Tech
France to try euro-per-day PC plan
Program to include "good quality" PC, Net connection, training, support to help low-income families to catch up.
The French government has launched a PC giveaway plan to encourage low-income families to get on the Net.
French Prime Minister Dominic de Villepin announced this week that the government plans to provide a "good quality and good value" PC, a cheap Internet connection, training and support for $1.27 (1 euro) per day, for up to three years.
The plan will work as a public-private partnership and is scheduled to begin in early 2007.
While around 50 percent of French homes now have a PC, the prime minister said he is concerned that only a small proportion of those are senior citizens and low-income households.
De Villepin also announced the French government will be backing WiMax launches in rural areas where DSL is unavailable.
Jo Best of Silicon.com reported from London.