Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/08/06/aol_to_hit_uk/

AOL to hit UK with Fujitsu free PC package

Updated: Big names in consumer market coming together?

By Linda Harrison

Posted in On-Prem, 6th August 1999 15:53 GMT

AOL and Fujitsu are coming together to bundle a free PC/ISP package, according to a report in this month's PC Europa. The two big-hitters were said to be hammering out the details of the bundle, which is expected to be launched in the UK this autumn. Fujitsu UK told The Register the company had been approached by several interested parties regarding a "free" PC offer. According to Charles Bowes, Fujitsu UK marketing manager: "We haven't agreed to go ahead with a deal yet. We are looking at what is on offer." Bowes said the biggest consideration regarding this kind of deal was keeping Fujitsu’s reputation untarnished. "In the US, there has been unease over certain free PC offers. "Some offers have been massively oversubscribed and had a limited supply of machines. This probably isn't good for the companies involved. Users need to feel comfortable that there’s enough supply available." He added that any deal would also depend on the service levels a partner of Fujitsu could provide. Fujitsu currently relies on the consumer market for around 20 per cent of annual sales in the UK. Last year, Fujitsu pioneered the supermarket PC channel with a deal with Tesco. It also sells PCs through Safeway and Sainsbury's supermarkets, and is currently piloting sales in Elf petrol stations. An AOL representative told The Register that no such plans were in place and that the claims made about the deal were false. ® Daily Net finance news from The Register