HP considering netbook / wireless broadband bundles in USA

It was really only a matter of time before this here tactic spread from Europe and Asia (and Canada) to the United States, and now it seems the dream is bordering on reality. A Wall Street Journal report has it that HP -- you know, that company that makes the Mini-Note 2133 and Mini 1000 -- is considering bundling its netbooks with wireless cellular data plans in order to boost sales. Theoretically, the machines would be offered up at a steep discount in order to lock consumers into a 2-year mobile broadband plan, though "steep" has yet to be defined. Also, the company hasn't definitively said which carrier(s) will be called upon to be its partner(s), but the article does note that both Verizon Wireless and AT&T are in the cards.

[Scotty Doo @ Oct 30th 2008 8:25AM]

Hmm, I hear that mobile broadband is only good if your not mobile.

e.g Crap on a train or in a car...

[a ham sandwich @ Oct 30th 2008 9:47AM]

i hear you're wrong

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/xohm-wimax-tested-in-baltimore-does-work-in-cars/

[Basic @ Dec 23rd 2008 1:59PM]

Well let's clear up this crap.

Linked article is for wimax NOT 3g.

I do use 3g on a daily basis (wow addict). I carpool and frequently play in the car on a ~10-mile drive home going from the Idaho panhandle to Spokane. I sometimes disconnect when switching cell towers, but recently it's improved and I just get a 2-3 second lag spike.

[Conceyted @ Oct 30th 2008 8:27AM]

Lot's of HP news... none of which is all that mind blowing. I want more news from Lenovo and Asus...

[Scotty Doo @ Oct 30th 2008 8:28AM]

Yeah, and Dell.

Dell notebook news! gimmie gimmie!

[Conceyted @ Oct 30th 2008 8:29AM]

Agreed.

[Juxterium @ Oct 30th 2008 8:29AM]

If the US gets anything like the deals we get here in the UK, a steep discount means you get the netbook free.

[ILoveApple @ Oct 30th 2008 8:31AM]

Seeing how the U.S of A. handles its phone contracts, these netbooks will probably still cost money on contracts. Sad.

[bob sakamano @ Oct 30th 2008 8:33AM]

could we assume most companies "considering" all things at all times?

[bob sakamano @ Oct 30th 2008 8:34AM]

most companies are*

[fd @ Oct 30th 2008 9:05AM]

The problem really becomes the multiple phone contracts ... one home phone, one cell phone, one wireless broadband ... on top of two-year locked-in contracts with huge penalties. Add your broadband and TV and you're looking at $250/mo.

[Murphy Mac @ Oct 30th 2008 12:09PM]

Clearly they need to bundle multiple devices into an affordable plan. the carriers are missing out on a huge opportunity by not offering sensible plans. The charge for additional devices like laptops needs to be incremental, not another $50 a month.

Any anyone who doesn't think subsized netbooks aren't coming in bulk is crazy. apple better have that Mac touch in the works...

[Fanfoot @ Oct 30th 2008 1:18PM]

Agreed. If I'm already paying for broadband on my iPhone, why should I pay full price for netbook broadband on the same account? Its not like I'm going to be using both of them at the same time to browse the web a lot. Myself, I'd rather pay full price for the netbook but get a decent rate on the netbook broadband service. Problem is this assumes I can change to another carrier and keep the netbook in the future, or it makes no sense financially. Which may not be possible the way some of these netbooks are constructed, and assuming the deals for individual netbooks are only on one carrier...

[sockatume @ Oct 30th 2008 9:10AM]

"Steep" probably means "free". The existing Mini-Note is free on £25-per-month 18-month plans already in the UK, versus its £500 ($1000) retail price.

[7on @ Oct 30th 2008 9:31AM]

Noooo! We want the cellphone industry to become like the computer industry! Not the other way around :(

[Enrique @ Oct 30th 2008 10:14AM]

In Argentina, Movistar (Telefónica) and Claro (America Móvil) are bundling netbooks with 3G plans at discounted prices. Movistar has started with an LG netbook and Claro with one from BGH, a local manufacturer.

The US is lagging behind South America in this. Something wrong is happening over there!

[Bad Senor Ron @ Oct 30th 2008 11:05AM]

Just give me a slot to add a broadband card like the 2133. Then I'll have the flexibility to pick the carrier of my choice, or none at all. What good is an ultraportable/netbook without the ability to break free of Wi-Fi hotspots?

We've used our PC5750 w/ Verizon in a 15" Dell Inspiron and maintained a EVDO Rev-A connection halfway across Texas, only dropping where there was no signal. A USB card is not an option as long as they protrude so far from the chassis.

[Adam Williamson @ Oct 30th 2008 12:26PM]

I happened to click on the Canada link in the story, and it's kinda funny reading through the comments now:

"Trust me!! We get raped by our Canadian banks!! They have little to no competition and banks are a BIG business. "

"Canada has been really backward with banking for a long time. I moved here from the UK and the banking industry was one of the biggest retrograde steps (that and cellphones). No simple/free interbank transfers, no free banking... it's like living in the 70s."

Anyone want to take the U.S. banking system over the Canadian one right now? Anyone?

Not seeing a sea of hands, here. =)

[Will @ Oct 30th 2008 11:01PM]

That sound like a brilliant plan except wait, is it me or didn't almost the entire US banking system go belly up and in Canada it was barely a blip on the radar in comparison. As much as I would like free banking I would rather have a safe system that I can trust in times of crisis, if I was in the UK, or US I know I would be fearful of leaving my life savings in a bank right now.