Interestingly enough, the product info page for the G1 on Walmart.com which used to list the price as $179.99 now reads, “price varies by store,” implying that some stores (550 select stores by most accounts) will indeed offer a discount rate on the G1. There is no indication of what the price range might be, nor which stores may carry the discount phones.

Interestingly enough we reported last week that Isuppli Corp., based on its mobile handset cost model, had estimated the cost of materials alone for the G1 to be around $144. Whether or not Wal-Mart is selling the G1 below cost (excluding contract incentives it might receive) or Isuppli's estimate was grossly inaccurate is still unclear.