It all started as a despicable rumor, but now AT&T's charged ahead and made it official - its version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab will indeed cost $649, which is $50 more than the other carriers' versions and $30 more than the cheapest 3G-capable iPad. Disappointing as that may seem, a $50 virtual gift card for Samsung's Media Hub is included, as is a bunch of bloatware nobody wants (sigh). At least you get relatively cheap pay-as-you-go plans - $15 for 200MB of data and $25 for 2GB of it.

On the other hand, US Cellular will also be piping the seven-inch tablet, albeit for $399 on a new two-year contract and $499 off contract, the same as Sprint. Unfortunately, the carrier's plans are a bit less reasonable than AT&T's: $14.99 for 200MB or $54.99 for 5GB, although the latter plan comes with with the Belief Project (which enables customers to upgrade their devices for free after 18 months as well as numerous other benefits) and tethering. Choices, choices...

Source: AT&T via Engadget

AT&T Introduces Samsung Galaxy Tab with Pay-As-You-Go Monthly Data Plans, Easy Activation Directly on Device Android-Powered Tablet Available Nov. 21 Online and in 2,200 AT&T Stores Nationwide Dallas, Texas, November 15, 2010 AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ will launch on Sunday, Nov. 21 on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, and just in time for the holiday season. The Galaxy Tab will be available for $649.99** at more than 2,200 AT&T company owned stores and online at Samsung Galaxy Tab (www.samsung.com/galaxytab). AT&T will offer two pay-as-you-go data plan options for the Galaxy Tab, a $14.99 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 250 MB of usage and a $25 pay-as-you-go plan for 30 days with up to 2 GB of usage. If customers use all the data included in their plan before 30 days, they can purchase another pay-as-you go plan. For additional convenience, these plans can automatically renew every 30 days, when customers pay for these plans with a credit card or debit card. AT&T data plan subscribers also get access to AT&T’s entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional charge. Subscribers can activate their service plan directly on the Galaxy Tab, without making a phone call or a visit to the store, whenever they need access to data within the allocated U.S. footprint. The data plans do not require a long-term contract. Customers have the option to change plans or purchase more data without penalty as needed. As a courtesy reminder, AT&T will notify customers with a text and email when their 30-day plan is close to expiring or when they are close to depleting the amount of data available in the plan. In addition to the domestic data plans, international passes are also available which provide data coverage in more than 100 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Plans start at $24.99. “Consumers are seeking cutting-edge mobile computing devices and we’re proud to give them another great choice in our product portfolio,” said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T Emerging Devices. “Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is a sharp device boasting a brilliant screen for watching videos, a powerful processor and a host of cutting edge features that everyone in the family will enjoy. Pairing it with the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network and most extensive Wi-Fi network gives AT&T Galaxy customers the best mobile broadband experience in the market.” “We are excited to bring the Galaxy Tab to AT&T customers for the holiday season,” said Omar Khan, Chief Strategy Officer, Samsung Mobile. “Its seven inch form factor, pocketable weight and robust feature set make it ideal for work and play. It’s the kind of device users will want to carry with them every day.” Powered by the Android™ 2.2 platform, the Samsung Galaxy Tab touts a 7-inch enhanced TFT touch screen, 1Ghz Hummingbird application processor, support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1, Media Hub - Samsung’s own content service that offers an extensive library of acclaimed films and TV programming – Samsung Social Hub, dual cameras, and many additional features. For a limited time, AT&T customers will receive a $50 Media Hub Movie Rental credit with Galaxy Tab purchases. AT&T consumers will enjoy a rich web browsing experience with the mobile tablet, along with access to many forms of multimedia content on the 7-inch display, including movies, photos, ebooks and more – all on the go Also, users can communicate via e-mail or social networking with the optimized user interface. In addition to the numerous Samsung Mobile features, the AT&T-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab also features AT&T Connection Manager, which automatically connects users to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots to better manage data usage. Additional information on AT&T data plans for the Galaxy Tab is available at www.att.com/galaxytab. For more information on AT&T, please visit the AT&T website.