Verizon Netbook to hit stores this weekend

Verizon Wireless will start selling Netbook computers from Hewlett-Packard starting Sunday, the company said in a statement released Thursday.

As previously reported by the Boy Genius Report, the HP Mini 1151NR Netbook will be priced at $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and will require users sign a two-year service agreement for wireless broadband services.

Verizon Wireless will begin selling the HP Mini 1151NR Netbook on Sunday.

(Credit: Verizon Wireless)

Verizon is sticking with its current 3G wireless pricing. But it has increased the amount of data downloads per month for its lowest tier of service. Now subscribers will be able to get the $40 a month plan with 250 Megabytes of data per month. Previously, the $40 a month plan only offered 50 MB of data downloads per month. The overage charge on this plan has been reduced to 10 cents per megabyte over the limit. Previously, the company charged 25 cents per megabyte for overages.

The $60 a month plan will still offer a maximum of 5GB of data, but Verizon has reduced the overage price to 5 cents per megabyte over the 5GB limit, instead of the 25 cents it previously charged.

Verizon is also offering a Mobile Broadband DayPass for $15. This day pass gives users access to the Internet for 24 hours and can be purchased for any Verizon certified mobile device that is purchased at full retail price without a monthly service plan, the company said.

The modifications to the data plan are a sign that Verizon is trying to add more value to its wireless broadband service. But at these hefty prices, many consumers may still find the price of the two-year service contracts too stiff.

With the current pricing, Verizon Netbook users can expect to spend $1,160 to $1,640 during the life of the contract for the service and Netbook, depending on which plan they choose. (This doesn't include taxes or fees.) HP's Mini 1000 Netbooks only cost about $300 without a 3G service contract.

Verizon Wireless's international data plan is even more expensive. The device can access wireless broadband on both CDMA and GSM wireless networks in more than 175 destinations worldwide, the company said. And with a SIM card, GlobalAccess customers can sign up for one of two service plans.

They can get the GlobalAccess Monthly plan, which costs $130 a month for 100 MB worth of data downloads per month in more than 30 select international destinations. This same plan allows for 5 GB of downloads per month in the U.S. and Canada. All other destinations are charged pay-per-use rates.

The second option for globetrotters looking to stay connected with their Netbooks is the Global Access Pay Per Use plan, which allows subscribers of the $60 a month mobile broadband plan in the U.S. to get special rates on international usage. The Pay Per Use rate is $0.002 per kilobyte in Canada, $0.005 per KB in Mexico, and $0.02 KB in more than 175 other destinations.

At steep prices like these, Verizon may find more success letting consumers buy their own Netbooks and signing them up for individual $15 day passes.

[ecotopian--2008]

Wow, a crappy computer plus high-priced internet! What's not to like?

[seven7dust]

50 MB ? wow Welcome to the 1980s

[heavydevelopment]

Ha, ha, ha....50MB? I'd go over 50MB in the time it takes to write this sentence. Really 50MBs is a "dataplan"? Visit one web site and POOF there goes your monthly allotment. I think 5GBs might last an hour. They might want to rename this the Verizon "bend me over and do me" plan.

[zyxxy]

Data on 3G rarely gets over 1Mb/S. 50MB = 50,000,000B * 8 bits/byte == 400,000,000 bits. 400Mb / (1Mb/sec) == 400 Seconds.....

[williambertram]

250 / 500MB? Keeping Windows patched takes more than that. I can see people intentionally not keeping their computer updated to save MB in a slim plan like this. Hell, .Net framework 3.5 SP1 is 350MB alone!

Doesn't seem very realistic or modern. I'd never buy it.

[SBW62]

Shame on you Verizon. I was interested but not at these prices. These are not realistic data plans for a "regular" user - I guess I'll check out HP...

[Hunnter2k3]

Wow, these are terrible terrible prices.

500MB would go away just by viewing a couple Youtubes (if even that)
And this is monthly!
Yeah, i'd TOTALLY get that one Verizon, that is a FANTASTIC deal...

[markdoiron]

"The overage charge on this plan has been reduced 10 cents per megabyte over the limit. Previously, the company charged 25 cents per megabyte for overages."

So, does that mean it's 15 cents/MB? Or should that sentence read "... reduced to 10 cents per megabyte ..."?

Anyways, as others are pointing out, still quite expensive. Better to just use free wi-fi for connectivity unless you must have Internet where a wi-fi link isn't available. Then it's probably a business need, so the company will pick up the tab. I guess that's their intended market.

--mark d.

[cliffroc]

Netbook by Verizon? Strongly unacceptable! I won't use it positively. I prefer to buy netbook from any manufacturer. Updates and upgrades can be done via cable or DSL at home which is much, much cheaper. I use Sprint Blackberry as PAM (phone as modem) hooking up to netbook at very reasonable rate. No thank you, Verizon!

[zizzybaloobah]

And this is how Verizon rewards its steady customers who have resisted AT&T/iPhone temptations.

Sad. Just sad.

[babystars_13]

Editoral Error Notification: First of all, This netbook with Verizon's office was in Best Buy's circular ad this past Sunday. Therefore, this was old news.

I would buy a netbook and then buy a card seperately for somewhere between $219-$269. I would then utilize the daypass when I didn't have access to a wifi network.

[Vegaman_Dan]

This is not a good deal. Radio Shack has had the Acer Aspire One available with the same AT&T data plan that the iPhone has at $60 / mo.

The laptop itself is only $49. Yes, that's right, $49.00 with the data plan for two years. That's already a 75% savings over the Verzon offering.

CNET: You may want to refer to this offer for a compare/contrast to the Verizon offering at:

http://www.radioshack.com/uc/index.jsp?page=researchLibraryArticle&articleUrl=../graphics/uc/rsk/USContent/HTML/pages/momsday.html&noBc=true

[clynx]

Data caps make ALL 3g products a waist of money. Why pay to be censored? No brainier. Price fixing and collusion. No free market here.

[tekwiz4u]

What are they smokin? Does this seem like a GREAT deal for them?

I knew that Verizon will think of a way to screw consumers in data plans, and they definitely did it with this crock of s***.

Look elsewhere peeps....FREE wi-fi is the way to go.

[clynx]

They are smoking tobacco. Because if they are smoking Pot they would never make such an uneducated, selfish policy.

[t8]

If it runs Windows, no thanks.
Windows is a beast when it comes to Netbooks.

[Vegaman_Dan]

A beast that is wicked fast, hungry for data, misery on battery usage, and blows away anything ever done on a netbook to date. Windows 7 is one beast I think people will want to invite in.

[cp256]

As soon as the pathetic little device connects to the internet for the first time, a full screen window pops up filled with one word: GOTCHYA!

I pity the fool...