Verizon has lowered the prices on select Android handsets including the DROID R2D2 which is now priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year contract. Also available for this $99 price is the Samsung Fascinate, a Galaxy S handset, and the DROID Incredible. The pricing on the Samsung Fascinate appears to be a limited offer and is part of the carrier’s 10 days of sweet deals promotion which promises a discount on a new handset each day until February 10th when the iPhone 4 launches.
The price changes follow in the wake of rumors suggesting Verizon was changing its rebate policy. The price drop on the R2D2 handset aligns with the leak of a recent rebate sheet that was devoid of most of the carrier’s high-end handsets. The only exception was the R2D2 handset which included a $50 MIR. Now, as expected, the DROID R2D2 is available for a lower price with a new $50 rebate offer.
These promotions also come in advance of the debut of the iPhone 4 on Verizon. These price drops may be an attempt to entice some customers to buy an entry-level Android handset, instead of paying for the higher-priced iPhone 4. These rumored changes to Verizon’s rebate policy may also help the carrier stack the deck for Android and help the platform compete against the iPhone.
[Via BGR]