Orange to Offer Subsidized MacBooks With Mobile Broadband Contracts in UK?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

Mobile reports (http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/Orange_will_sell_Apple_laptops.html) that UK mobile provider Orange is in final negotiations to offer heavily subsidized MacBooks to customers signing up for two-year mobile broadband contracts.A deal is understood to be close to completion, with the details being finalised ahead of availability of the MacBook on Orange.

The operator has tested the laptops with its mobile broadband dongles and is understood to have made a volume commitment with Apple.

The laptops will not be free, given their high cost, but will be heavily discounted for customers that commit to a two year mobile broadband contract.Rumors of subsidized notebooks have been increasing lately, with an AT&T source recently hinting (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/23/more-details-on-next-generation-iphone-3g-netbook-due-this-summer/) at the possibility of a $99 netbook launching this summer with the implication that it may be an Apple product.

Article Link: Orange to Offer Subsidized MacBooks With Mobile Broadband Contracts in UK? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

[Ashmanspice]

This would fit in with the apple 'netbook' rumours.

[citi]

If they are 99$ then it makes since, but if the macbook is 600$ with a 60$ a month 2 year closed in contract, than you are just renting it. What happens if it breaks during that time? I just don't understand why having cell service in your laptop is that important. Especially considering people will be able to tether soon (some are tethering now)

[Josh396]

Although I'm located in the US and not in the market for laptop at the moment, I'm interested to see how much of price difference there will be for those who sign up for the contract.

I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).

[LeoFio]

I don't like having a product subsidized if it means monthly payments. I'd rather pay a higher upfront cost than payments over a period of time.

[Eduardo1971]

Cool. I'm not in need of another laptop, but my dad is. This would be an awesome deal-well, contigent upon what AT&T would charge...:o

[johnnyjibbs]

What's significant here is that Orange is not the mobile operator in the UK with the exclusive iPhone agreement (that accolade goes to its rival, O2).

This poises two interesting scenarios:

Either:

1) the target market for this product is not those with iPhones. In fact, it would be unlikely that iPhone customers would have any need or want to pay for both free mobile internet access on iPhone via O2 and sign up to Orange mobile broadband for the free Macbook.

or

2) O2 is shortly going to lose exclusivity on the iPhone and Apple will open its flagship mobile device up to other mobile operators, including Orange.

Either way, if true, it looks like Apple is broadening its horizons in the mobile internet space. A revelation perhaps then? Or evidence that this rumour is false?

[Oh-es-Ten]

It would be interesting to see how this might sell in the UK. I think most ordinary folks here are happy to take up this kind of deal, because they don't think about the long term price.

I have a brand new Macbook on my desk today and some colleagues were asking how much they were... when I said around £900 they all gasped. Early last year there would not have been this kind of reaction!

That said, I happily paid just under £800 for my refurb Macbook and feel it is very much worth the money compared to a cheaply made PC laptop. I did recently get an e-mail from Apple with a long survey about my purchase, and there was a lot of questions relating to perception of value etc. Hmmmm

[haravikk]

Why is there so-much steam behind this $99 netbook from Apple rumour? If Apple were to release a netbook it's not very likely to be $99! It'd be more of a lower-budget-Macbook if anything.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

[johnnyjibbs]

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.
This is with a contract.

[VoR]

I don't like having a product subsidized if it means monthly payments. I'd rather pay a higher upfront cost than payments over a period of time.

It would be interesting to see how this might sell in the UK. I think most ordinary folks here are happy to take up this kind of deal, because they don't think about the long term price.

It amazes me how many people pay extortionate amounts for some mobile contracts. If you get a contract with a laptop/latest phone/console/etc, you'll pay a fair bit more than buying the two separate products up front.

These 'offers' are to get as much money out of you as possible while keeping the initial payment low/free - to attract the millions of people that for some reason have no interest in looking at the tco or getting any value from their purchases.

[min_t]

Why is there so-much steam behind this $99 netbook from Apple rumour? If Apple were to release a netbook it's not very likely to be $99! It'd be more of a lower-budget-Macbook if anything.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

No such thing as a low budget Macbook. $99 is possible but improbable. A :apple: netbook can cost $600 and be subsidized, resulting in a $99 price for the user.

If they offered a mac tablet/netbook for $99 with 2 year contract, I'm taking it. Of course, I have to wait til June when my current iphone deal is done.

