Company to give away 10,000 iMacs

A Los Angeles-based firm plans to give away 10,000 iMac computers next month, the start of what it promises will be a million-Mac giveaway over the next two years.

Recipients will be required to sign up for a 3-year contract, at $20 a month, with the Internet-service provider selected by the company, FreeMac.com, and take out a credit card.

The deal is one of a growing number of "free" computer giveaways arranged by companies hoping to profit from monthly Internet connection payments, and associated advertising and electronic commerce transactions targeted at the machines' owners.

Apple is not associated with the iMac offer.

Those interested in the offer can register at www.freemac.com . The company will e-mail final details of the deal next month.