Best Buy has begun a promotion that gives away a 3G or WiMAX router with an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) WiFi iPad. The low-key promotion was discovered by Best Buy shoppers Sunday.
Those who buy a WiFi-enabled iPad, and are willing to sign up for a two-year mobile data contract, can get either AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) MiFi, Fivespot on Verizon, or an Overdrive Sprint (NYSE:S) WiMAX router. The offer, according to 9to5Mac, runs until Jan. 2.
The deal is a discount over other carrier bundles; AT&T requires a full 3G iPad, while Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) iPad bundled with MiFi costs as much as buying the 3G iPad alone. It's unclear what sort of data pricing plan is required with the sale of the routers
The iPad bundled with Verizon's MiFi mobile hotspot device made its debut in October in three different packages: $629.99 for the 16 GB iPad, $729.99 for the 32 GB iPad and $829.99 for the 64 GB iPad. Verizon is offering month-to-month data access of 1 GB for $20 per month. AT&T sells the iPad 3G model and offers no-contract 3G data plans for the iPad of $14.99 per month for 250 MB and $25 per month for 2 GB.
According to Electronista, Apple and Best Buy pointed to an eagerness to move inventory by the end of the holidays, but the two companies would not confirm whether the promotion is a joint one.
For more:
- see this Electronista article
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