKS!

chronoss20081
Premium Member
join:2008-03-29

chronoss20081

Premium Member

wireless and laptop BS

and laptop life span is how long and its how easy to fix them?
ya worth about nothing, and
if they do determine that cell phones cause cancer wtf we doing being all these other waves about ?

oh and yah not very secure at all, which is why they like it, how better to spy on yee