Motorola announced today that it will release a Wi-Fi only version of the Xoom in the United States. This Xoom will have the same specifications as the current model (of course without 3G or 4G capabilities), and will allow consumers looking for a lower entry price to buy a Xoom for $599 without any contract obligations. Motorola says it will be available through a wider distribution channel, using commerical IT and retail distributors.
Interestingly, this model will contain a “beta” version of Adobe Flash 10.2 which will give it a competitive edge over current iPad models.
Personally, I think the 4G model is still the clear choice. It greatly enhances the user experience and frees them from the tether of WiFi hotspots. Plus the added cost for 4G is offset by the reduced price for the 4G model with a contract.
Ultimately users will need to decide how important 4G is for them and purchase the model that best suits his or her needs. How about you – were you holding out for the Wi-Fi model or is 4G a critical feature?
See: http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=13842&NewsAreaId=-1 for the full press release.
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