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Thu, 26 Mar 2009 Orange and Apple plan cheap mobile broadband MacBook deal

MacBooks "heavily discounted" this summer in Orange broadband tie-up

Nick Spence

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Orange, a provider of mobile phones, mobile broadband and home broadband, will sell Apple laptops on its network from the summer, according to a UK mobile phone industry source.

Mobile Today magazine, reports that Orange will be the first company to subsidise Apple’s laptops with a mobile broadband, similar to those offered by Carphone Warehouse and others.

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At £719, the white 2.0GHz13-inch MacBook is currently the cheapest Apple laptop available in the UK, unless rumours of an Apple netbook, an ultra portable potentially cheap, or cheaper laptop, becomes available by the summer.

Mobile Today magazine claims MacBooks will not be given away free, unlike some PC laptop based mobile broadband deals, but will be "heavily discounted" as long as customers agree to be tied into a two-year Orange mobile broadband deal.

The report claims Orange has "tested" its mobile broadband dongles and discussions between the two are at "final stages" although Orange declined to comment on any plans.

The magazine adds that senior Orange officials are hoping the MacBook deal will be a stepping-stone to the operator securing a distribution deal for future Apple laptops, which include built-in mobile broadband from an embedded Sim card.

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Comments received


William said on Thu, 26 Mar 2009

Well, Orange have been doing this for years in France, so why not?

Brendon said on Fri, 27 Mar 2009

One way of boosting sales figures. Should just sell them at sensible prices.

Shaun said on Fri, 27 Mar 2009

PC World do this already.

Macworld Reader said on Fri, 27 Mar 2009

@Shaun they don't sell MacBooks in this way though.

Most are 24 month tie-ins, so it's likely the basic MacBook will probably cost just over a grand by the time two years is up. If so, and if you were going to buy on credit - probably worth doing.

James said on Wed, 01 Apr 2009

Well the laptop may cost over a grand but if your looking for an internet connection and want a mac, combining the two elements makes an attractive deal.

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