If the new rumors are to be believed, Apple could be launching the much anticipated Tablet as early as March of this year.
In what appears to be an inadvertant action, Media Markt, a popular German electronics retailer posted this information on the company's Twitter account. The tweet in question has since then been deleted.
In the tweet, a screenshot of which is embedded below, the company informs that the Apple iPad will go on sale from March 1. For their German customers, Media Markt informs that the device will be priced at 499 Euros ($703) with a T-Mobile contract and at 899 Euros ($1267) unsubsidized. Folks at MacRumors point out that comparing this price with the price of MacBook and Mac Mini in Germany would indicate the corresponding price in US market to be around $500-$600 in case of a subsidized Tablet and $999 for the unsubsidized version.
This is by far the closest we have come to an official partner revealing critical information about the soon-to-be-launched device. Earlier, France Télécom VP Stephane Richard confirmed the presence of a webcam on the Apple Tablet only for his company to clarify later that they were misinterpreted. In this case however, we are skeptical about the launch dates considering that more than one source have confirmed the shortage in component supplies which would push the launch dates close to the mid of 2010.
Nevertheless, being a close partner of T-Mobile, it is quite likely for Media Markt to have received authentic information on the Tablet pricing and launch dates. However, we shall take this with a grain of salt and keep our fingers crossed till the D-Day.
What do you feel? Would you take the tweet posted by Media Markt seriously? What do you think about the $600 price tag for the subsidized Tablet and $1000 for the unsubsidized one? Tell us in the comments.
[via MacRumors]
I just don't want a 2 yr service plan, that would suck to have the iPhone bill and the alleged iTablet bill.
well, it seems like it's in the right ballpark.
It'll probably go down a bit in June…
The invitation say's "latest creation", not product! With the google/apple war raging and Microsofts release of Bing, I will say their next creation could imply an Apple search base!
This twitter account wasn't a genuine Media Markt account but just a fake (maybe of a private person who wanted to make some fun).
Furthermore the named "T-Mobile Complete L" plan is a voice and data plan which doesn't make any sense in combination with a tablet.
Getting REALLY excited for this tablet!
A little less than $1000 is too much. One can buy a Macbook for that price and get much more powerful platform.
Is it really called the Apple iPad? So overhyped they forgot to make sure they wouldn't give it a name that infers you'll only use it once a month.
I have to remind myself how underwhelmed I've felt with Job's "Big" announcements since the first iphone, but maybe he can rewrite history here today. There is one thing I won't do and that is pay for another wireless contract. I am more than happy to use my iphone tethered to my notebook for now.
THE IPAD WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY! I CHECKED THE APPLE WEBSITE,AND IT'S ONLY US$4.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!