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Orange preparing subsidized MacBooks?

updated 09:25 am EDT, Thu March 26, 2009

Orange bundling MacBooks?

International phone carrier Orange is preparing to sell subsidized MacBooks, according to Mobile. The UK magazine says it has learned that MacBooks will go on sale through Orange this summer, significantly discounted as a result of being tied to a two-year mobile data contract. No deal has been firmly cemented, but it is believed that negotiations are in a late stage, only requiring details to be arranged.

Orange is in fact said to have already tested MacBooks with its cellular modems, and agreed to a base volume of units from Apple. If completed, the deal will represent the first time a MacBook has been offered alongside cellular service. While other computer manufacturers have provided PCs to phone carriers, Apple has limited its cellular deals to the iPhone, and resisted integrating cellular receivers into computers due to excluding some carriers in favor of others.

Mobile suggests however that Orange executives see the current deal as a means of gaining access to future Apple notebooks, which might include some form of built-in cellular support. A potential candidate is Apple's widely-rumored netbook, which has so far been described only as using a 10-inch touchscreen. Cellular functions would require an HSPA or EVDO module and a SIM card slot.

 
Previous Comments

Genius!

03/26, 09:52am reply

Sounds like someone out there has their thinking had on.

Bobfozz

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

+2

Ah Man....

03/26, 10:07am reply

If the subsidize a MacBook PRO you can count me IN!!!

Rolando_jose

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2006

+2

pro / express card only?

03/26, 10:19am (1 reply) reply

or will they allow handset-tethered MacBooks as well?

jpellino

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

0

well

03/26, 04:02pm reply

If the MacBook had expresscard, then you wouldn't have to worry about sticking stuff out the USB port.

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-2

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