PCs for Workers: Global Trend?

By Sushuma February 6, 2000 2:19 PM

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(ZDNet)-The cost is high, but the benefits many, to giving employees free or low-cost PCs and Internet access, say analysts.?New programs introduced this week by Ford Motor Co.?and Delta Airlines giving employees heavily subsidized computers and Internet access could be the start of a global business trend, according to industry observers.?On Thursday, Ford announced a partnership with PeoplePC, a provider of low-cost computers and Internet access, which will give Ford employees a free Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HWP) computer along with Internet access provided by UUNet for $5 a month.?The program is available to all of Ford's 350,000 global employees and will be managed by PeoplePC of San Francisco.?Delta Airlines announced a similar partnership with PeoplePC on Friday.?All of Delta's 72,000 employees worldwide will be eligible to receive a computer and Internet access for no more than $12 a month over 36 months.?The computers will likely be supplied by Compaq, HP, IBM or Toshiba.?Negotiations are ongoing and could result in a rate lower than $12 a month.?In announcing the programs, both companies cited a desire to create a more technologically savvy workforce.?The underlying expectation of the program is that, as employees become more comfortable with using technology as part of their daily lives at home, they'll likely transfer that newfound confidence and skills to their work.?"By investing in tools for employees, Delta believes it will create a competitively superior workforce," said Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes.?Read more ...

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