iPad Headed to AT&T and Verizon Retail Stores on October 28th

[hexhead]

With all the people whining that the iPad is too big and heavy to lug around, that they need a 7" one, I see having to carry around a MyFi along with an iPad as being a real negative.

One of the things I love about my iPad is how convenient and self-contained it is. Having to also carry my wifi connection with me separately would be a non-starter.

 

[sniffies]

Wait, is this news a cruel joke?????!!!! LOL

 

[jav6454]

But it would be nice to have the threat of switching in your back pocket. That's what will get AT&T to get more reasonable on their charges (such as $20/mo for texting? Give me a break.)

$20/month for unlimited text is standard everywhere. Except Sprint. Guess who also has it? Yes, Verizon... Not much of a shocker, eh?

 

[qawes]

Hoping this will be the beginning of a long relationship between Apple and Verizon.

 

[jms969]

Apple and Verizon seem to be getting more friendly to one another. I personally, have no plans of switching off AT&T should a Verizon iPhone become available, but having that option would sure be nice.

Be interesting to see if the CDMA chip rumors for Apple are in regards to the iPad rather than the iPhone.

It would certainly take some load off of AT&T's network making it better for AT&T users

 

[RalfTheDog]

Nah... its made in China and China wouldn't like that.

PS) No need to actually BUY/OWN an iPad anymore, just pop into your nearest
retail outlet and access what you need from the display model (for free).

Next time I drop by Target, I will ask them if I can take an iPad on a test drive to the movies.

Where are the anti-VZW people now?


w00master

You can't do voice and data both at the same time with Verizon on your iPad. </snark>

Yours was the seventh submission we received about the story, and I was already working on the article before the first one came in, as we'd spotted it in Apple's press releases.

You didn't really think I wrote our article in the two minutes between the time you submitted the story and we published on it, did you?

We all think you are just that good.

Verizon here is on the same field as Wal-Mart, Target and other retailers. They are selling an iPad as a packaged unit with no contract. In addition to that they are selling a "MiFi", which has a competitive advantage over any existing Apple or AT&T products in that you can share an internet connection without tethering in a blessed and approved way with I believe up to 5 users.

AT&T has no competitive offering.

One commercial shows a van full of commuters with smartphones all interacting as they roll down the road.

This is a valid way for rural folks to go beyond dial-up or satellite to get higher bandwidth, lower latency internet. For many, online games will become immediately practical for the first time.

Simply being able to connect to the internet via wifi to a connection that is somewhat real and fast internet will drive a lot of sales. The iPad and iPod Touch are simply better windows into that world than other handsets.

Rocketman

Apple: enable wifi sharing as an option on ALL of your wifi enabled products that have internet access.

I run a MiFi on the ATT network. It is an overseas MiFi that is unlocked, but it works.

 

[jav6454]

Wrong,

100% of Verizon's and Sprint's network is RevA and has been since 2007.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/press...-broadband-network-now-enhanced-faster-speeds

Like I said, a much more deeper one will have to wait because it's not all about Rev types.

 

[Drag'nGT]

Things are getting really interesting....

Man I hope pricing gets competitive.

 

[aristobrat]

I was expecting a BANG: a 4G/LTE phone introduced as the flagship product leading power-on of the new high-speed network.

Why would you expect that? The original iPhone launched with EDGE, even though there were other first-gen UMTS/HSPA 3G smartphones available, because the first-gen 3G chipsets were neither small enough, nor power-efficient enough.

LTE's likely to be no different. I would not expect to see an iPhone with a first-gen LTE chipset in it.

 

[jav6454]

Things are getting really interesting....

Man I hope pricing gets competitive.

Hardly, AT&T and verizon rarely disagree in pricing and always match themselves in everything.

 

[thetexan]

Things are getting really interesting....

Man I hope pricing gets competitive.

For data, I wouldn't count on it. T-Mobile announced they are soon going to throttle heavy data users. Sprint and Verizon are the last two holding out when it comes to true unlimited data. It's rumored Verizon will change that up soon.

I think the limiting factor is wireless spectrum. Unlike your home broadband where they can run another line to the node to increase the bandwidth on the backhaul, wireless companies are limited by the spectrum they own.

 

[Matt-M]

I wanna know what happens when someone demoing an iPad at the Verizon store hits one of the many apps that require GPS.

Does the Verizon rep sheepishly say "No, you have to across the street to the AT&T store if you want GPS."?

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

I personally don't see how the price points are any worse than AT&T. In fact if you break it down they're better.

AT&T:
250MB = $14.99 = $60 per gig.
2GB = $25 = $12.50 per gig

VZW:
1GB = $20. = $20 per gig
3GB = $35. = $11.66 per gig
5GB = $50. = $10 per gig.

Advantages:
Mifi device will also bring data to a laptop, iPod, or any other device.

Like AT&T it's on a month-to-month basis, so don't use it when you don't need it or if you're going to travel then buy a data package.

