You're assuming a wi-fi only version would be cheaper, but honestly, that would be unlikely. It is more likely that regardless of launch price or data plan requirements, Verizon paid Moto for some form of exclusivity, thus lowering the price of the device for the consumer.
The only company that works opposite that logic is Apple, and they are communists. That is the only reason why the 3G version of the iPad is more expensive than the Wi-Fi only. Apple will not allow AT&T to subsidize the iPad, because Apple wants all the money for themselves.
Again, no matter how Xoom pricing is structured, anyone from any carrier will have the ability to pay an off contract price (assuming there are contract prices to begin with), and only use Wi-Fi.
This makes complete sense in the phone world where this has been the model forever. But here we are going up directly with the iPad and the new iPad 2 soon. It is THE device the Xoom has to compete with if it is going to be successful. Therefore they need to keep the pricing structure similar or people will just buy the cheaper device that has a great track record for happy consumers already. Now, I am an Android user and will continue to be. No iPhone for me. I am waiting with money put away for a Xoom tablet. But let me reassure you, I will only buy a wifi only model (will not pay for something I don't need) and I'll only buy it if it can be bought at a directly competing price (or lower though I don't expect that to be the case) with the ipad. Otherwise I'll keep using my laptop (which I don't pay for 3g on and have never missed it) and Motorola can say bye bye to my $499.
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