Originally posted on December 16, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
With netbooks becoming more and more ubiquitous not just in the business space but also among casual internet users, its further evolution is going to be assured.
One part of this evolution would be in the area of broadband access. Based on an article on Wired, netbooks in the next few years may start arriving bundled with built-in WWAN radios, only with the caveat that a subscription will be required, which would fall along the $60 a month category.
Acer, Radioshack and AT&T are already requiring buyers of the Acer Aspire One to get a contract for broadband access. As I have posted before, the subsidy comes in the form of ultracheap Aspire Ones ($99) but a requirement of a two-year contract.
Is this development a good or bad thing for users? Time will only tell but it will depend on how much freedom manufacturers and provider will give users.