China Mobile is partnering with 6 computer makers to offer 3G enabled netbooks to mobile broadband customers in China. The telecommunications provider is working with Lenovo, HP Dell, TongFang, Haier, and Founder Technology.
The company will be following the path of European and US mobile carriers who are starting to offer subsidized netbooks to customers who sign up for long term service plans, much the same way they do with cellphones. The amount of the subsidies will depend on the service plans users sign up for.
In order to offer netbooks including the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and HP Mini 1000 in China, netbook makers had to integrate modules conforming to China’s 3G standard, TD-SCDMA.
PC World reports that China Mobile is the world’s largest mobile carrier. But right now 3G coverage is only offered in a handful of Chinese cities.
