Almost A Stocking Stuffer: Radio Shack Selling $100 Netbook

[Peaches]

Almost a stocking stuffer: Radio Shack selling $100 netbook

But required two-year AT&T data plan boosts total cost to $1,540, not counting taxes and fees

December 12, 2008 (Computerworld)

" Radio Shack Corp. late Thursday confirmed that it's selling the popular $500 Acer Aspire One netbook for just $100.

The catch? Customers must also subscribe to a minimum $60-per-month 3G high-speed wireless data service plan from AT&T Wireless for two years, according to a Radio Shack press release that confirmed information appearing in newspaper ads from last Sunday.

Offering cell phone handsets to consumers to induce them to sign up for multiyear service plans has long been a common practice in the wireless business. Radio Shack's deal with AT&T and Acer Inc. appears to be a first for netbooks in the U.S.

Outside the U.S., netbooks from Acer and Asustek Computer Inc. have already been bundled with 3G service.

For instance, in Germany, T-Mobile is offering the same Acer Aspire One notebook for just €1 ($1.33 U.S.) to customers who sign up for a similar 3G wireless service plan."

story: http://www.computerworld.com/action/articl...;intsrc=hm_list