Hutchison offers discounted iPad in Austria

Hutchison Austria is following in the wake of the iPhone and is offering a subsidized iPad to users willing to commit to a 2-year data contract, Engadget reports. When you sign up for a €29.90, 5GB monthly contract, you'll get a €333 markdown on the iPad -- which may or may not be all that much since we still don't know how much an iPad is going to cost overseas. Instead of built-in 3G service, a Huawei i-Mo 3G modem will be provided.

It's not a bad idea, and we're likely to see more carriers jump on this particular bandwagon as the iPad gets closer to release. What I would love to see from carriers is a way to extend existing service for iPhone customers to those who want an iPad plus iPhone. AT&T already gets close to $100 a month from me for basic cell service, plus iPhone data and a text messaging plan. I wouldn't mind paying an additional $5-10 a month for my iPhone contract to cover an iPad as well.

The thought of having to pay another $15 or $30 a month for extra 3G service to an iPad, on top of the charges already being paid for an iPhone, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and if the decision is made to have an iPad join my family, I'm most likely sticking with Wi-Fi only.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/hutchison-austria-to-offe…

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Hutchison Austria is following in the wake of the iPhone and is offering a subsidized iPad to users willing to commit to a 2-year data...

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joeker

Prices overseas ARE known, at least for preorders in Switzerland: http://www.nextway.ch/index.php/cPath/28
Entry model goes for 300$ more than in the US :-(

February 08 2010 at 3:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to joeker's comment

marcxs

It's "just" 200 $ more, but anyway a bit too much for only shipping the device (and 2 years of warranty).
I can accept to pay this for my MBP, because of the swiss keyboard, but the IPad.
I feel a bit disappointed.

February 08 2010 at 8:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Thomas

I use very little 3G data on my iPhone as it is since everything is wifi other than the odd email, checking a map and so on. Although I'm going to buy a 3G iPad I really don't want to have to pay an extra x a month on top of what I'm already paying when I'm not making huge use of it as it is, I really hope there will be some sort of combined options for having both and/or multiple devices.

Families may ultimate have multiple iPads but with each one they get their data isn't going to increase proportionately because the usage will no doubt just be taken away from the existing one or reduce the usage on their iPhone.

February 08 2010 at 2:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

dlmtechnology

with DishNetwork, DirecTV, SiriusXM you pay 5 to 10 bucks or half the service (siriusxm) for each additional receiver, isn't an iPad essentially an "additional receiver" meant to access the same 3g service that my iPhone already gets

Why are we being charged twice for the same service!!!

Give us discounted rates if we own more than one 3g accessing device!

February 08 2010 at 1:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

N900

Damn MicroSIM's. Someone tether this and flip AT&T the bird when this thing is released.

February 08 2010 at 1:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

digitalsedition

I would not be surprised to see other carriers do the same thing. Heck its not above Verizon to sell the wifi model of the iPad with a MyFi or similar.

February 08 2010 at 1:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply