Hardware
BGR: Samsung Galaxy Tab Launching on Sprint Nov 14 Subsidized at $399?
Boy Genius Report is saying that a source tells it that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab will launch on November 14 on Sprint for a subsidized price of $399. Yep, that’s with a two year contract, and yep, that’s bordering on FAIL in my book.
The report also says that it will have a non-subsidized price of $599. This isn’t official yet, so there’s still room for Samsung, Sprint and the other carriers to come to their senses about tying these devices into a two year contract. Quite honestly, I don’t think that will happen as their seems to be little innovation when it comes to thinking about how to market these devices. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, these devices will sell but not like Samsung wants them to if the price point is tied to a subsidization model. Given that Samsung has already said that they will have new models in 2011, why would you tie yourself to a 2 year contract in a market that for all intents and purposes will probably change in six months?
That said, the $599 non-subsidy model isn’t a bad price if that holds up. Again, we’re still in wait and see mode.
Jdtx83
10/08/2010 at 3:03 pm
3G iPad with no contract for $30 extra, iTunes, app store ecosystem, larger screen and fax to support? Sounds like a better deal to me. Love android but tired of unicorn os updates, some apps work some don’t on different devices and limited media content via apps like hulu and netflix. What it really comes down too is two things, developers and software. To early to fail but with the BB playbook around the corner, things needs to be fixed and changed for the galaxy tab to pass.
Anonymous
10/08/2010 at 5:22 pm
More aggressively priced than in Australia, but that contract seriously puts a crimp in their appeal. More importantly, is that a data-only contract or a voice+data contract? I assume it’s data-only, but the Gal Tab is voice-capable.
Wesley Delk
10/08/2010 at 7:35 pm
I’ll admit, I was caught up in the Galaxy Tab hype for a couple days. Then Samsung announced the Tab without two of the most crucial pieces of information consumers need to make a decision: price and release dates. Here it is nearly a month later and still nothing but rumors. Huge marketing fail and what a way to let the hype train leave the station with no one on board.I really wanted a Galaxy Tab, but I went with an iPad instead. The carriers are crazy to expect consumers to pay $399 up front and almost $600 more for data over the two year contract period. They need to let smartphone users share their data with the Tab for a low price fee like $5 a month. Most users won’t pay $30 for data on a smartphone and $30 for data on the Tab. Double fail.
Mike G.
10/11/2010 at 9:02 am
Pretty much every forum I’ve read agrees with this major flaw. I want a Tab as it’s seriously impressive, but I won’t pay more than an iPad. I may as well just buy an iPad!
Do you think Samsung marketing/pricing teams actually read this feedback? I’d be sorely disappointed if this rumour turns out to be true.