Retailers have expressed concerns over the viability of laptop and mobile broadband packages.

Many cite the length of time it takes to get a return on the initial investment as the main issue, reports Mobile.

Distributors have said that they are working on solutions to give their partners more commission upfront, but often discussions between themselves and the operators are failing because of the substantial costs of the laptops being given away for free.

This has led to some dealers calling for prices on hardware to fall, or be subsidised by the vendors or networks themselves. "With laptops deals, it is supply and demand," one told the magazine under conditions of anonymity. "We could sell more if we were empowered with hardware costs – we need to drive down hardware costs."