So It Begins: Verizon Cuts A Deal With Apple - Will Sell The iPad Starting October 28th
October 14, 2010
Shocker! In a press release this morning, Verizon has announced that it has just cut a deal with Apple, and will begin to offer the iPad in its stores starting October 28th.
At almost the exact same moment, AT&T went ahead and announced the exact same thing. This, on the other hand, is not as surprising. AT&T has been providing data plans for Apple's 3G iPad ever since it launched, and now just got the clearance to sell the device directly.
Anyway, back to Verizon, as this is the real shocker of the day. They will indeed start selling the iPad. However, there is a catch. Indeed, while AT&T will be selling exactly the same models as Apple, so will Verizon. Instead of a CDMA iPad, Verizon will actually be selling Wi-Fi iPads along with MiFi wireless access points (that 3G to Wi-Fi little box Verizon is so proud of).
Of course, this still isn't the real deal yet, but it's still very telling. This looks like the first offspring of an upcoming massive partnership between Verizon and Apple. At this stage, it's still very innocent, as it will mainly help both companies sell their products. In the longer run however, this might have massive implications.
The pricing is also very interesting. It will cost you exactly the same to buy an iPad with 3G on Verizon or on AT&T come the end of October. The only difference being that Verizon's offer will have you carrying around an extra device, which you'll have to charge separately. With the advantage, however, that you can use it with other devices like your laptop. The data plan pricing is fairly similar.
Anyway, here are their official announcements and price points:
Verizon
Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that iPad™ will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide beginning Thursday, October 28. Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.AT&T
AT&T* and Apple® today announced that all three iPad™ Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available at more than 2,200 AT&T Stores starting Thursday, October 28. AT&T will offer customers 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad, complete with Apple’s easy on-device activation and management. All iPad data plans are available without a term contract and include unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000+ domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots. [...] “We can’t wait to showcase the amazing features of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G in our stores across the country just in time for the holidays,” said Glenn Lurie, AT&T President of Emerging Devices, Resale and Partnerships, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With our breakthrough iPad data plans starting at just $14.99 and access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the country at no extra cost, our customers will have the best of both worlds.” [...] All iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available beginning Thursday, October 28 in AT&T Stores across the US for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. Domestic data plans for iPad are priced at $14.99 per month for 250MB and $25 per month for 2GB with no term contract. Both plans include unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000+ domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.What do you think? Does this presage the arrival of the Verizon iPhone?
