Verizon To Sell Subsidized 3G Netbooks

Verizon To Sell Subsidized 3G Netbooks

Sunday, March 29, 2009 - by Shawn Oliver
Cellphone operators around the globe have now been offering up WWAN-enabled netbooks for months now, and while AT&T has been doing so in the United States with HP's 2133 Mini-Note, Verizon Wireless is hoping to grab some of that excitement here soon. Essentially, carriers are selling netbooks for even less than retail; the catch is that you have to agree to stick to that bundled 3G data plan for a full two years. In other words, the netbook ends up costing you far more in the long run, but you do get a cash discount up front along with 24 months of mobile internet everywhere you (and your netbook) go.



Now, we're being told that Verizon, now America's largest wireless carrier, is expected to begin selling a subsidized netbook "as early as next quarter." We're told that customers (or prospective customers, as the case may be) will be able to choose from more than one 3D-equipped netbook, and while pricing and plan details aren't quite hammered out just yet, we fully expect them to be mighty competitive.



So, would a netbook be more enticing to you if it cost you under $100 up front, yet came tethered to a two-year data contract?
Via: Reuters | News Archive | Tags: Netbook, Notebook, Netbooks, Verizon, 3D
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Comments

By ice91785 on Mar 29, 2009

Well for those that already use an aircard with an exisiting laptop and are in the market for something more portable/user friendly this would be the perfect niche....

That said, are the cards themselves built into the netbook? Or is it a USB add-on...

By bob_on_the_cob on Mar 29, 2009

Radioshack already does this. I think its a cool idea, but I won't stick with one laptop for 2 years.

By ice91785 on Mar 30, 2009

How do you go through laptops so fast? ...I can understand desktops changing a lot cuz they are always being upgraded and such, but what about your laptops? What makes them such a hot potato for ya bob-o?

By bob_on_the_cob on Mar 30, 2009

Honestly my netbook it the first lappy I have owned. After a few months I see the value in a laptop and wish I could do more. I bought a Aspire One Netbook in late November and got Verizon 3G a bit after that. I didnt realize how tight the 5GB limit would be. Not twitlive at work for me. Long story short I have a netbook with a 2 year contract that I am trying to get out of. They give you 30 days to cancel. Thought that was cool until I got my $200 bill because I went waaaaaaayyyy over my limit right after the 30 days. Anyway I want out of my 3G contract and I want a new laptop already. I would loath being locked into this for 2 years.

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