Apple to Release Subsidized Tablet Through Verizon Later This Year?

[andiwm2003]

hm, that is my guess:

I guesstimate the tablet would cost ~$899 without any subsidies.

if you have a data plan for $30 a month then 10-15 dollar could go into the subsidy, that is $240-360. So the device could be around $500-$600. Makes sense.

However if tethering with the iPhone works fine then the unsubsidized tablet would be a good option. Especially if you can thether to the free wifi access at Starbucks.

I hope they do something like this. Just make it real OS X.

 

[ericinboston]

Makes no sense to me...why would Apple release a tablet/netbook that is tied to a phone company? Seriously.

I (and several friends/peers) have netbooks and love them for what they are...lightweight (both physically and performance) and cheap laptops that can surf the web or do lightweight non-web computing. I don't see why I would want to tie it into some 2year plan at a phone company!...unless I really really wanted speeds at 56k dial-up performance.

-Eric

 

[jshelton]

I don't have sources, experience in electronic design, or experience in marketing, but I can almost guarantee that Apple will not have two different devices locked in to two different service providers.

Apple has always associated themselves with "simple" and "clean". If they introduce a tablet exclusively with Verizon and continue to offer the iPhone with AT&T, that is far from simple and clean. That is a cluster f**k.

It is a terrible idea and I don't see it happening. Personally, I am not excited about a tablet. It will have a very limited user base, especially if it requires a contract.

I don't get the fascination with tablets.

 

[Small White Car]

I don't get the fascination with tablets.

Neither does Apple.

Even without the Verizon part I think the whole thing is unlikely.

 

[andiwm2003]

Makes no sense to me...why would Apple release a tablet/netbook that is tied to a phone company? Seriously.

I (and several friends/peers) have netbooks and love them for what they are...lightweight (both physically and performance) and cheap laptops that can surf the web or do lightweight non-web computing. I don't see why I would want to tie it into some 2year plan at a phone company!...unless I really really wanted speeds at 56k dial-up performance.

-Eric

as the article said it's not as tight as with iphone/ATT. you probably get the option to buy it free or subsidized. if it's tru at all.

 

[mambodancer]

Verizon WTF?

So the millions of people with iPhone's would have to get a contract from two wireless providers?

First, even if it were with AT&T you would likely have to get an update to your existing plan somewhat akin to a tethering plan on a smart phone.

Second, how best to get the mobile carriers to compete with each other than to go with Verizon. Let the competition begin for the consumers internet dollars. Esp. if Verizon offers the ability to make calls through the device. AT&T may then have to respond in kind.

This absolutely converges with the rumors about a Verizon deal that others (Scott Bourne, MacBreak Weekly) have been making. Again, this "tablet/netbook" device will not be like anything currently on the market if we can interpolate from various rumors/leaks/etc. that we have been hearing for the past year or so. This includes the rumored announcement/press release sometime in August. This would make a great springboard for the return of Steve Jobs and the timing would certainly be right for Q4/Q1 for Apple.

 

[DMann]

An iPhone is one thing, but I draw the line at a notebook/netbook/tablet tied to a wireless phone provider. I use my notebooks on my terms, no one else's. I really want Apple to do a netbook becuase my 17" MBP gets cumbersome at times, but going with a wireless provider isn't the way to go.

If the Tablet is WIFI only - then why would it require a cell phone provider?

Sell the thing through regular sales channels - more sales - less restrictions.

Verizon WTF?

So the millions of people with iPhone's would have to get a contract from two wireless providers?

There lie the seeds of apprehension.

 

[bergmef]

The problem, for me, would be keeping up with two different wireless contracts, two different bills, two different end-points, etc. Just let me tether my Tablet to my iPhone and I'm good. No need for dead-end CDMA radios in next-gen Mac tech products.

dead end cdma? Is that because verizon is going to gsm? Will the current gsm radio in the iphone work with the next generation gsm? Will att be using the frequencies they got? Will the bandwidth of the current radio support the new spectrum if it is used?

All hardware is dead end.

