This morning, T-Mobile announced that they are bringing tablets to Walmart. Although they are cheap tablets. In fact, to start off with they are launching the HP Slate 7 HD and the Trio AXS which are $229 and $179 respectively. The Trio AXS has a 7.85-inch display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 16GB of storage and 1GB of RAM. While the HP Slate 7 HD is sporting 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 7-inch 1280 x 800 display. So these aren’t particularly amazing tablets, but definitely something different and making an appearance in Walmart stores will definitely help out T-Mobile in the tablet department.
Coupling this with their free data plans for tablets, 200MB of high-speed data and throttled afterwards, it’s going to be a pretty easy sell for those in Walmart. And being available in stores other than just T-Mobile stores is also going to be a pretty good deal for magenta. For those interested, we have the press release down below. This is going to be a very interesting move for T-Mobile. I wonder how it’ll play out for them?
BELLEVUE, WA – May 19, 2014 – The news just keeps getting better for American wireless consumers. T-Mobile US, Inc. [NYSE: TMUS] is now offering two new cellular-enabled tablets, together with up to 200MB of free 4G data every month for the life of that tablet, at participating Walmart stores nationwide.
“The vast majority of tablet owners today are trapped in the Wi-Fi zone,” said Doug Chartier, senior vice president, T-Mobile. “First there’s the extra cost of a cellular-enabled tablet. Then there’s the added cost of the big three carriers’ expensive data plans and the danger of overages. It doesn’t have to be this way. With these great connected tablets, you get free 4G data for the life of your tablet on the blazing fast T-Mobile network – and the freedom to live your life beyond the Wi-Fi zone – at an unheard of price.”
Walmart now offers Apollo Brands Trio AXS Quad Core tablet for $179. The Trio AXS is a 4G Android-powered tablet with a 7.85″ HD display, 16GB on-device storage, two-camera vision, MicroSD slot, quad core 1.2GHz processor and 1 GB memory.
In June, Walmart will add a second T-Mobile connected tablet for $229. The HP Slate 7 HD will offer 4G connectivity, Google PlayTM, multi-touch HD wide-angle viewing, 16 GB on-device storage, two-camera vision, MicroSD slot, and 1GB memory.
“We know many of our customers want to be constantly connected but often end up purchasing tablets with just Wi-Fi due to the cost,” said Kevin Pate, vice president of electronics for Walmart U.S. “The new T-Mobile tablets with Free Data for Life will not only provide our customers with the technology and cellular access they want but also an unmatched value.”
For customers who want more than 200MB per month of Free Data for Life on their T-Mobile-connected tablet, T-Mobile and Walmart offer affordable, flexible and overage-free tablet data plans for every type of user – from those who simply want to check email, the weather or Facebook, to those looking to stream music or video for their kids in the back seat of the mini-van.
Walmart customers have exclusive access to two T-Mobile high-speed data passes: $35 for 3.5GB of high-speed data or $50 for 5GB of high-speed data. Additional daily, weekly and monthly postpaid plan options are also available for T-Mobile customers with an existing voice plan, starting as low as $10 per month for nearly 1.2 GB of high speed data every month.
200MB free data every 30 days for as long as you own and use registered device with T-Mobile. No roaming. Qualifying postpaid voice and mobile Internet service required for free additional 1GB of data. $35 and $50 on-demand passes require new device purchased at Walmart. Taxes & fees additional. Coverage not available in some areas. See T-Mobile.com for details.