AT&T to sell Apple iPad 3G in stores?

One of our AT&T connects down south just hit us up with some pretty interesting info… According to them, AT&T stores will be selling the 3G version of the Apple iPad, complete with built-in display. We’re told that the general plan is to convert one or two existing netbook display sections in each corporate AT&T location into a pretty substantial iPad display area. More as we get it…

Tags: Apple, AT&T, corporate, Display, exclusive, iPad, Netbook, Rumor, sell, Whisper

Comments

Jones

Not trying to be a blog crapper… but curious… what’s so interesting about this??

response

A: Subsidized device with contract.

http://www.bgr.com Boy Genius

Correct. That’s why it is interesting…
SEAN

“A: Subsidized device with contract.”

Umm, don’t think so.
http://www.bgr.com Boy Genius

Yeah, just checked. You’re right… they seem to be doing only the prepaid data approach and no subsidies.
response

Can someone explain why, from AT&T’s perspective, they would not want to offer the subsidy + plan model? This would seem to be a natural money-maker for them.

(And I’m in no way questioning the accuracy of your reporting, just posing this as a more general business-related question.)
jackfrost

Probably because Apple said no. They love marketing this as a non-contract needed device.
Giorgio

Correct. No subsidy. At&t reps will sell you the iPad, and activate the iPad for you through a proprietary system. Pre-payments will handled through Apple last I heard.

BGR please correct me if you’ve heard otherwise. This information was given to me the same day the iPad was announced so it may have changed.
Jones

Ok, I guess I just always assumed this would be the case. But now that you point it out, I guess nothing’s been announced regarding that.

Scott

Who didn’t really see this coming? Why wouldn’t they sell them in their stores? That’s more money for att and apple
http://(null) Dallas

Apple is crack and AT
Foster

Wonder how well it will do. I do not think it will sell that great. Give me a real internet browser and I would be sold.

jackfrost

Real? Webkit is pretty damn real, and one of the best browsers out there. If you’re asking for Flash… keep dreaming. Poorly implemented and abused Flash makes the Web worse. Nearly all browsers choke on it at some point.

StevenGlansburg

Why doesn’t Apple just put Android on this device and make it useful? Android is the first and only OS that can multitask and run apps…it needs to be on every device.
Jellybeans

Well the iPad will NOT be subsidized by AT&T or anyone for that matter. AT&T will only be hooking it up with a PREPAID $30 plan. I think BGR doesn’t read over stuff very well. You will not see the device any lower and you will not see the ipad sold with a contract. Sorry to make you look like a fool in front of all your friends brah
peter sniffer

A 250 or 300 subsidy on the ipad would be great. id pay 30 a month for a data connection if that was the trade off. ATT and Apple are you LISTENING? this is the one device people wouldnt mind getting stuck with a contract.
kate

Would be great, I’d love to check one out and the nearest Apple store is about 2 hours away.
jackfrost

This is the huge difference between Apple’s retail strategy and Google’s (non-existant) strategy. I can’t believe that you can walk into a T-Mobile store, cash in hand and not be able to buy much less touch one. There’s a reason you see every Apple Store packed with people poking iPhones. You need to experience it to justify the purchase. Same problem with Kindle vs. Nook.

No one would by an iPad if they didn’t touch it. Remember, all the reviews said touching was believing—most weren’t convinced until they got their hands on it.

Huh?

Kindle v. Nook? What exactly are you saying? The Kindle is a HUGE success and the Nook is a fringe device, at best. You’ve done an excellent job of arguing against yourself. Congratulations.

Cingulair

@response,

AT
Victor

Contract is the way to go. My soul and firstborn already belong to at&t. What’s another contract for another 2 years! I’ll take 2 please!
The Drizzle

I got your droid right here ( Grabs Crotch )
phonejunkie30

@StevenGlansburg,

shut fock up biat why not put your face on a horses azz you  biat.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Southwest North America

The Drizzle

LOL WUT?
wanderer

I think someone hijacked his name, the real StevenGlansburg I recall is pro apple.

