Basking Ridge,
N.J. – Verizon Wireless expanded its selection of 3G-equipped netbooks to four
models with the launch of a Samsung model priced at $49.99 after $100 mail-in
rebate with new postpaid two-year contract.
The Samsung-branded
N150 netbook is available for ordering at Verizon Communications Stores, but
consumers who go to
www.verizonwireless.com/netbooks
can buy it for $29.99.
The new netbook is Samsung’s first netbook
available through Verizon and the second netbook launched by the carrier in as
many months. In May, the carrier launched the HP Mini 210-1076NR at $249 with a
discount to $149 if purchased through Verizon’s website. The HP Mini 210 replaced
another HP model to leave the carrier’s netbook selection at three at the time.
The carrier’s two other netbooks are the HP Mini
311-1037 and Gateway LT 2016U. The former is sold at $199, but the online price
is $99.99. The Gateway is sold at $149 with an online price of $49.99.
All of the
netbooks operate at 3G speeds in 115 countries, thanks to a dual-mode 3G
embedded modem. The modem operates in 850/1900MHz CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev. A mode in the U.S. and
select other countries, but 3G data access expands to a total of 115 countries
because the netbooks also operate in 850/1900/2100MHz HSPA mode. Data access at
2.5G speeds is available in more than 200 countries via quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE.
The 2.73-pound N150 features include
seven-hour battery life, Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz processor, Windows 7 Starter,
and a chargeable USB port that charges mobile devices even when the N150 is turned
off. Other features include 93 percent full-size keyboard, up to 1GB memory,
webcam, SD/SDHC/MMC card slot, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
To get the
subsidized netbook price, users must subscribe to a Mobile Broadband pricing
plan. One costs $39.99 per month for 250MB of data, with 10 cents/MB overage
charges. A $59.99 plan allows for up to 5GB of monthly data, with 5 cents/MB
overage charges.
Consumers who want to prepay for broadband
service by the day, week or month pay an unsubsidized price of about $300 more.
The prepaid plans charge $15 for 75MB of data for one day of use, $30 for 250MB
for a week’s use, and $50 for a month’s use with 500MB of data.
