A Linux executive has a vision of the future in which personal computers will be given away free by telecommunications service provider in exchange for a contract, just as cell phones often are today.
The executive director of the Linux Foundation, Jim Zemlin, said that he believed user would soon get their personal computers for free when they sign a contract with a telecommunication service provider, mirroring the way cell phones are often delivered today by wireless providers. This future vision came as a part of a presentation at the O’Reily Open Source Convention in San Jose. Zemlin says that he sees a future in which users will select a data provider in much the same way as they select a wireless service provider today. And, along with that selection would come the availability of a variety of personal computing devices, including basic models for free and premium models for an extra fee. In all cases, the data provider would be subsidizing the price of the computer in return for a data services contract.
Full Story: Linux exec says PCs to be “free” like cell phones - TECH.BLORGE.com
The executive director of the Linux Foundation, Jim Zemlin, said that he believed user would soon get their personal computers for free when they sign a contract with a telecommunication service provider, mirroring the way cell phones are often delivered today by wireless providers. This future vision came as a part of a presentation at the O’Reily Open Source Convention in San Jose. Zemlin says that he sees a future in which users will select a data provider in much the same way as they select a wireless service provider today. And, along with that selection would come the availability of a variety of personal computing devices, including basic models for free and premium models for an extra fee. In all cases, the data provider would be subsidizing the price of the computer in return for a data services contract.
Full Story: Linux exec says PCs to be “free” like cell phones - TECH.BLORGE.com
