Motorola XOOM 3G follows WiFi model in pre-launch price cut

After the WiFi-only Motorola XOOM saw a pre-emptive price cut in the UK yesterday, with retailer Dixons scything off £20 ahead of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet's launch, rival Carphone Warehouse has no done the same with their 3G XOOM exclusive. Expected to arrive in mid-April, the XOOM 3G is now £579.99 contract-free.

Alternatively – and if you're willing to sign up for a data agreement – they'll (eventually) sell you a XOOM 3G for £199.99 on a £25 per month contract with "unlimited internet." Either way you get the charging dock free.

Motorola looks like it may have the Honeycomb market to itself in the UK for a short period, but after that things will hot up. Vodafone is readying the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V and other carriers will be looking to Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Tab 8.9 to make their own play for the segment.

Press Release:

The Carphone Warehouse announces price cut on the Motorola XOOM 3G

The Carphone Warehouse is today announcing it will be reducing the price of the Motorola XOOM 3G with Wifi to £579.99. The new lower price will be available exclusively online at The Carphone Warehouse. Set to launch in-store launch in mid-April, the Motorola XOOM is the world's first tablet to offer Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb delivering an improved user experience on Android favourites such as multi-tasking, browsing and notifications.

With a brand new tariff from Talkmobile, the tablet is also available with unlimited internet access for £199.99 on a £25 per month contract. The deal also entitles customers to a free charging dock worth £34.99.