US wireless carriers have never subsidized the price of the Apple iPad. Instead, they sell the tablet for full-price, and offer customers the chance to pay for mobile broadband on a month-to-month basis.
But up until recently carriers such as Verizon Wireless have taken a more phone-like approach with Android tablets, selling them for discounted prices to customers willing to sign a 2-year service contract.
Now Verizon Wireless is giving its Android tablets an iPad-like pricing makeover. All of the Motorola and Samsung tablets Verizon offers now sell for full-price, at $440 and up.
The new pricing follows Verizon’s launch of new “Share Everything” plans, which let you pay for all of your wireless devices on a single bill. That means once you’ve paid $630 for your iPad, or $550 for your Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, you can add it to your phone plan for $10 per month.
To be honest, wireless carriers have rarely offered great deals on subsidized tablets anyway. Usually they just knock $100 or $200 off the price and then charge as much as $30 per month for mobile broadband access. Paying full price for the tablet up front could actually save you money over the course of a 2-year contract.
On the other hand, if you really want to save money you can just buy a WiFi-only tablet and use it around the house or office or at free public WiFi hotspots.
via SlashGear
>>>On the other hand, if you really want to save money you can just buy a WiFi-only tablet
There is no WiFi-only version of the 7.7. Grrrr.
“On the other hand, if you really want to save money you can just buy a WiFi-only tablet and use it around the house or office or at free public WiFi hotspots.”
Just to add on, buying refurbished from Apple is another way to save. Once in a while you’ll see iPad 2 16 GB for $325.00 at this link.
https://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad/ipad2_wi_fi
I just use free wi-fi tethering from my Android phone to my CM9 Touchpad. Free internet anywhere my phone gets a signal, what a sweet deal!