Qualcomm’s Personal TV Now Available; Pricing Plans Are Nowhere To Be Found

The $250 FLO TV Personal Television By HTC

Qualcomm’s FLO TV Personal Television, which provides a 3.5 inch screen for viewing some of your favorite programming while on the go, is now available in stores — however, the monthly service plans are no where to be found.

Currently, the device costs $250, including six months of free service, which the company explains represents $90 in savings. But what happens after the introductory period is not obvious, even after visiting Amazon.com (NSDQ: AMZN) and the FLO TV website. On Amazon, the fine print stipulates that after the six months, “your credit card will automatically be charged the then-current monthly subscription rate.”

It was only after calling customer support that we were able to get the pricing. According to a representative, you will be charged $14.99 starting in month seven. (A spokesperson also added later that that pricing could change based on new promotions.) At $14.99, it’s comparable to what Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T (NYSE: T) have been charging, and is now more expensive than AT&T, which recently dropped the price to $10 a month. It’s also more expensive than FLO’s original quote of $9 a month for a three-year contract, which the representative said is no longer being offered.

The total cost of ownership for the first year is $340, which is fairly pricey, but it’s the lack transparency that will probably be the bigger problem in gaining consumer adoption.

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