Bring it on :apple:!!

[martinmartin3]

I hope this doesn't mean that O2 are going to lose their contract for Iphones altogether or a stop at least on the future tech? i did read a rumor that said they might be but held it to have little weight to it?

Im not a fan of Orange to be frank. :confused:

[neiltc13]

This isn't anything significant really. Mobile phone networks have been offering free or discounted laptops for a very long time when you sign up to their data plans.

What is significant is the news that it is Orange rather than O2. Would be great because O2's coverage sucks.

[flopticalcube]

Apples and Oranges, hehe...

[min_t]

I hope this doesn't mean that O2 are going to lose their contract for Iphones altogether or a stop at least on the future tech? i did read a rumor that said they might be but held it to have little weight to it?

Im not a fan of Orange to be frank. :confused:

Chillax, you can still have the netbook. You just have to pony up the full cost.:cool:

[utahnguy]

I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

Apple isn't the Burger King of computer manufacturers, always coming up with crazy half-baked ideas to see what happens. They're the Wendy's, always looking for existing ideas/establishments from competitors where a desire already exists then coming in and doing a better job. (Anyone who's taken a business class has heard this "Wendy's" example before..)

What if your laptop malfunctions? Do they take it back if you break your contract early? And most of all.. WHY??

[8CoreWhore]

The pieces are falling into place.

[gkarris]

Don't you guys over there get FREE iPhones with the more expensive plans?

Here, AT&T is more than happy to still charge you for the phone... :eek:

[arkitect]

1) the target market for this product is not those with iPhones. In fact, it won't be possible for iPhone customers to join these contracts unless they pay for Orange mobile broadband AND have free iPhone internet access.

Why not possible?
There is no clause in my contract with O2 that prohibits me from also joining other networks.
If I have a contract with O2, nothing stops me from having contracts with Orange, Vodaphone etc etc…

If I am willing to pay, then why not? ;)

[akidd]

Regardless of the pros and cons of a two year contract there remains the fact that Orange's mobile broadband is completely rubbish. Orange gave my company two free dongles, but when I tried it (on a Macbook) it took seven minutes to download one text only email. I gave up after that and we've never used them since.

[northy014]

Just don't get why anyone would pay this extra cost for a so called 'subsidised' Macbook. On the UK store, you can get a brand new whitebook for 'just' £719 - and a 3G card will only be £5-10 a month...

[Small White Car]

I love how people are combining the "UK Orange subsidizing laptops" rumor with the "AT&T executive talks about mystery $99 product" rumor and are acting like they're the same thing.

Separate things, guys.

[Attonine]

I hope this doesn't mean that O2 are going to lose their contract for Iphones altogether or a stop at least on the future tech? i did read a rumor that said they might be but held it to have little weight to it?

Im not a fan of Orange to be frank. :confused:

Well, for several days at least, play.com have been advertising the sale of unlocked iPhones starting from tomorrow I believe (I can't open the site at the moment for some reason). I saw this referenced on the Mac User site here http://www.macuser.co.uk/news/250017/o2-intros-new-iphone-tariffs.html and they were definitely on play.com when I checked after seeing the reference. Now, unless they are buying up loads of iPhones from Hong Kong or Italy or somewhere and selling them on, play.com has some official source for these phones, which, speculatively, may mean Apple is loosening it's grip. Anyway, they're £600 for a 16GB if you want one.

play.com link, 8GB on bottom row, 16GB about half way down. http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=MBLS&searchstring=iphone&page=search&pa=search&go.x=0&go.y=0

[Pingwhen?]

HONESTLY i think this would be the coolest THING! in the whole world. i cant wait to see how it all works. i wonder if it will be internal. if not then this is dumb, but if it is, the macbook would be wonderful. to bad i got a pro this summer. i would totally jump on this.

[mikeinternet]

with or without a contract macbooks with built in 3G or some other mobile data network are just awesome.

[shiseiryu1]

Why is there so-much steam behind this $99 netbook from Apple rumour? If Apple were to release a netbook it's not very likely to be $99! It'd be more of a lower-budget-Macbook if anything.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

I agree with you here. People keep wanting Apple to release inexpensive products, however they haven't positioned themselves as a low-cost provider (quite the opposite: high quality, high price) and therefore unless they make a dramatic shift in strategy don't expect to see a $99 computer from Apple anytime soon.

