Price reductions on Apple's 3G iPad in UK fuel rumors of iPad 2 launch
Two mobile carriers in the U.K. have lowered their subsidized price for Apple's first-generation iPad, fueling speculation that the company is clearing inventory in anticipation of its still-unannounced "iPad 2."
As noted by TechRadar.com, both T-Mobile and Orange have reduced their prices for the entry-level 16GB iPad with both 3G and Wi-Fi. The price drop led the publication to presume the iPad 2 could arrive "in a matter of weeks."
Orange is now selling the 3G-capable iPad for £99 with a two-year contract. The same deal has also been matched by T-Mobile U.K. for existing customers.
Those prices are significantly lower than the £199.99 Orange was charging previously for existing customers with a £25-per-month contract, or the £229.99 for new customers with a £27-per-month deal. T-Mobile's new pricing applies to existing customers with a new two-year, £25-per-month contract.
"On the other hand, the reduced price could just be Orange and T-Mobile offering customers a bargain because they're nice like that -- right?" author Kate Solomon wrote.
The first-generation Wi-Fi-only iPad launched in the U.S. in early April, before gradually expanding to other countries overseas. The 3G-capable iPad was introduced about a month later.
Apple's other iOS devices, like the iPhone, are typically given an annual refresh, which would point to an iPad 2 release in early April. But with the new discounts applied before the end of February, it could point to a device launch even sooner.
The second-generation iPad is generally expected to have at least one camera for FaceTime video chat, along with the usual internal component upgrades with more RAM, faster CPU and more graphics processing power. Other rumors have suggested an integrated Mini DisplayPort for video out, a near-field communications chip for e-wallet transactions, and a high-resolution Retina Display.
In fact, rumors have already gone beyond the unseen iPad 2 and speculation about a potential new, third iPad model for release this fall. Such a move would allow Apple to match the release of the touchscreen tablet with the company's annual iPod lineup unveiled before the holiday buying season.
As noted by TechRadar.com, both T-Mobile and Orange have reduced their prices for the entry-level 16GB iPad with both 3G and Wi-Fi. The price drop led the publication to presume the iPad 2 could arrive "in a matter of weeks."
Orange is now selling the 3G-capable iPad for £99 with a two-year contract. The same deal has also been matched by T-Mobile U.K. for existing customers.
Those prices are significantly lower than the £199.99 Orange was charging previously for existing customers with a £25-per-month contract, or the £229.99 for new customers with a £27-per-month deal. T-Mobile's new pricing applies to existing customers with a new two-year, £25-per-month contract.
"On the other hand, the reduced price could just be Orange and T-Mobile offering customers a bargain because they're nice like that -- right?" author Kate Solomon wrote.
The first-generation Wi-Fi-only iPad launched in the U.S. in early April, before gradually expanding to other countries overseas. The 3G-capable iPad was introduced about a month later.
Apple's other iOS devices, like the iPhone, are typically given an annual refresh, which would point to an iPad 2 release in early April. But with the new discounts applied before the end of February, it could point to a device launch even sooner.
The second-generation iPad is generally expected to have at least one camera for FaceTime video chat, along with the usual internal component upgrades with more RAM, faster CPU and more graphics processing power. Other rumors have suggested an integrated Mini DisplayPort for video out, a near-field communications chip for e-wallet transactions, and a high-resolution Retina Display.
In fact, rumors have already gone beyond the unseen iPad 2 and speculation about a potential new, third iPad model for release this fall. Such a move would allow Apple to match the release of the touchscreen tablet with the company's annual iPod lineup unveiled before the holiday buying season.
Comments
It is hard to imagine that they would need to cut prices to reduce inventory when there are still countries that just got (or still don't have) access to the first generation...
I'm hoping for a sooner rather than later iPad2 release, but I think this is grasping at straws...
Any chance this is just a battle of two companies battling for market share?
Sure... if there was a second company that was a challenge for market share.
Any chance this is just a battle of two companies battling for market share?
No, as they're now two sides of the same coin.
T-mobile UK and Orange UK are both owned by the same company called Everything Everywhere.
Everything Everywhere is jointly owned by Deutsche Telecom and France Telecom, the respective owners of the T-mobile and Orange trademarks.
http://everythingeverywhere.com/
In any case, I doubt that Apple will wait until April to release the next iPad. Perhaps if the new Macbooks are released this week, Apple will wait a week or two before bringing out the new iPad to get maximum PR from a succession of new-product announcements. But I don't think March will end with the iPad still to be refreshed.
