{"id":44038,"date":"2009-11-18T11:42:07","date_gmt":"2009-11-18T16:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=80293"},"modified":"2009-11-18T11:42:07","modified_gmt":"2009-11-18T16:42:07","slug":"subsidized-mobile-internet-devices-a-not-so-nuts-proposition-for-carriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/44038","title":{"rendered":"Subsidized Mobile Internet Devices a Not-so-Nuts Proposition for Carriers?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/span> Subsidies for high-end smartphones can be a Faustian bargain for mobile operators<\/a>, but there are riches in the coming wave of connected devices, according to figures released today from In-Stat<\/a>. More than 60 percent of all netbooks and other Internet-enabled mobile devices will be sold through operators and their partners by 2013 as more services are bundled for multiple gadgets, the market research firm predicts.<\/p>\n

Those devices are increasingly likely to be sold with 3G and 4G data contracts, In-Stat said, resulting in recurring monthly revenues for carriers. The percentage of netbooks and smartbooks sold with a mobile contract will increase to 49.5 percent in 2013 from 31.5 percent this year. And while subsidies for superphones like the iPhone can exceed $300<\/a>, the business model for subsidized mobile Internet devices can be a very attractive one for carriers, according to In-Stat analyst Jim McGregor:<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the U.S., carriers are charging up to $60 per month for a two-year contract with the subsidized purchase of a netbook,\u201d McGregor said in a statement. \u201cWhile the subsidy costs the carrier $50\u2013$100, it generates $1,440 or more in service fees over the life of the contract.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Success with netbooks is encouraging U.S. carriers to venture into the notebook space, In-Stat said, following the lead of some Asian operators. Providing connectivity to all those gadgets is likely to be a crucial way to shore up the bottom line as voice revenues continue to decline<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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