AT&T may carry 3G iPad, downplay netbooks
updated 05:45 pm EST, Mon February 15, 2010
iPad may affect ATT stores like iPhone
A contentious rumor Monday evening suggests AT&T may not only carry the iPad in its retail stores but give the Apple tablet favorable treatment. An insider at the carrier claims it will stock the 3G-capable iPad and give it display prominent enough that it would crowd out competitors. The BGR tipster understands that most stores would convert one or more of their existing netbook promo spaces into a "pretty substantial" iPad test area.
Neither Apple nor AT&T has commented on the claims.
A strategy of the sort wouldn't be unusual for either partner behind the US iPad. Apple has traditionally insisted that the iPhone get special display areas at third-party stores, keeping it separate from its competitors and portraying it in an ideal environment. AT&T has always granted these requests and has been one of the most aggressive to embrace non-phone devices at its shops. It was one of the first to subsidize 3G netbooks in the US and extending itself to photo frames and e-book readers like the international Kindle and the Nook.
AT&T is likewise known to give Apple at least temporary precedence for device space and sales and is widely rumored to have moved the original BlackBerry Bold's release to prevent the two from clashing so soon after each other's launch.
The iPad will come unlocked, but AT&T will have little reason to worry about lost revenue at first as the iPad's modem would only support AT&T for 3G US by its nature. T-Mobile customers will limited to EDGE (2G) and will also have to wait for their provider to start carrying micro SIM cards.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2007
re: AT&T may carry 3G iPad, downplay netbooks
Duh!
In my area, Verizon is selling netbooks for $29 each. Anyone with the sense God gave red brick knows that this price is possible only with a substantial subsidy from Verizon. The company hopes to make back the subsidy through higher fees. In the short term, however, the subsidy is money off the top.
The iPad will sell at suggested retail. The data plan is optional and priced low. However, AT&T is dollars ahead because it call move iPads without subsidies.