More IT contractors and online entrepreneurs could join the market as the government's £98 computer scheme begins.

Jonathan Bowers, communications director of UKFast said that the move to provide cheap computers will be a boost for those currently disengaged from the internet.

"A cheap computer would actually be an incentive for them to get out there on the internet and find out what's available online, and an offshoot of that is to encourage them to actually think about setting up their own business and seeing how easy it is to run an online business and be successful at it," he continued.

The government initiative is to offer PCs costing just £98 to the 9.2 million adults in the UK who currently have no broadband access.

Meanwhile, a report from Gartner found that some 350.9 million PCs were shipped around the world during 2010, with HP coming out on top with a 17.9 per cent overall share of the market.