Seems realistic
Although this was posted in Germany, we in the Netherlands have a similar style T-mobile and Mediamarkt. There are a couple of reasons this could be real:
- Mediamarkt is a huge enterprise which is not run very tightly, so anybody that accidentally found this info could have posted it.
- T-mobile is also not bulletproof when it comes to security, you have to realize it's Europe and corporate culture is not a big thing, taken the fact that you almost cannot get yourself fired and there's a million jobs with low pay/low requirements. Def no loyalty to your employer.
- The price point, altough high, seems to be fair. Yes, 899 buys you the cheapest MacBook. But the 32Gb iPhone sells for 999 if you want a one year contract, two years alternative contracts you pay up to 479 with a 25 subscription or 289 for 30 subscription, both excluding internet!
- There is no competition. eBooks are cheaper (10" 699, 8" 599) but lack the features that this iPad would have (no permanent internet connectivity, no "operating system"). A 32Gb iPhone would cost up to 199 with the lowest 150 minutes and sms contract. 64Gb iPod touch is 369. So if you want an eBook reader, not a Macbook and find the iPod too small, you will really only have one option: the iPad.
- Forget about netbooks, they are not considered mobile devices here and you would have a ton of problems hooking that up to mobile internet, which would still be expensive.
- The only thing I could imagine (business) people using is one of those Nokia N900 Communicator thingies, but they are still 559 without a contract.
Conclusion: this is a market that's not been convered successfully in Western Europe, the price point is realistic and people at Mediamarkt and T-mobile are the kind of employees that would pull a stunt like this off.