The world’s first Android Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom, has been outed by the upcoming Best Buy circular. Contained within the print ad were both the release date, February 24, and the price, $799.
Granted, the Motorola Xoom information from the Best Buy circular is oriented at the Verizon Wireless customers in the US, but it may be indicative of pricing when it lands in the UK. If the purported $799 price holds true, the Motorola Xoom will debut $70 more expensive than the 32GB iPad WiFi + 3G model.
The key difference (other than features) being, a data is required for the Motorola Xoom’s WiFi functionality, according to the advertisement. New and existing iPad 3G users in the US can purchase Apple’s tablet without a data plan, then add or remove the feature as needed. There are currently two options for At&t 3G iPad users, a 250MB or 2GB per month plan, priced $14.99/month and $25.00/month respectively.
The Motorola Xoom on the other hand is a Verizon Wireless exclusive and requires a one month minimum data plan sign-up at purchase. There are four monthly data plans for the Xoom: 1 GB for $20/month, 3GB for $35/month, 5GB for $50/month or 10GB for $80/month. When you factor in the one month data plan requirement, the Xoom becomes $829.99 out the door (before taxes) even if you only intend on using it as a WiFi device, thereafter.
On Febrary 24 when the Motorola Xoom goes on sale at Best Buy in the US, it will be very interesting to see how consumers respond. With the iPad 2 release approaching, WiFi only users will have a tough pill to swallow when considering spending $499 for a 16GB iPad 2 or $799 for a WiFi/3G/4G upgradable Motorola Xoom.
Coming Soon | Motorola | $799
