There is nothing like the end-of-year holiday shopping season to boost the bottom lines of wireless operators and device makers as consumers buy up the latest smartphones and tablets to satisfy friends and loved ones on their gift lists. Tablets look to dominate holiday consumer electronics shopping, and this is the first year that three Tier 1 carriers--Verizon Wireless, AT&T and now Sprint Nextel--are supporting Apple's iPad and iPad mini (previously Sprint did not offer Apple tablets). Smartphones should also be a hot item, but there will be fewer "exclusive" handset deals because several popular devices are being offered via multiple carriers.
FierceWireless has compiled a list highlighting the smartphones and tablets being promoted by Tier 1 carriers during the holidays. This list is not comprehensive but provides a cross-section of the top devices that carriers are heavily promoting and, in some cases, discounting to consumers. Special Report