Verizon confirms subsidized HP netbook launch

After weeks of speculation and leaked documents, Verizon has confirmed plans to begin selling the HP Mini 1000 this weekend. Starting on May 17th, Verizon customers will be able to pick up an HP netbook for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate when they sign up for a 2 year 3G plan with Verizon. Plans start at $39.99/month, but you only get to transfer 250MB/month with that plan. If you’re serious about wireless broadband, you’ll probably want to pay $59.99/month for the 5GB data plan.

Of course, if you don’t need the mobile broadband access, you can save a lot of money over the course of a two year plan by just paying full price for the HP Mini 1000 now instead of paying $1640 over the course of two years.

You can find more details about the netbook and the service contracts at SlashGear.

Posted on Thursday, May 14th, 2009, 9:31 am by Brad Linder

Nate

These discounts aren't deep enough. If they're going to subsidize netbooks, they need to give you some value.

Netbooks are cheap enough without the subsidy. They should be, practically, giving these computers away, given how much they charge for the data.
DG

Blinkin' 'eck. I know we get ripped off in the UK for the hardware, but these kind of deals more than tip the balance if you need mobile data. At least we typically get the netbook thrown in with a gig or more monthly data.
Bruce McL

An interesting alternative to a built-in cellular modem is the MiFi, a portable cellular to wireless router. Verizon and Sprint are rolling them out soon.
DougC3

I couldn't agree more, plus, you have to buy your phones from them, they don't have a removable SIM card (because of EV-DO technology), have been late getting units to market compared to competitors, etc.

To their credit, a couple of years back their CEO said they were going to adopt a new policy whereby (paraphrasing) you could get a piece of breadboard and put a phone together in your basement; and, if it tested out OK, it would be fine with them. (I haven't followed up to see if any of this has come about.)
DougC3

But this also comes with a price: “For $39.99 customers get monthly access to a 250-MB allowance with a charge of 10 cents per MB over the limit. A second option at $59.99 provides 5 GB of access per month with an additional charge of 5 cents per MB over the limit.”

A “personal wifi hotspot,” the Cradlepoint PHS300, has been available a year or more. It's a portable access point which you connect to your cell phone with a USB cable, and it creates a wireless cloud for you and your wireless-laptop-equipped friends. (http://www.cradlepoint.com reviewed in the August '08 Linux Journal.)
Gordon

Just when you think everythings cheaper in the US you poor guys get this..

Even in Australia we can get 5GB for A$39.00 (about $32 USD) per month. You'd think with 270 million people and a recession they'd be more competitive.
Gordon

Just when you think everythings cheaper in the US you poor guys get this..

Even in Australia we can get 5GB for A$39.00 (about $32 USD) per month. You'd think with 270 million people and a recession they'd be more competitive.

Verizon confirms subsidized HP netbook launch

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