 

[Anuba]

Tablet on Verizon.
iPhone on AT&T.

... how silly.

Not so silly if they end AT&T exclusivity and allow Verizon to sell iPhone contracts. If Verizon had the tablet *and* the iPhone, but the tablet was a Verizon exclusive, iPhone customers would flock to Verizon, AT&T would crap their pants and bring the prices on iPhone plans down from obscene to decent levels. Sneaky, but something must be done about the fact that Americans have to pay >50% more for owning and using an iPhone than we do over here in Europe. AT&T needs a kick in the groin. No, they need a buckshot in the groin. Or maybe a missile.

 

[chaosconan]

What the F(*(*&. Does this mean that the only way for me to buy a tablet is to get a Verizon service??? This is BULL.

 

[The General]

Verizon? Do not want.

 

[Ping Guo]

How is a tablet anything but a niche device? Handwriting recognition is clunky compared to typing, and holding a tablet in one hand while inputting with the other seems awkward to say the least. Alternately, putting it flat on one's lap or on a table would be an ergonomic nightmare. Multitouch screens are great for iPhone-sized devices. We can thumb type and wipe it off easily when it gets smudged.

For larger devices, I think the returns are diminishing and a keyboard/trackpad becomes much more usable and versatile...

I'd like to put in my vote for less tablet rumors, more 12", 3lb, $999 Macbook Mini rumors.

 

[bfissa]

Ugh

Not another Apple product tied to a carrier with a monthly plan! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

[chaosconan]

What the F(*(*&. Does this mean that the only way for me to buy a tablet is to get a Verizon service??? This is BULL.

So, I have to wait another year for a Tablet touch that supports WIFI???

 

[miketcool]

I probably wouldn't blame Apple for this if it is true. When you're a publicly traded company wall street be all over your ass. Remember, they have investors and themselves to look out for. Apple is doing its best trying to stay true(IMHO) but the forces in New York are great. They push you around, talk about getting rid of key people and bringing Wall Street friendly patsies etc. Its ******** but it is business. Look at Starbucks. They opened up 600 damn stores for wall street just to give the appearance they were in demand but it was a farce. Starbucks soon closed all them suckers and 9000 folks lost their job.
Look at the pc vendors. They are nothing but a bunch of trolls rolling out cheap ass computers. And what do we have? A pc saturated market. Yeah, MS is loving it cause every pc sold is a Ka-ching in their pocket but the market is cluttered with that ****. The pc ic a devalued, whored commodity.

Brilliant move, let's blame Wall Street. <rolls eyes>

Or maybe this rumors forum has become mostly full of iPhone users, thus AT&T users. SO of course the majority is going to poo-poo anything that would put someone on another network at an advantage. I dislike both AT&T and Verizon, so I use T-Mo. I am not going to come on here and gripe about Apple selling products on two different carriers. I thought the griping used to be about AT&T exclusivity and how evil that was. Now Apple might be branching out with products to other carriers and the griping continues.

OBVIOUSLY the majority of commenters on this board aren't analysts or stock brokers. I hope Apple creates new products and moves into new areas, thats what us investors like to see. Maybe this will open up all the networks to subsidize Apple's products and we can see all carriers and give us, the consumer, more choices. In the end, we want things to work out in our favor. Sure, for those under AT&T contracts, this looks bad at first. But if it puts pressure on AT&T to be competitive, WE ALL WIN. Yay for competition and diversified product offerings!

 

[jshelton]

How is a tablet anything but a niche device? Handwriting recognition is clunky compared to typing, and holding a tablet in one hand while inputting with the other seems awkward to say the least. Alternately, putting it flat on one's lap or on a table would be an ergonomic nightmare. Multitouch screens are great for iPhone-sized devices. We can thumb type and wipe it off easily when it gets smudged.

For larger devices, I think the returns are diminishing and a keyboard/trackpad becomes much more usable and versatile...

I'd like to put in my vote for less tablet rumors, more 12", 3lb, $999 Macbook Mini rumors.

Agree 100%

 

[miketcool]

AT&T needs a kick in the groin. No, they need a buckshot in the groin. Or maybe a missile.

