HTC Flyer and Motorola Xoom prices are slashed

TWO IPAD RIVALS, the HTC Flyer and Motorola Xoom tablets have had their prices slashed by several retailers.

Although the tablets haven't seen the same deep price cuts as HP's Touchpad, which was reduced to around $100 last week and is now sold out, the Flyer can be picked up for £150 less at Carphone Warehouse.

During Carphone Warehouse's '10 day dealathon' the HTC Flyer will cost £449 for the 3G and WiFi 32GB version, a £150 price reduction. Meanwhile the 16GB WiFi only Flyer will also be reduced by £150 to £329.

Amazon had smaller reductions, with the Flyer reduced to £539 from £599 for the 32GB model.

The Motorola Xoom's price was cut on Amazon from £479 to £389 for the 32GB version. Carphone Warehouse had a £100 price cut on the 32GB Xoom at £479 and the 16GB price was cut by £80 to £399.

Play.com was charging £399 for the 32GB Xoom, meaning you'd get a better deal on either Amazon or Play.com if you wanted Motorola's tablet. Strangely, Amazon's full price Xoom tablet is the same price as Carphone Warehouse's reduced price Xoom.

HTC is planning a big event next week, although it has not said what it is launching. We are thinking it might be the Taiwanese gadget maker's new 10in tablet, the Puccini, explaining why it is trying to clear stock of its 7in Flyer.

The Xoom price reductions are unexplained. However, it's likely that Motorola wants to give its tablet sales a push as it feels the weight of its competitors' price reductions. µ