Microsoft Corp has picked City of Industry, California-based Lan Plus Inc as its partner for yet another free PC effort tied in with internet services. Through its ePCdirect division, Lan Plus will resell MSN Internet Access to its customers. Users who sign a three year contract with MSN for $17.99 a month for unlimited access, get a 400MHz PC from Lan-Plus for no additional charge. The total for the MSN subscription comes to $647.64. A monitor for the PC costs $140 extra. Initially, the full amount must be paid upfront, but Lan Plus says it is working on a monthly payment option.
Last week, Micron Electronics offered a similar deal (CI No 3,704), and other deals, offering $400 rebates against PC purchases, are now in place between America Online Inc/CompuServe and eMachines, and Prodigy and Best Buy. Microsoft itself has had a rebate deals in place for MSN since April with regional computer superstore Micro Center, and last month signed major retailer Staples up for a similar program (CI No 3,694). MSN is thought to have around 2m customers.
Lan Plus was started in 1991, and sells its own-brand PCs through cable television shopping networks, mail order catalog companies and large chain stores. Current brands include Professional Technologies, Protek and Northgate. The privately-held company claims it is now one of the leading manufacturers of PC systems in the US. It has manufacturing alliances in Taiwan and Singapore. The ePCdirect division was formed last month to focus on internet-based e-commerce opportunities.
