Verizon Offers Tablet Trade-Ins, Sprint Clears Out TabsVerizon Offers Tablet Trade-Ins, Sprint Clears Out Tabs

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Verizon Wireless announced on April 1 that it will now accept tablet devices through its Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program. According to Verizon Wireless, those who have a tablet that is in good condition can receive a Verizon Wireless gift card worth up to $300. That $300 card can then be used to purchase new goods at Verizon Wireless stores. Consumers can check the value of their trade before heading to a Verizon store through Verizon's web site.

The trade-in program already accepts smartphones.

Verizon doesn't specifically mention the Apple iPad, but there are few other tablets to be traded in at this point. A lot of companies have described what they do with traded-in smartphones, but none have really explained what's done with old tablets. Smartphones can be refurbished and re-sold; provided to smaller, regional carriers as low-cost alternatives; or, if they have reached the end of their valuable life, broken down and recycled.

One-year-old iPad's still have plenty of life left in them. Other than the iPad, what might be turned in, four-month old Galaxy Tabs? One-month old Xooms?

"Whether you're a mobile user looking to move to the nation's most reliable network or a customer looking to trade up to a new tablet, our Trade-In Program provides options that people can feel good about," said Greg Haller, vice president of consumer solutions for Verizon Wireless in a prepared statement. "Adding tablets to our lineup of eligible trade-in devices along with wireless phones, gives users another option to recycle old devices and get value."

In other tablet news, Sprint has dropped the contract pricing of the Samsung Galaxy Tab to a low, low $199 in what appears to be a move to clear out inventory. The Tab, which has a 7-inch display and runs Android 2.2 Froyo, went on sale in November for $400 on contract and $600 for full retail. Now, the full retail price of the device is listed at $429, and Sprint is applying an instant $230 rebate, dropping the on-contract price to just $199. In order to get the $199 price point, you'll have to agree to a two-year data plan.

Since the Samsung Galaxy Tab was introduced to U.S. stores in November, the iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom have both hit the market, and the RIM PlayBook is due to hit the market April 19. Additionally, Samsung has announced new 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch versions of the Galaxy Tab that use Android 3.0 Honeycomb instead of Froyo. Sprint clearly wants to get rid of whatever 7-inch Tabs it has left in stock.

Another device that is prepared to debut on Sprint's network soon is the HTC Flyer, which has been renamed the HTC View 3D for Sprint. The View 3D also has a 7-inch display, and would compete directly with the 7-inch Galaxy Tab. When first announced by HTC and (again) by Sprint, the Flyer/View 3D was said to ship with Android 2.2 Froyo with HTC's Sense on board. That was a bit of a disappointment. Now, HTC has confirmed that the Flyer/View 3D will in fact be updated to Android 3.0 Honeycomb once the software is made available by Google.

Google hasn't said when that might be, and is limiting the number of companies that have access to the Honeycomb source code.