Oh, To Have A Free iPad

Japan, long heavy on subsidies for phones to lock people into two-year commitments, just offered a 16GB iPad for free if you sign a contract. The UK and France are also doing it. Why can’t we?

To be fair, Japan has always been very friendly for subsidies, giving away high-end phones for essentially low-double-digits (in dollars) as long as you commit for two years. The interesting bit is that providers are considering the iPad more like a phone and less like a laptop, in which you only need coverage sometimes and can pay-as-you-go.

It would be nice to get a similar deal here. A two-year contract for a free iPad up front. Especially if you could somehow get another discount if you’re already an iPhone customer. [Moconews]