Overages are reasonable on the $35 and $50 package at $10 per GB. On AT&T you must "rebuy" the entire package if you go over.

Verizon has a lot more 3G coverage than AT&T. No, EDGE is nowhere near as fast as Verizon's 3G. They are not the same.

Disadvantages:

An extra device to keep track of, charge, etc
If you only use very little data you'll pay $5 extra per month.

your math skills are lacking....

 

[thetexan]

your math skills are lacking....

I've never been great at math, which is why I'm not an accountant. Feel free to correct any errors you see.

 

[jb1280]

Or... Apple's solution for a Verizon iPad is so-so.

If you're in a Verizon store and your choice is between a Samsung Galaxy Tab with WiFi+3G, a RIM Playbook with WiFi + BB 3G tether, or an Apple iPad with WiFi and a separate MiFi.... well, hmm.

Still, I would tend to agree with those who say that Apple is trying to stunt other tablet sales, and is pulling out all stops to do so, including selling via Verizon.

This totally has to be a plot by Apple to just suck the oxygen out of the tablet market as best as they can.

I suppose it's also worth noting that as of 28 October, the iPad will be the only tablet you can buy at Verizon and we even know how much the device(s) and plans are going to cost.

The silence on pricing and availability by both Samsung and RIM remains deafening.

 

[jav6454]

I've never been great at math, which is why I'm not an accountant. Feel free to correct any errors you see.

And with that you owned him.

 

[AnalyzeThis]

Hm, looks like a very desperate move by Apple

It looks like Apple is running out of storage space for unsold iPads! The frantic expansion of the offering lately, looks more and more as acts of desperation. Market for this gadget was not huge after all. Good luck!!!

 

[RyanG]

Instead we get a squib: the stunted WiFi-only iPad paired with an external box (one more thing to carry & charge) operating on uncompetitive data plans (costing more for less plus [re]starting connection fees).

Ignorance is bliss.

Data packages are less per gb than AT&T.

There is no mention of reactivation fee for the mifi device with the purchase with an iPad. Specifically states in the iPad/mifi FAQ that it is month to month with no termination fees. Please post proof [for this specific iPad deal] that there exists a reactivation fee.

Having a flexible month-to-month data plan like AT&T is certainly an attempt at earning the iPhone.

 

[thetexan]

And with that you owned him.

I know I didn't use the exact math of 1GB = 1024MB but big who cares? I got my point across and my math was correct. Breaking it down Verizon's plans are a little cheaper than AT&T's plans. However it is once again, like most things in the free market, simply a matter of personal preference and nothing more.

 

[fifthworld]

This totally has to be a plot by Apple to just suck the oxygen out of the tablet market as best as they can.

I suppose it's also worth noting that as of 28 October, the iPad will be the only tablet you can buy at Verizon and we even know how much the device(s) and plans are going to cost.

The silence on pricing and availability by both Samsung and RIM remains deafening.

this

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

I've never been great at math, which is why I'm not an accountant. Feel free to correct any errors you see.

it's not the the math that I actually have a problem with, it's more so your opinion on how the Verizon mifi, iPad bundle is in some way comparable to AT&T's offerings

 

[thetexan]

This totally has to be a plot by Apple to just suck the oxygen out of the tablet market as best as they can.

I suppose it's also worth noting that as of 28 October, the iPad will be the only tablet you can buy at Verizon and we even know how much the device(s) and plans are going to cost.

The silence on pricing and availability by both Samsung and RIM remains deafening.

That's Apple's reason, but Verizon isn't in the consumer electronics market. You can't go to a Verizon store and buy a digital camera, or an iPod. There is a deeper meaning to Verizon offering the iPad.

 

[thetexan]

it's not the the math that I actually have a problem with, it's more so your opinion on how the Verizon mifi, iPad bundle is in some way comparable to AT&T's offerings

Exactly what I thought. You could of just said that instead of calling my math in error. Kind of trollish, wouldn't you say?

 

[jb1280]

That's Apple's reason, but Verizon isn't in the consumer electronics market. You can't go to a Verizon store and buy a digital camera, or an iPod. There is a deeper meaning to Verizon offering the iPad.

It's gotta be iPhone.

A very plausible thesis up until today was that Verizon would have been very satisfied having no relationship with Apple while usurping Android from Google through myriad OEMs.

Verizon is demonstrably interested in some relationship with Apple and I doubt selling a bunch of MiFis is a sufficient rationale to devote 2/3 of the Verizon homepage to iPad.

 

[whatever]

Apple is testing the water to become fully independent of the carriers.

Facetime is an indication of this.

Don't be surprised to see a voice only version of Facetime, running only on WiFi. Yes I know this exists today and it's called Skype, but what if Apple moves in that direction.

With more and more portable MiFi like devices, why shouldn't Apple just move their phone service to WiFi.

They could even work out a deal with Starbucks and McDonalds to give their users free WiFi hotspots.

This solution wouldn't work for everyone, or would it.