Faves for this Web page

• KevinLucas - Oct 30 2008 | H-P Mulls Service Bundles for Netbooks

  Hewlett-Packard Co. wants to employ a new tactic to market "netbook" computers in the U.S., offering them at a steep discount to customers who sign-up for wireless service contracts.This bundling of cellular service with PCs isn't done in the U.S., but in Asia and Europe wireless carriers routinely knock hundreds of dollars off the price of a computer if a customer also buys a long-term service contract.

  For example, Taiwanese carrier Far EasTone Communications Ltd. sells the EEE PC from Asustek Computer Inc. for $29 with a two-year contract, rather than the usual price of $429.Hewlett-Packard says the surging interest in netbooks, stripped-down computers that offer basic applications and Web browsing, is driving the move. With the economy fading and lots of high-speed cellphone networks available, the world's largest computer seller by revenue sees bundling as a way to move more of its computers into customers' homes.