Apple tablet to launch with Verizon?

There have been many rumours over an Apple Tablet or netbook device, but there’s always room for one more. We have already heard that Apple may by releasing a ‘Media Pad’ with Verizon and now we are hearing that it may launch with a subsidy from the carrier.

According to The Street, the Media Pad will basically be a 9 to 10-inch touchscreen device. It will be subsidised by Verizon and arrive in time for the holidays according to an unnamed source. The report suggests that a prototype has been ready for nearly a year now, whilst Apple has considered exactly what market it is targeting with this high cost device.

The Street suggests that with a Verizon subsidy, the cost of the Media Pad should be in line with $300 netbooks. This will come with a data-only contract.

So in essence what we are talking about here is an always-connected larger iPod type device. I’m still not sure how well this would sell, especially considering the fragility of a portable tablet device with 10-inch screen. However, I’m sure Apple’s burgeoning third party accessory market would have no problems finding a solution for that particular problem.