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Microsoft, Lenovo, Introduce 'Pay As You Go' Computer
[May 23, 2006]

Microsoft, Lenovo, Introduce 'Pay As You Go' Computer


TMCnet Contributing Editor
 
Microsoft Corp. and Chinese-based computer manufacturer Lenovo have decided to kick off market trials for pay-as-you-go purchases of computers in China and India, reports AFP.



Thanks to pay-as-you-go purchases, buyers will be able to purchase Lenovo PC for almost half its retail price. Not only that they will be able to pay off the balance over time as well. For that they will have to purchase pre-paid cards from Lenovo.

Users will get a chance to purchase a predetermined number of usage hours. Once the balance for the computer is paid, they won’t have to purchase the pre-paid cards any more.


The scheme will help users do away with a fixed monthly agreement. They will be able to handle their PC time in line with their finances. The scheme has been dubbed as FlexGo system.

According to AFP, Microsoft (News - Alert) and Lenovo will introduce the market trials in China and India by next three months. The plan will be applicable to mid-range Lenovo desktop PCs in those regions. Microsoft has previously carried out such market trails in Brazil.

“Today there are already more than one billion prepaid mobile phones used around the world, so we know FlexGo enables a familiar and comfortable pay-as- you-go model that works for people with variable or unpredictable income,” AFP quoted Will Poole, senior vice president of the Market Expansion Group at Microsoft, as saying. “Offering unprecedented flexibility of PC ownership will bring high-quality personal computers within the reach of hundreds of millions of families and small businesses in emerging markets so they too can enjoy the many benefits PCs bring in education, entertainment, communication and productivity.”

For more information, visit www.microsoft.com and www.lenovo.com/us/.

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Niladri Sekhar Nath is a contributing writer for TMCnet covering telecommunications, service providers and networking.

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