MobileToday in the UK is reporting that Orange, the European telecom, is close to finalizing a deal with Apple to sell their laptops at a subsidized rate.  Without referencing any solid sources, the report states that Orange would discount an Apple laptop if the subscribers signs up for two years of broadband service.  The report also says that Orange hopes to utilize this deal as a test bed which will later lead to an Orange SIM card embedded laptop(s) in the future, perhaps something we’ll see with the long rumored Apple netbook.  Since the deal is ‘close’ to completion, I’d expect to see some official headlines in the coming weeks, but given the uncertainty of the report (i.e. no credible sources cited), I’m not getting my hopes up.

Of note, I just realized the irony or perhaps better yet the synergy of the deal, two fruits: Orange and Apple.

[Register via MobileToday]