AT&T is offering netbooks aka min-laptops with built-in AT&T 3G wireless access for as little as $49.99 a month to Atlanta and Philadelphia as part of a trial. It has plans to do the same kinds of promotions in all of its service areas.
Another new feature that is the Internet at Home and On the Go package that combines home and mobile broadband starting as low as $59.95 per month, including access to the 3G network and unlimited domestic access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with nearly 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots.
The AT&T Communication Manager is pre-installed on mini laptops, enabling customers the ability to manage their mobile and Wi-Fi connections.
Mini laptops available in AT&T stores include the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, and LG Xenia. Promotional prices range from $49.99 to $249.99 with the purchase of an AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plan, which includes an AT&T DataConnect plan and AT&T Fast Access DSL, starting at $59.95 per month. Without those AT&T services, these mini laptops range in price from $449.99 to $599.99.
With the purchase of a two-year AT&T DataConnect plan only, mini
laptop pricing ranges from $99.99 to $349.99. AT&T is offering two
mobile DataConnect plans in the trial, including a 200MB plan for $40
per month and a 5GB plan for $60 per month -- options that meet the
needs of casual to occasional data users, as well as frequent and heavy
users.
Another laptop with built-in 3G capabilities is the Lenovo X200 for
$749.99 with Internet at Home and On the Go. The laptop is available
for $849.99 with a two-year DataConnect plan only.
Before salivating for these great offers remember wireless broadband is usually capped and causes problems for unknowing owners. One guy got a $28,000 bill for watching a Bears game while an attorney is suing AT&T after getting a $5,000
wireless broadband bill. Wireless networks cap data usage, and then
charge by the kilobyte and well watching a video could cost a lot.
If you get one of these subsidized computesr, we suggest you find out
upfront the limit of your service and monitor your usage, if you don't
want to be hit with data overcharges.