FIRST it was mobiles for nothing, now it`s laptops for free, as telcos try to lure customers into their often-expensive 3G mobile data plans.Telstra is offering a zero-dollar laptop to the value of $700 to business customers signing up for a three-year contract on the telco`s Next G mobile data service. But as with $0 phones, there is a catch.
The plan costs $99 a month and includes a one-gigabyte data download allowance a month. Go over that limit and you are in for some hefty excess data charges.
The 1GB limit is the equivalent of downloading about 15 music albums or 1 1/2 full-length movies. After that, charges rise to 25c per extra megabyte, or a whopping $250 per gigabyte.
The free laptop plan is available only for customers with an ABN number.
Telstra business executive director Cathy Aston said it was targeted at smaller business owners, who could struggle with cash flow.
The offer is available through selected retailers including Harvey Norman, ICT Distribution and Techhead Interactive. Customers who want a laptop worth more than $700 must pay the difference.
Competition at the lower end of the laptop market has been accelerating in recent months, as entrants such as the ASUS $499 Eee PC have provided consumers with a functional, low-cost, portable unit.
Telstra 3G data competitors 3Mobile and Vodafone are not planning to launch $0 laptop offerings in the near future.
Optus has been offering a similar deal since August 2006, allowing customers to bundle laptop, mobile broadband and phone, but this deal will expire when the telco sells out of existing laptop stock.
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