Best
Couple that with the endless rolling-back of claims from rumors, the whole thing just seems hopeless at the moment.
Seems to me new pricing scheme is in order, to reduce price of and keep selling original iPAd as entry level for another year or two (just like white Macbook)
1) Ipad 1 $399 (wi-fi only)
2) Ipad 2 $499 $599 $699
3) iPad 3 $599 $699 $799
that would prety much kill off the competition yes?
Two mobile carriers in the U.K. have lowered their subsidized price for Apple's first-generation iPad, fueling speculation that the company is clearing inventory in anticipation of its still-unannounced "iPad 2."
As noted by TechRadar.com, both T-Mobile and Orange have reduced their prices for the entry-level 16GB iPad with both 3G and Wi-Fi. The price drop led the publication to presume the iPad 2 could arrive "in a matter of weeks."
Orange is now selling the 3G-capable iPad for £99 with a two-year contract. The same deal has also been matched by T-Mobile U.K. for existing customers.
Those prices are significantly lower than the £199.99 Orange was charging previously for existing customers with a £25-per-month contract, or the £229.99 for new customers with a £27-per-month deal. T-Mobile's new pricing applies to existing customers with a new two-year, £25-per-month contract.
"On the other hand, the reduced price could just be Orange and T-Mobile offering customers a bargain because they're nice like that -- right?" author Kate Solomon wrote.
The first-generation Wi-Fi-only iPad launched in the U.S. in early April, before gradually expanding to other countries overseas. The 3G-capable iPad was introduced about a month later.
Apple's other iOS devices, like the iPhone, are typically given an annual refresh, which would point to an iPad 2 release in early April. But with the new discounts applied before the end of February, it could point to a device launch even sooner.
The second-generation iPad is generally expected to have at least one camera for FaceTime video chat, along with the usual internal component upgrades with more RAM, faster CPU and more graphics processing power. Other rumors have suggested an integrated Mini DisplayPort for video out, a near-field communications chip for e-wallet transactions, and a high-resolution Retina Display.
In fact, rumors have already gone beyond the unseen iPad 2 and speculation about a potential new, third iPad model for release this fall. Such a move would allow Apple to match the release of the touchscreen tablet with the company's annual iPod lineup unveiled before the holiday buying season.
With what is happening with the Verizon iPhone, (supposedly not selling as many). Seems to be a lot of people know that iPhone 5 is soon to appear. A lot of people seem to be sitting on the fence and waiting.
As Apple rolls out new iPAds
Seems to me new pricing scheme is in order, to reduce price of and keep selling original iPAd as entry level for another year or two (just like white Macbook)
1) Ipad 1 $399 (wi-fi only)
2) Ipad 2 $499 $599 $699
3) iPad 3 $599 $699 $799
that would prety much kill off the competition yes?
I don't think the iPad 3s would be more expensive than than the 2 - isn't it rumored that they'd be a smaller device? Sorta like the Kindle 3, I think they'll be smaller as well as cheaper.
As Apple rolls out new iPAds
Seems to me new pricing scheme is in order, to reduce price of and keep selling original iPAd as entry level for another year or two (just like white Macbook)
1) Ipad 1 $399 (wi-fi only)
2) Ipad 2 $499 $599 $699
3) iPad 3 $599 $699 $799
that would prety much kill off the competition yes?
Not sure I see iPad 3 being more expensive than the current iPads, but I could imagine you being right about "last years" iPad dropping to $400 and the current lineup always being the $500-700 devices.
And yes, I agree that an entry iPad at $400 would put the competition under a hell of a lot of pressure.
Is anyone else sorta helplessly angry with the long silence from Apple? Every other day we're hearing about some awesome tablet from Moto, Samsung, etc. And the entire time Apple is just like
Couple that with the endless rolling-back of claims from rumors, the whole thing just seems hopeless at the moment.
The key words are "we're hearing about"...
Others announce -- Apple delivers!
.
Here in Charlotte every store has the 16GB wifi. But a few stores are out of the 32GB / 3G. I'm too lazy to look any further...
Thought it would be funny if those DO NOT OPEN store shipments are iPad 2 instead of MBPs though.
BestBuy is out of stock on Ipads
Here in Charlotte every store has the 16GB wifi. But a few stores are out of the 32GB / 3G. I'm too lazy to look any further...
Thought it would be funny if those DO NOT OPEN store shipments are iPad 2 instead of MBPs though.
All of my California stores show 3-5 day in-store shipment. Strange!
Same deal with wifi only models. Pretty much all 3 versions are available in most stores