Polka offers PC-Internet bundles

By Damaria Senne, ITWeb senior journalist

Johannesburg, 13 Sep 2006

Polka has introduced PC/laptop-Internet bundles, which allow consumers to choose between three packages, all of which include delivery, installation, set-up and a one-year warranty.

According to a Polka spokesman, the first option, at R249 per month, includes an HP Celeron 3.0GHz PC, Microsoft Windows home edition and Polka e-mail and Internet access. The second bundle, for R279 per month, offers an HP Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz PC, Microsoft Windows home edition and Polka e-mail and Internet access.

Consumers looking to purchase a laptop can opt for the Toshiba Intel Celeron 1.6GHz notebook with Microsoft Windows XP home edition, Polka e-mail and Internet access, for R299 per month. All offers are for a minimum 36-month period.

Virgil Rustin, Polka`s product manager, noted that many South Africans are unable to access the Internet because they cannot afford to purchase the hardware.

"With this new deal, we`ve made owning a laptop or a PC a reality for most South Africans," he says. "By bundling everything into one package, we can offer high-quality hardware with reliable Internet access, payable in affordable monthly installations."

Market comparisons

MyADSL founder Rudolph Muller notes that while the offer is nothing new and is not the most affordable on the market, it is encouraging to see more bundled options.

Comparing bundled offers on the market, Muller notes that Telkom`s dial-up Internet bundle is cheaper, at R220 per month, while also providing users with a similar offering to Polka`s low-end bundle. It should, however, be mentioned that the PC offered by Polka has higher specifications than Telkom`s, he says.

Sentech also has a PC bundle option with its MyWireless Flexi product, and while the monthly cost for these bundles are double that of Telkom and Polka, users do not have to pay for a phone line, Muller says.

He notes that Sentech`s service does not have associated telephone costs, and the contract is also only 24 months and not 36, as is the case with Polka and Telkom. Sentech`s lowest cost bundle is R499, which includes a PC, a modem and 200MB of data, he adds.

Given the fact that PC and Internet access prices are bound to go down in the coming year or two, Muller says he would be hesitant to advise anyone to sign a 36-month contract, especially as this new offer focuses on dial-up connectivity.

"Dial-up Internet relies on local call costs to your Internet service provider, and is becoming a very expensive method of connecting to the Internet, "he adds.

With the increased focus on broadband it will be short-sighted to sign a contract which will last until 2009, especially as Neotel will soon enter the residential market, he says.