Vivendi staff get free PC through PeoplePC deal

Vivendi is to stick a PC with Internet access into every employee's home through a deal with US ISP PeoplePC.

Between them, Vivendi Universal and Vivendi Environment have more than 250,000 staff worldwide. The scheme will kick off in France in the New Year - where staff will be asked to pay three Euros a month over a period of three years. The move will also coincide with a handy new French law where neither companies nor employees get taxed on home Net connection programmes.

PeoplePC's model is based on giving out free branded PCs when customers, or their employers, sign up for its ISP. It launched in Europe in October - with offices in London, Munich and Paris - and says the deal with Vivendi is its first such corporate venture in Europe. Its other customers include Ford, Delta Air Lines and the New York Times.

"Our work with other corporations has shown that employee connectivity initiatives are a win-win for all resulting in higher employee morale, productivity and retention as well as happier and, in many cases, smarter, more educated workers," said PeoplePC CEO and co-founder Nick Grouf. ®

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