14 DAY TRIAL // The AT&T data plans offered for the PlayStation Vita’s 3G model won’t be able to draw in customers, at least according to games industry analyst Michael Pachter, who says that cumulated costs will drive off lots of people.
The PlayStation Vita is getting ready for its release next month and Sony has begun sharing some more details about pricing, accessories and even the data plans that will be offered for the steeper priced 3G model of the Vita.
As we’ve heard earlier this month, AT&T will offer in the U.S. two data plans, 250MB for $15 a month or 2GB for $25, although they won’t be a part of any long term contract. Instead, players can choose the months they want 3G service on the fly.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes that the whole 3G idea is bad, as Sony wouldn’t be able to attract customers even if it offered the Vita 3G at a lower price alongside a long term contract to AT&T.
“I think the concept of discounting the device in exchange for a two-year commitment to a data plan highlights why most people don’t want the 3G service,” Pachter told Industry Gamers. “I’m not a believer in 3G for anything except phones. I don’t know how it can be made more desirable for low frequency users if the data plan costs more than $5 per month. It’s the data plan that is a non-starter, not the device.”
The PlayStation Vita’s 3G model is already priced higher than the regular, Wi-Fi version, and the added cost of a 3G data plan, plus those of accessories, like memory cards, will quickly make it a steep investment.
Are you willing to buy the 3G Vita or will you stick to the regular edition of the console and spend the extra money on bigger memory cards and other accessories?