I think repeated kicking from each customer would beat missiles and shotguns. I would line up just to take my kick at a company director. Well said!

 

[Anuba]

How is a tablet anything but a niche device? Handwriting recognition is clunky compared to typing, and holding a tablet in one hand while inputting with the other seems awkward to say the least. Alternately, putting it flat on one's lap or on a table would be an ergonomic nightmare. Multitouch screens are great for iPhone-sized devices. We can thumb type and wipe it off easily when it gets smudged.

For larger devices, I think the returns are diminishing and a keyboard/trackpad becomes much more usable and versatile...

I'd like to put in my vote for less tablet rumors, more 12", 3lb, $999 Macbook Mini rumors.

I dunno, I'd love to have a tablet as a living room/bedroom device for mindless browsing on the couch, checking TV schedules, looking up pointless trivia on Wikipedia, playing timekiller games like solitaire, using it as an iTunes DJ at parties, or the most sophisticated remote control ever... An oversized iPhone, basically. But strictly as a home device... I'm 110% non-interested in dragging that thing around outdoors and if a carrier contract is a requirement, Apple can stick their tablet where the sun don't shine.

 

[miiles]

As with all Mac tablet rumors, I'll believe it when I see it.

Gotta agree with you on this one.

 

[casmith07]

While I'm happy with my 3GS, if Verizon somehow is able to bring the 3GS to their network as the 3GS-V or something (haha) I will happily eat the ETF for AT&T and switch back.

iPhone is great, and AT&Ts coverage is pretty good, but it can't touch Verizon's.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Simply not going to happen. First of all, Apple would be alienating the "Apple faithful" who kept the company alive all of these years and went out and switched from other cell phone carries to AT&T for the iPhone. People are not going to deal with both Verizon and AT&T and the iPhone will appeal to MANY MANY more people than a tablet PC. Apple would simply be locking out too many customers.

Secondly, Verizion and AT&T use different cellular technologies. Now, why would Apple spend the time, energy, and resources to develop products on both platforms? Additionally, SPRINT is deploying WiMax, the only real alternative for broadband internet.

 

[jbellanca]

No one in their right mind is going to pay $60+ a month total to have both an iPhone data plan as well as a Verizon data plan, since the initial target for a tablet device would likely be iPhone users. That's just too much money per month for me (and probably most people).

Um, I would. I've been dying for a device like this for years. Yes, I'd definitely rather have the option of paying more and having Wi-Fi only, which would be better for me, but it I had to have a cell subscription for it, I'd still get one.

 

[bergmef]

Simply not going to happen. First of all, Apple would be alienating the "Apple faithful" who kept the company alive all of these years and went out and switched from other cell phone carries to AT&T for the iPhone. People are not going to deal with both Verizon and AT&T and the iPhone will appeal to MANY MANY more people than a tablet PC. Apple would simply be locking out too many customers.

Secondly, Verizion and AT&T use different cellular technologies. Now, why would Apple spend the time, energy, and resources to develop products on both platforms? Additionally, SPRINT is deploying WiMax, the only real alternative for broadband internet.

Didn't apple support ppc and intel for a while?

 

[NoExpectations]

Anyone but Verizon....please!!!

Lousy service....lousy customer reps.....too much control.

ATT....here is your chance for some damage control....offer a combined service (iPhone and Netbook) for reduced rates. IE...if separate is $30/mo each....combined is $40?

 

[GeekLawyer]

dead end cdma? Is that because verizon is going to gsm? Will the current gsm radio in the iphone work with the next generation gsm? Will att be using the frequencies they got? Will the bandwidth of the current radio support the new spectrum if it is used?

All hardware is dead end.

My only point is that GSM devices have a larger potential worldwide market today. So, if Apple ships a 3G Tablet device, it makes more broad-market sense for that to be a GSM product. If such a product ships, as I said upthread, I don't care which 3G technology(/ies) it uses, so long as there's the option for an unsubsidized Tablet that relies on wi-fi for connectivity.