Also it seems to me if Apple does release a netbook it won't be the same crap that the other companies are putting out...it'll probably be multi-touch and hopefully it'll be awesome which is another reason we shouldn't count on it being $99.

[Mykbibby]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

Although I'm located in the US and not in the market for laptop at the moment, I'm interested to see how much of price difference there will be for those who sign up for the contract.

I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).

Linux? No chance in hell. Either OS X Touch, or normal OS X.

[johnnyjibbs]

Why not possible?
There is no clause in my contract with O2 that prohibits me from also joining other networks.
If I have a contract with O2, nothing stops me from having contracts with Orange, Vodaphone etc etc…

If I am willing to pay, then why not? ;)
I'm not saying you would be prohibited, but why would you want to pay if you already had free mobile access with your iPhone? Most people wouldn't.

[TonyHoyle]

1) the target market for this product is not those with iPhones. In fact, it won't be possible for iPhone customers to join these contracts unless they pay for Orange mobile broadband AND have free iPhone internet access.


The two aren't related.. these are mobile broadband contracts - you get a USB dongle and a data allowance, not a phone.

The target market is people who want a macbook but can't afford one right now.. for the tie in (2 years is a long contract.. most contracts in the UK are 6,12 or at most 18 months) you get it now rather than having to save up. Such deals are popular with students and those on lower incomes.

On most deals I've seen like this the laptop is free - I don't know if they'll manage to do the macbook free though as it costs a bit more than the average laptop.

[arkitect]

I'm not saying you would be prohibited, but why would you want to pay if you already had free mobile access with your iPhone? Most people wouldn't.

Thanks for clearing that up…

Just your original quote…
In fact, it won't be possible for iPhone customers to join these contractsmade it sound as if you knew for sure there would be some prohibition or technical impossiblility. ;)

[johnnyjibbs]

I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).
No chance! :eek: I would say that hell would freeze over for real before Apple shipped a computer with Linux. Macs have always been and always will be powered by Apple's own proprietary OS. Using Linux would not make sense from a financial perspective (since they don't need to pay themselves a fee for the Mac OS X licence), plus it wouldn't be a Mac without Mac OS! The unity between hardware and software is at the core of Apple's philosophy.

[DoubleU]

OS X Touch is more likely so it wouldn't undercut the MacBook line.

[salvatorereda]

i posted that apple will offer the netbook for 99 for a monthly contact.

people did not believe me, now it seems i was right

[TonyHoyle]

i posted that apple will offer the netbook for 99 for a monthly contact.

people did not believe me, now it seems i was right

This isn't apple it's orange, and they're offering the macbook not a netbook. All Orange have to do is be a reseller and have the stock. Someone signs up, Apple get the full price of the macbook and they're happy.

[johnnyjibbs]

Thanks for clearing that up…

Just your original quote…
made it sound as if you knew for sure there would be some prohibition or technical impossiblility. ;)
Knowing Apple.... ;)

Edited original post to make it clearer.

[arkitect]

Knowing Apple.... ;)

Very true.
:o

[hagridhen]

This is really nothing new - UK mobile phone networks have been offering subsidised laptops with mobile broadband for over a year. e.g. see the selection here http://www.top10-broadband.co.uk/compare/broadband_free_laptop/

O2 recently launched with Samsung laptops. Maybe that's why Apple opted to go with Orange.

[arkitect]

This is really nothing new - UK mobile phone networks have been offering subsidised laptops with mobile broadband for over a year.

Of course it isn't a new concept…

But it is new that Apple is getting into bed with someone else to offer subsidised laptops.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that has never happened before.

[sjo]

I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...


pretty common in some european countries.

[talkingfuture]

Seems odd that Apple wouldn't do this with O2. There seems to be a big push on mobile broadband in this country, I've never really understood why. I suppose I must be the exception in not needing to use broadband away from home or work much.

[gkarris]

I agree with you here. People keep wanting Apple to release inexpensive products, however they haven't positioned themselves as a low-cost provider (quite the opposite: high quality, high price) and therefore unless they make a dramatic shift in strategy don't expect to see a $99 computer from Apple anytime soon.

Also it seems to me if Apple does release a netbook it won't be the same crap that the other companies are putting out...it'll probably be multi-touch and hopefully it'll be awesome which is another reason we shouldn't count on it being $99.

Yes, a $99 NetBook from Apple is about as impossible as a $199 Apple Smartphone...

