Christmas 2010 could turn into an iPad sales frenzy, after Apple agreed to Everything Everywhere offering subsidies on the device that could cut the cost by 60%.
Orange UK and T-Mobile UK, which are run by Everything Everywhere, revealed they will offer “more affordable prices,” on the iPad for consumers signing up to a data service plan, becoming the first operators in the world to offer phone-style subsidies on the device.
Contracts will run for 18 or 24 months, and could see £300 (€352) slashed from the price of a 3G iPad, which currently retails for £529, the Sun newspaper reports.
Apple green lighted the subsidies to combat the growing threat from rival tablets – in particular Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, the newspaper said.
Samsung has already sold 600,000 Galaxy Tabs since its launch in October, the San Francisco Chronicle reports citing BGR – a figure CNET notes has been aided by the availability of subsidized units.
France Telecom will begin selling subsidized iPads for €279 in its domestic market from December, with a monthly subscription of around €35, chief Stephane Richard revealed on French radio yesterday.
Apple has dominated the tablet market to-date, with the iPad accounting for 95% of the 4.4 million tablets shipped during 3Q, according to Strategy Analytics.