Dell hoping Telcos will pick up tab for netbook PC's

Interesting twist on the race to be the mobile multimedia device of choice - as the size of laptops shifts downwards, it looks like Dell is hoping to get the mobile subsidy business model going as well, as ZDNet notes:

When asked about Dell’s margins on netbooks, the CEO said he would expect telecom carriers to subsidize them in order to sell 3G and later 4G services. “Telcos will embrace it. It’s the type of product that could easily take advantage of data,” said Dell.

The argument is that Netbooks will be the 2nd or 3rd machine in the OECD, the first machine in the developing world.

To take the business model to the next logical step, I hope the netbook makes phone calls !

Update - ah - I never realised it was being launched today, hence the razzmatazz. From $399 in US, £299 in UK. Eh - £399 is £200, people!