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jarrod on 27 January 2011
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greenmedic88 said:
jarrod said:
greenmedic88 said:

I'm sure that in the instance of the NGP, 3G access subscription fees/plans will factor into the hardware pricing, much like current smartphones and 3G enabled devices.

Possibly, but it depends on carriers.  For example the iPad doesn't have any sort of carrier subsidy in America (it's $20 a month subscription no matter what and you have to buy the hardware at full price), and in fact the 3G model is $100 more expensive off the bat too.  Kindles build in the subscription cost into their retail pricepoints (so you have "free" 3G, forever) but bandwidth is capped and slow, since it's intended for simply downloading small text files.

In the US at least, only smartphones really seem to get any sort of of subsidies from the network carriers.

I'm thinking the iPad 3G pricing plans will probably be the model for the NGP. Monthly flat fee, renewable each month. Somehow I just don't see any subsidized hardware being linked to 2 year service contracts with the NGP. With the PSP Phone on the other hand, it's practically a given.

Since it's going to be used for constant data sources (GPS, online gaming, etc.) it won't be a "free" service like the Kindle, which pretty much just uses 3G networks to give its customers the convenience of being able to access the store and purchase books anywhere 3G access is available.

If I had to make a guess as to how they'll handle the pricing, I'd say 3G will probably add $50 to the base price, and I'd expect 3G monthly plans to be similar, if not identical to those for the iPad.

I think this is pretty much on... Siliconera confirmed 2 NGP SKUs too so I'm leaning towards a $299 "core" model and a $349 3G model, which will be seen a very competitive with the $249 3DS and the $229-$599 range of iOS devices.   Probably a $20 monthly subscription fee with AT&T in the US.