:rolleyes:

[Jonny75]

Interesting but my immediate thoughts are:

1) This would make more sense with O2 (esp with future iPhone tethering)
2) Carphone Warehouse have been doing this for years (although a poorer machine given free)
3) Orange broadband is painful - a bag of hurt in dustbin of dystopia

On another issue, Carphone Warehouse confirmed the _new_ iPhone is coming out in July and have promised to call me on launch date. But we all knew that.

[Josh396]

No chance! :eek: I would say that hell would freeze over for real before Apple shipped a computer with Linux. Macs have always been and always will be powered by Apple's own proprietary OS. Using Linux would not make sense from a financial perspective (since they don't need to pay themselves a fee for the Mac OS X licence), plus it wouldn't be a Mac without Mac OS! The unity between hardware and software is at the core of Apple's philosophy.
A bit of miscommunication there. I'm not saying Apple would ship a Linux powered Netbook ( I don't think anyone is that stupid, even me ;) ), I'm saying that if a $99 Netbook existed, I believe it would be made by a separate company (not Apple) and would be likely be Linux powered.

If Apple did create and sell a netbook, at any price, it would of course be OS X powered, possibly OS X Touch.

[redgaz26]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?

[ShiftyPig]

Just don't get why anyone would pay this extra cost for a so called 'subsidised' Macbook. On the UK store, you can get a brand new whitebook for 'just' £719 - and a 3G card will only be £5-10 a month...

Depends on the contract really. I would assume the £5-10 isn't for top-of-the-line service.

[Parky]

I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

Apple isn't the Burger King of computer manufacturers, always coming up with crazy half-baked ideas to see what happens. They're the Wendy's, always looking for existing ideas/establishments from competitors where a desire already exists then coming in and doing a better job. (Anyone who's taken a business class has heard this "Wendy's" example before..)

What if your laptop malfunctions? Do they take it back if you break your contract early? And most of all.. WHY??

In the UK we have various companies from Mobile Operators to PC World offering FREE Laptops (not just NetBooK) with Mobile Internet contracts.

AT PC World you can sign up for a 2 year Mobile Internet service and get a FREE - Dell, HP, Acer, etc, etc. Read more here :-

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/editorial/get_connected_free_laptops

For £40 a month on a 24 month contract you can get a FREE 17" Compaq or HP Laptop with unlimted data (fair use policy applies) and texts.

O2 are offering a FREE 15" Samsung Laptop for £29.38 a month on a 24 month contract (3GB limit a month)

You can read it here :-

http://shop.o2.co.uk/laptop/Samsung/R510-2GB

It is not about having the 3G chip built it, none of the Laptops offered have that. In the UK they ALL use an external USB 3G Modem that comes free as well.

The Laptops come with a 24 month warranty and at the end of the contract they are yours to keep.

So the deal is not that bad for say the HP 15" Laptop from PC World which costs £529.99 to buy in the store for cash. Or you can have it for FREE on a £40 a month unlimited data and text contract. That will cost you £960. So overall it is £430 more expensive to get the Laptop on the contract BUT for that £430 you get the USB Modem and Unlimited 3G Mobile Internet and unlimited texts (works out at £18 a month).

For some people that is a good way of getting a Latop and the 3G service.

[VoR]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?

The 'free' iphone 8gb contract is £45 a month, which is £1080 over the contract... I'm sure the macbooks would be sold to them at a fair discount, and even if they weren't, that's still a large profit.

They'll make a killing whatever, as there's still tonnes of people in this country that think it's acceptable to stick with the same provider, not shop around and pay >£15 a month for a 'free minutes/data/text' contract.

[RealaT]

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Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?

The cheapest MacBook is £719

[celticgrid]

This isn't about Apple making a product and then seeking a partner to market it, as with the iPhone. This is simply a mobile broadband provider going to Apple to do a deal for volume MacBook purchases. No big deal. Apple will sell MacBooks (at maybe a bulk discounted rate to Orange) and Orange do the rest of the business. A simple sales transaction based on an existing product. I'm sure Apple would have done a similar deal with O2 if it was available and they may well still do that - there's no reason (other than if Orange are paying for the privilege) for it to be an exclusive deal.

The possible netbook is a whole different matter, and I would not be surprised if that was linked to a specific partner, at least to start with. As for it replacing an iPhone, no way. The phone goes in my pocket and everywhere with me. A 10" screen netbook is not going to replace that.

