Long-time publisher The New York Times is getting into the wireless connected device subsidy market by offering netbooks at a discount to woo customers to sign up for the publication’s online annual subscription news service. Initially, the Times will be offering a $100 discount off of the Samsung Go netbook for customers wishing to pay a $179 subscription per annum for the online newspaper rather than going the print route. If the promotion is successful, it can be reasonably assumed that the Times may want to expand its offerings of subsidized consumer electronics peripherals that enable its readers to view the publication online, which may include connected PDAs, MIDs (mobile internet devices), smartbooks, tablets, smartphones, and others.

Cell phone carriers have been doing it for years–offering customers the allure of instant gratification and giving away “free” phones now in the hopes of recouping the costs and making a bit of cash off of consumers in the long-run with expensive voice, data, and text plans. The Times strategy of subsidization closely resembles carrier subsidies, but without an expensive wireless data plan attached. The question is, would customers, who are used to receiving news online for free, pay a $79 premium for a netbook ($179 for the Times subscription less the $100 discount on the netbook)? Instant gratification does have its cost.

To get your subsidized netbook, you can sign up at The New York Times webpage.

(via: SlashGear)