Verizon Ready To Launch Subsidized HP Netbook, MiFi

It appears that the HP Mini 115NR netbook will be offered by Verizon with wireless broadband capability, according to Boy Genius Report. The launch date for the program is being reported as May 17.

Pricing details have yet to be confirmed, but speculation puts the sticker price on the subsidized netbook around $199 after a mail-in rebate. Of course, in order to qualify for an HP Mini 115NR at that price, customers also will have to agree to a two-year service plan. The question for potential customers, then, is whether or not getting a cheaper price on a netbook after rebate justifies the overall cost of the contract. After all, netbooks typically run between about $300 to $600.

Those service plans appear to run between $40 to $60 per month, which puts customers on the contractual hook for somewhere between $960 and $1,440 over the life of the agreement, BGR reports. Factor in the up-front cost of the netbook and that leaves customers holding the bag for quite a bit more than the advertised price of the HP machine.

Also preparing to land at Verizon stores on May 17 is the telecom company's MiFi device. Developed by Novatel Wireless, the MiFi 2200 creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that can be shared with up to five other Internet-enabled devices. The MiFi will retail for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

But, as with the HP netbook offering from Verizon, MiFi also requires a contract with monthly charges. For $39.99 customers get monthly access to a 250-MB allowance with a charge of 10 cents per MB over the limit. A second option at $59.99 provides 5 GB of access per month with an additional charge of 5 cents per MB over the limit.