Netbook? I've said it before...look at the Simpad. Think how Apple might do a version of that and then start salivating.

[Saladinos]

If it's the aluminium one, I'd consider it.

I'm just in envy of those things. My blackbook can't compete when it comes to sex appeal (and gaming graphics...)

[koobcamuk]

What's significant here is that Orange is not the mobile operator in the UK with the exclusive iPhone agreement (that accolade goes to its rival, O2).

I wonder how this ties in with the tethering function seen in 3.0?? :rolleyes:

[Rocketman]

I know I said this years ago, but what I would like to see is Apple make internal provision for activating 3G/4G wireless ala an Airport card model or a sim or some such, so dongles and PC cards need not be used, and disrupt the form factor of the device. Ugly PC's have been doing this for years.

3rd party dongles have been available for a while with mixed results on drivers.

Rocketman

[gnasher729]

I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

Of course it makes sense. Everyone in the UK is offering free laptops with wireless Internet access. You get a little USB key that you plug into the laptop, and sign a contract for two years. For a laptop under £400, the phone company makes so much many on the contract, they can afford to give you the laptop for free.

So if they can give you a £400 laptop for free, they can give you a white MacBook costing £719 for a £319 payment.

IIt is not about having the 3G chip built it, none of the Laptops offered have that. In the UK they ALL use an external USB 3G Modem that comes free as well.

For a perspective on the price: O2 sells the external USB modem for £30, and then you can pay for wireless access pay-as-you-go for two days, one week, or one month for £15.

[SFStateStudent]

So this is where my returned MBAir is going... lol :D:p:D:p:D:p:D:p:D:p:D:p:D:p

[Shaun, UK]

Don't you guys over there get FREE iPhones with the more expensive plans?

Here, AT&T is more than happy to still charge you for the phone... :eek:

The iPhone is "free" if you take out an 18 month contract for £44.05 (8Gb model) or £73.41 (16Gb model) per month.

Sadly "free" is never actually free in the mobile phone world - they get you one way or another.

Personally I prefer to pay up front and take out a pay as you go contract.

[BohoTrash]

I could be wrong, but I don't see what this has to do with Apple. Orange are merely stocking the MacBook and selling it on in their own way, with a contract. And it's likely to be the £719 WhiteBook on offer.

[DELLsFan]

Subsidizing Macbooks in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) doesn't seem to me to be a sustainable business model for either Apple, Orange, AT&T, or anyone else, given the terrible economy.

Although, I might revisit my opinion if someone like COMCAST decided to waste revenue subsidizing say ... a Mac Pro. :cool:

[VoR]

Subsidizing Macbooks in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) doesn't seem to me to be a sustainable business model for either Apple, Orange, AT&T, or anyone else, given the terrible economy.


'Subsidizing' is a nice word, but it doesn't mean a whole lot if you end up paying more and they end up making more.

Doesn't really matter though, buying a laptop/phone/etc through a contract isn't the only way to get these products, options are always good.

[sjo]

Subsidizing Macbooks in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) doesn't seem to me to be a sustainable business model for either Apple, Orange, AT&T, or anyone else, given the terrible economy.

Although, I might revisit my opinion if someone like COMCAST decided to waste revenue subsidizing say ... a Mac Pro. :cool:

the wrong bit in the equation is calling this business model "subsidizing". they're selling a 2 year contract. nothing subsidized there.

i understand why the companies want to call what they are doing "subsidizing". independent media should stop using this term already.

it's contract with upfront payment + monthly payments.

[BohoTrash]

Personally I prefer to pay up front and take out a pay as you go contract.

Yeah, me too. Problem is o2 UK tell me they don't support email to your phone on PAYG, so I've had to work around this slight issue. Otherwise I'm happy knowing that the phone is mine and I can pay what I need to pay in terms of topping up with credit.

Looking forward to iPhone 3.0 by the way...

[Garafraxa]

HONESTLY i think this would be the coolest THING! in the whole world. i cant wait to see how it all works. i wonder if it will be internal. if not then this is dumb, but if it is, the macbook would be wonderful. to bad i got a pro this summer. i would totally jump on this.

First time anyone has said "too bad I got a pro this summer". Boohoo for you.
:rolleyes:

[marcussutton]

Er, this is nothing that PC World and Currys aren't already doing with O2, T-Mobile, and 3.

