After Neuf Cegetel in France announced earlier this year their offer of a free computer with every new broadband connection, RedTen Internet are following foot in the UK.

But whereas the Easy Gate box from Cegetel is little more than a thin client (and has yet to materialise), RedTen are offering a full blown Intel Pentium 4 with a 3 GHz processor, complete with a 160 GB hard disk and a LCD flat-panel monitor, total value – £500.

Ok, the customers will have to sign up to a three- year contract, but still.

At the end of the three years, if the customer wishes to renew, the old PC will be replaced by a new one. If the contract is not renewed, RedTen will take it back. The OS is Windows with a free Vista update thrown in. Update: as Chris Palmer points out in his comment – ‘Actually, [having been on their site today] Redten say you can keep the computer after three years, even if you walk away, and have a new one if you stay‘.
The cost of the package is £20 per month for a 8Mps connection speed – upgradable to 24 Mps when available. There’s also an initial charge of £50 for the cost of the modem and setting up the connection.

Will this be a growing tendency for ISP’s deperate to gather in the remaining, the unconvinced and/or the out of pocket?

Is it a European trend or will it spread, as predicted here by Tom Maillioux ?

source – Webuser

Important Update: If you’re considering a sign up with RedTen I would have a read of some of the comments on this post, especially the latest one by Gary (1st Feb)

This offer has since been suspended. WebUser article 12.02.07

“Unfortunately, Redten Internet has run out of free PCs” from the Redten site

This week the French telephone company, Neuf Cegetel, announced the purchase of AOL France, an ISP that counts 500.000 broadband subscribers & the arrival of “the box“, an Internet access terminal. Code-name: Easy Gate.

It’s a computer, working under the OS, Linux. It’s a router. It’s a DSL modem. It’s also a telephone. All in one.

Easy Gate will be available from November, the actuel “box” consists of: an Intel 852 GM, 6 ports USB 2.0, 512 MB of RAM and 512 MB of Flash memory, for a guarantee of 150 euros & 39,95 euros per month. An extra100 euros buys a flat screen, webcam, keyboard & mouse.

Article source TOOLinux (french)

With this service, Neuf Cegetel, busy preparing its introduction onto the the stock exchange in October, hopes to conquer new customers who still hesitate over using the Internet, dicouraged by the complexity of computers.

There are 10.5 millions broadband users in France, an average figure in Euopean terms, on the other hand France is lagging behind in actual PC’s, with just over 50% of households equipped.

Neuf Cegetel press release

A spokeman for Neuf Cegetel stated: “After installation, the user has a broadband connection & the principle functions of a computer via a simplified, user-friendly interface, reducing the complexity of using a computer as an Internet tool”.

ps: the hotline & after-sales services will be free – no doubt a lesson learned from AOL.