Customers who have not gotten around to getting themselves an iPhone 5s or 5c can do so now with AT&T, making them eligible to get a brand-new iPad with a $200 discount.
Available only in stores owned and operated by AT&T, the promotion should help the carrier move stocks along in anticipation of the release of the iPhone 6 and new iPads. This could also be a means for AT&T to boost revenue by getting customers to add internet-connected devices to data plans they are already subscribed to.
To take advantage of the $200 discount on an iPad, a customer has to buy a new iPhone 5s or 5c. This means either paying full price for the iPhone or financing it over the course of 24 months. At full price, an iPhone 5s costs $650 for a 16GB version while the 5c starts at $550 for the same variant. With financing and the option to upgrade afterwards, this means a customer will have to pay $27.09 a month for 24 months for a 5s while it would cost $22.02 a month for the same period for an iPhone 5c.
For the available iPads, it must be noted that AT&T is only offering those that come with cellular access. Customers must also keep in mind that any iPad purchased from the promo will have to be hooked up to a two-year data plan from AT&T. With the discount in place, newer iPad models like the 16GB iPad Air now just cost $430, a $200-drop from $630.
For those interested in an iPad mini without a Retina display, an even better deal is available. From the usual $430 price tag, an older iPad mini can now be bought for just $200. It's not a $200 discount this time; it's the actual price of the device. But like its big brothers, the iPad mini from AT&T comes with a two-year data plan.
Overall, the promotion can be highly appealing to anyone interested in getting a new iPhones and iPads from AT&T, particularly those who don't mind buying older models of the devices even though the newer ones are right around the corner. With majority of Americans already owning a smartphone, this shift in promotion to highlight discounts on the iPad can bring in more tablet subscribers for AT&T. Last quarter, a third of new monthly subscriptions for the carrier were for tablet devices.