[redwin11]

I wonder how this ties in with the tethering function seen in 3.0?? :rolleyes:

That's the big question.

I think tethering over the iPhone with unlimited downloads, charged at, say £10 a month extra, could be the end of the 3G dongle.

But if Orange pitched the Macbook at, say £50 a month for two years with a 3G dongle, how many people would choose that over the iPhone?

[DaoFerret]

No such thing as a low budget Macbook. $99 is possible but improbable. A :apple: netbook can cost $600 and be subsidized, resulting in a $99 price for the user.

If they offered a mac tablet/netbook for $99 with 2 year contract, I'm taking it. Of course, I have to wait til June when my current iphone deal is done.

Bring it on :apple:!!

Well ... as a comparison, Dell was running a promotion on their Mobile Broadband enabled Mini9's with bundled service from AT&T (built in 3G card, same one Vodaphone is using in the UK). Normally you'd pay ~$500-600 for the model they were offering with the promotion. The promotion brought the price down to $200 but required a 2 year contract @$60 a month.

I don't see Apple offering a better deal, if anything I see them charging a lot more for a lot less (hardware wise), which is exactly the opposite of the Netbook market (and why, while I love OSX, I decided the new Mini and Air were just too much for too little).

[DaoFerret]

I agree with you here. People keep wanting Apple to release inexpensive products, however they haven't positioned themselves as a low-cost provider (quite the opposite: high quality, high price) and therefore unless they make a dramatic shift in strategy don't expect to see a $99 computer from Apple anytime soon.

Also it seems to me if Apple does release a netbook it won't be the same crap that the other companies are putting out...it'll probably be multi-touch and hopefully it'll be awesome which is another reason we shouldn't count on it being $99.

What crap?

Lots of people are pretty happy with the choice of Netbooks out there right now. Heck, quite a lot of them have even had OSX installed on them. Yes, multi-touch is "nice" but somehow we managed to survive and use portables before it existed. As for it being "nice", yeah, Apple usually gets that part right, then they overcharge you for the experience and sour the taste.

[Ubuntu]

Don't you guys over there get FREE iPhones with the more expensive plans?

Here, AT&T is more than happy to still charge you for the phone... :eek:

Aye, I actually spat out my drink when I saw what AT&T were hoping to charge you for contract-free iPhones.

[ditzy]

Apples and Oranges, hehe...

That was my first thought too. Apple working with Orange. :D

[k2k koos]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

Mobile reports (http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/Orange_will_sell_Apple_laptops.html) that UK mobile provider Orange is in final negotiations to offer heavily subsidized MacBooks to customers signing up for two-year mobile broadband contracts.Rumors of subsidized notebooks have been increasing lately, with an AT&T source recently hinting (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/23/more-details-on-next-generation-iphone-3g-netbook-due-this-summer/) at the possibility of a $99 netbook launching this summer with the implication that it may be an Apple product.

Article Link: Orange to Offer Subsidized MacBooks With Mobile Broadband Contracts in UK? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

DOngles are one thing, but perhaps Apple could 'update' the macbooks to have it build in? , and while we're on it, build in a simcard slot, so that we can use it with a bluetooth headset, and make phone calls while working on a spreadsheet, surf the net , play in garageband etc all from the same device (or would that eat away potential iPhone customers...)

[Hemingray]

Sounds great except for the dongle. Apple, get with it already and allow for cards INSIDE the laptops! If Dell can do it, you certainly can!

[Kebabselector]

DOngles are one thing, but perhaps Apple could 'update' the macbooks to have it build in?..........

When have Apple done what people wanted?

As for the orange deal if the 2 year contract is £30 per month, the orange mobile broadband probably would be £10 of that and the rest could go to sub the MacBook (£700 version). Orange could probably get the white MB for £600 and sell it subbed for £300.

[christian_k]

This isn't anything significant really. Mobile phone networks have been offering free or discounted laptops for a very long time when you sign up to their data plans.

What is significant is the news that it is Orange rather than O2. Would be great because O2's coverage sucks.

No, this is not significant in any way. In contrast to the iPhone anyone can buy MacBooks and any company can buy them in large quantities. This includes mobile operators and retailers as well.

