UbiSurfer-Touch Android tablet includes 12 months of free wireless internet
You remember the DataWind PocketSurfer2, right?
Then meet its cousin, the UbiSurfer-Touch. It's got a 7" screen, Android 2.2, a Cortex A8 processor, 256MB RAM, 1GB flash memory, "patented data compression/acceleration technology," a "full MS compatible office suite," and an assortment of ports that include an SD card slot and mic/headphone jacks. What makes this device really interesting, though, is that it starts at $249 and includes 12 months of internet service via its "embedded cellular modem." There's no monthly data plan, no activation fee, and no other hidden fees associated with the service.
The company's pitch for the UbiSurfer-Touch (and its other products) is "Pay for the device, not the usage, " so 30 hours per month of free surfing anywhere you have a cell phone signal in the US are included with the device. I don't know what happens if you exceed your monthly allowance or when the one year is up, but I assume your money is involved.
The PocketSurfer, which was also on display (above), only had a GPRS antenna the last time I saw it and with no mention of 3G, I assume that the UbiSurfer-Touch has the same thing. Web pages are reportedly said to load in 4 to 6 seconds "even on slow networks," though it's difficult to believe claims like that when none of the products at CES were even turned on.