CorkyT74

It’s most likely Jobs masquerading as StevenGlansburg because Steve’s iPhone was jailbroken.

i know it all

its funny. verizon spends 8 million on droid does avertisement before lauch. apple spends 0 dollars before the 2g launched and the 3g and the 3gs. apple big line. droid what line.
http://ipadtest.wordpress.com Mike Cane

What I want to know is how the monthly 3G plan will work. Will I be able to go into an AT&T Store, plunk down $30.00 in cash, and walk out with a scratch-off card that I then input a code into the iPad for 3G access? In other words, will this be like the Tracfone pre-pay method? If so, perhaps it can also tie into iTunes Gift Cards? — those are sold *everywhere*.

CorkyT74

Prepaid works off of 2 frequencies and is restricted to EDGE. I’m also curious how prepaid will = 3G.

QuickWeevil

Just because it’s prepaid doesn’t mean it runs on a different frequency. And I think in the Keynote Jobs said it’ll be purchased via debit or credit over the air.
CorkyT74

All of the prepaid (GO) phones are 850/1900. Dual-band only. You can use a tri or quad band phone on prepaid but you won’t get more than what the prepaid service area supports – which is 2 frequencies. i.e.: No 3G.
Dakota

Time to re-learn your UMTS and HSDPA frequencies, pal, along with the entirety of AT&T’s complex network environment.

HSDPA/UMTS operates on 850 and 1900 just as well as the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS frequency bands. Your “no 3G” is out of the water.

There are trimode and quadmode phones on prepaid, too: the MOTO EM330 (tri-band), Nokia 6085 (quad), LG CF360 (quad), the Samsung A177 (quad), and the tri-band LG Neon.

Activation and payment is done OTA via a debit or credit account much like Verizon aircards do on a DayPass.

HX_Guy

From what I understood, you will be able to buy the Pre-Paid data plans directly through the iPad, no need to go into an At&t store or call anyone to buy/activate.

CorkyT74

In a few years it will be iAT&T.
Hackman

This is going to be the device to have for 2010
Mitch

You’re completely wrong, Corky.

First off, GoPhone has complete access to Att’s 3G network. The only coverage differences between the prepaid and the postpaid sectors are in roming coverage.

Secondly, the majority of Gophones sold today are at least triband. It isn’t 2002 any more, buddy.

Third, Att’s 3G services are on the same frequencies at the Edge coverage: 850/1900. A phone could have both dualband 2g and 3g radios and still work fine with Att 3g (good luck finding such a phone, though).

I can easily see why prepaid has yet to gain a foothold in the American marketplace: consumer ignorance is still VERY strong. Hopefully the iPad will change some of the paroxysms associated with prepaid mobile services.
HookaJoe

Not sure how this would work with COR store commission structure. Jobs said the 3G service is activated on the device itself, so Reps would get no activation or features out of it. Would have to be a SPIF. We’d carry some accessories eventually, but those don’t pay like they used to.

Bottom line: I don’t see much incentive for the RSC to sell it after the initial push.

Giorgio

The incentive will be the X percent quote you have to obtain ;)

john

this is kind of off topic, but what does “AT” mean?
triu426

Meh…big ipod touch…pass
Adam

I’m a CPR rep and the ipad WILL be activated in Att cor store by Att reps. The 3g ipad will come with a mini sim card that is activated, pay $30 tax and voilà, 30 days of Internet.

http://ipadtest.wordpress.com Mike Cane

So, will people without plastic — *cough* me *cough* — be able to pop into any AT&T *store* and get these 30 days whenever they’re needed?

iPhone home

Lame! I’ll stick with my 3gs it’s more portable
Steel

Hey maybe the reason Apple is charging $100 bucks more than the cost for the 3g upgrade is to line ATT’s pockets for selling them for apple.

Connor’s Daddy

Last time I checked, cell phone companies aren’t charities, they are in the business to make money. The more money they make, the bigger and better they get. It’s widely accepted that Verizon and AT&T are the two largest carriers in the US, the most/best coverage (based on perception), and have the best devices in the country on their service = Higher than average monthly bill. Gotta pay to play.