For example MediaMarkt (a large electronics retailer in Germany) offers _any_ notebook for 400€ less and gives you a free 3G USB stick if you sign a 24 monts 3G data contract (about 35€ / month). This includes Apple notebooks. You can have a white MacBook for 549 or something in this case.
The contracts are usually on Vodafone which is not the iPhone carrier in Germany. Other Apple retailers like Gravis had similar offers in the past.

Really nothing special, I think...

Christian

[acidfast7]

I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

Apple isn't the Burger King of computer manufacturers, always coming up with crazy half-baked ideas to see what happens. They're the Wendy's, always looking for existing ideas/establishments from competitors where a desire already exists then coming in and doing a better job. (Anyone who's taken a business class has heard this "Wendy's" example before..)

What if your laptop malfunctions? Do they take it back if you break your contract early? And most of all.. WHY??

actually, subsidized laptops are very common over here because of our extensive turbo 3g network.

here is a page with a few examples:

http://www.phonehouse.se/StartPage/StartPage.aspx?menuid=139347&startMode=Private

[bigandy]

Considering Currys are offering a free laptop or £500 off more expensive ones (link (http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/editorial/mobile-broadband-free-laptop)), which seems to cover MacBooks instore (unless all three stores I've seen the offer in are mislabelled (which isn't unlikely considering it's Currys)), it's quite likely we'll see such a subsidised offer.

However, Orange aren't normally even on the radar for someone looking in to mobile broadband, so I doubt it would make much of a difference, considering their utterly crap customer offerings.

[Buskape]

In Switzerland they offer subsidized MacBook's and MacBook Pro's for a while now.

You have the choice of which laptop you want, but its actually with a 3G internet key contract, a minimum of 2 year contract.

A macbook 2.4 ghz is offered for as low as 104 chf (68€) a month (24 months) and a macbook pro starts at 140chf (91€) a month.. and you can have a new laptop every 2 year.

The monthly price depends on different 3g contracts and different data plans it can cost more, but overall it's a pretty good leasing type of deal, you don't have interest % it's just the price of the laptop divided by 24 + the data plan you choose.

[Chupa Chupa]

Sounds great except for the dongle. Apple, get with it already and allow for cards INSIDE the laptops! If Dell can do it, you certainly can!

Not only that but dongles are very unApple -- at least the Apple run by Steve Jobs.

[Steve Jobs=God]

.

[Macist]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

Mobile reports (http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/Orange_will_sell_Apple_laptops.html) that UK mobile provider Orange is in final negotiations to offer heavily subsidized MacBooks to customers signing up for two-year mobile broadband contracts.Rumors of subsidized notebooks have been increasing lately, with an AT&T source recently hinting (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/23/more-details-on-next-generation-iphone-3g-netbook-due-this-summer/) at the possibility of a $99 netbook launching this summer with the implication that it may be an Apple product.

Article Link: Orange to Offer Subsidized MacBooks With Mobile Broadband Contracts in UK? (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/26/orange-to-offer-subsidized-macbooks-with-mobile-broadband-contracts-in-uk/)

That would be odd - 02 doing iPhones, Orange doing Macs. Surely now that the iPhone is established as hot property it should be available from all major carriers?

[bjoern]

Gravis is already offering something like this:

German site (http://www.gravis.de/aktionen-events/aktionen/macbook-white-inkl-webnwalk-ab-49990/)
Bad Google translation (http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=de&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravis.de%2Faktionen-events%2Faktionen%2Fmacbook-white-inkl-webnwalk-ab-49990%2F&sl=de&tl=en)

An old model MacBook for 499,99 Euros with a 2 year Web'n'Walk T-Online Contract.
They also 'subsidize' other models if you want.

It's germany-only though.

[3247]

Not only that but dongles are very unApple -- at least the Apple run by Steve Jobs.Yep. Furthermore, Apple does know how to make GSM/UMTS hardware. They already have the iPhone.

[kevinanchi]

Why not possible?
There is no clause in my contract with O2 that prohibits me from also joining other networks.
If I have a contract with O2, nothing stops me from having contracts with Orange, Vodaphone etc etc…

If I am willing to pay, then why not? ;)

Yes you are right, i am also tired of this thing, mean once you are have a contract with one company u have to stick to it like a married couple, else where in other countries there is not such thing there is a freedom for choosing your service provider...........

[marksman]

Yes you are right, i am also tired of this thing, mean once you are have a contract with one company u have to stick to it like a married couple, else where in other countries there is not such thing there is a freedom for choosing your service provider...........

holy bumpers batman.