Reliance Communications, or RCom, is offering customers free chicken (a laptop) on purchasing just the gravy (an Internet connection).

Let us analyze just how expensive (or inexpensive) this deal actually works out for the consumer.

The company has announced its collaboration with Acer, Asus, HCL, Intel, and Lenovo to offer Intel's Atom-based laptops (Netbooks) free with RCom Internet connectivity to customers.

The conditions that apply to this scheme are as follows:

1) The free laptop offer is valid only with the purchase of a 12- or 24-month unlimited Reliance NetConnect package, for which monthly charges are Rs. 1,500 per month.

2) Users can pay for the 12/24 months package:
a) On a monthly basis (through credit card, etc.) where additional interest rates on the Rs. 1,500 per month may apply.
b) A lumpsum payment of the whole amount for the 12/24 months package. With this they get a free Reliance mobile phone, or a Big TV connection.

3) The user does not pay anything additional for the Netconnect USB modem.

4) RCom claims to offer speeds of upto 144Kbps with the unlimited plan.

5) The following laptops are available through this scheme:

Hands down, RCom's scheme could work out as the best way to score yourself a Netbook, especially if you're going in for the down-payment option.

Nevertheless, a "free laptop with Internet connection" is an interesting offer, and similar schemes by other operators should be welcome; perhaps at a lesser cost.

RCom is the first company in India to offer the mentioned scheme (free laptop with its Internet connection package), even though the concept isn't unique in markets outside India.


According to RCom, the offer is an initiative to meet National Internet Subscriber targets of 40 million by year 2010, aiming to bridge the Digital Divide .