iPad to be available in the UK through Vodafone, O2 and Orange

[Ewan Hoozarmy]

The phone companies will offer both pre-pay and contract deals for the iPad.

Vodafone, O2 and Orange have all signed up to supply the iPad to customers in the UK from next month.

Earlier today Apple admitted that high demand for the tablet computer means that its launch outside the US has been delayed until May. The Californian company will announce prices and open pre-orders on 10 May.

Apple is producing two versions of the device – one that only has short-range Wi-Fi technology and one that can access both Wi-Fi and 3G mobile phone networks. But users will not be able to merely insert their existing sim card into the iPad, because it uses micro-sims.

Neither O2, Orange nor Vodafone gave details of the actual prices they will charge iPad users for mobile broadband access.

In a statement Vodafone merely said it will offer "dedicated iPad price plans for all models from the end of May in Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK".

O2 said it will offer "dedicated iPad price plans for all models from the end of May in the UK".

Orange said it will offer "dedicated iPad price plans for all models from the end of May in France, UK, Spain and Switzerland".

In the UK, Vodafone, Orange, O2 and T-Mobile have all been chasing after the iPad and executives from the four networks are understood to have mhad meetings with Apple to discuss the device. T-Mobile was unavailable for comment.

In February, Vodafone's boss, Vittorio Colao, said: "Anything that improves the customer experience with mobile data is welcome and as such I would be very interested in having it."

The mobile phone companies want to be able to tie iPad pricing plans in with their existing tariffs. So a customer on a long-term iPhone contract, for instance, would get a sim card for their iPad for an additional monthly fee.

Apple, however, is understood to favour giving customers the ability to pay only for the mobile access they need, on a pre-pay basis.

As a result, O2, Orange and Vodafone are expected to offer both pre-pay and contract deals.

In the US, Apple's network partner, AT&T, is offering 250MB of data for $14.99 a month and unlimited data for $29.99, with no requirement for customers to sign long-term contracts.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/14/ipad-uk-vodafone-o2-orange

 

[Peter Harrison]

Misleading title. They won't be selling the iPad.

 

[northy124]

Great news that Orange are going to be offering a plan, and if it is Pre-Paid that is even better

 

[Elise]

Does anyone know if you can buy a US 3G iPad to use in the UK? I appreciate I'd need a micro sim using a UK phone carrier but are the two devices different making this option unworkable?

 

[DKatri]

I'll be going with whoever offers a plan that is like what AT&T are offering in the US. So I only have to pay for 3G when I want to use it.

 

[Ewan Hoozarmy]

Hopefully the UK mobile operators will subsidise the price of the 3G iPad, you never know...

 

[withdrawal]

Whatever the offer, it will be a total rip compared to what AT&T / other US carriers will offer. European and UK carriers are EVIL bloodsucking gougers who make every price plan as unclear and expensive as possible. I thought when I moved here to UK six years ago that the cellphone carriers would eventually follow the American model of competition=fairer price plans, but I'm still waiting. O2 initially acquiesced to Apple and gave away unlimited data, but now with Orange and Vodafone and other joke companies offering 1GB/month limited data plans, I fear the end is near even for O2's decent offerings.

When I lived in Germany for a short time in 2000, my German roommate would complain about me taking "long showers" stating that I was wasting energy. At the time I didn't understand that it was because Europeans pay through the nose for energy. They still do and this extends to cellphone usage. Then they turn around and say Americans are wasteful. We're not wasteful, we simply live[d] in a free market - though that too is changing.

 

[northy124]

Erm withdrawal, you need to take a look around you as we have some of the best deals when it comes to Mobile usage, at $15 for 250mb please don't make me laugh american's have it worse off I'd say but then again I don't know the UK iPad Data prices yet so can't do fair comparison.

 

[dino26]

I will go for whoever has the strongest connection 02 probally ?


that is if they are cheap and are on prepay

 

[iann1982]

My only fear of having bought a US 64gb WiFi is that the 3G deals here are good.

i'm using it with a MiFi - which was always the plan - I can't justify three separate mobile connections, I'll always want the option of connecting the macbook to the MiFi for work use.

I can see mobile data contracts that let you have more than one device in the future - I never get anywhere near my download limits..

 

[OllyW]

Erm withdrawal, you need to take a look around you as we have some of the best deals when it comes to Mobile usage, at $15 for 250mb please don't make me laugh american's have it worse off I'd say but then again I don't know the UK iPad Data prices yet so can't do fair comparison.

You are right, withdrawal hasn't got a clue what he/she is talking about. The iPhone deals in the UK work out a lot cheaper than those offered by AT&T in the US.

 

[northy124]

I will go for whoever has the strongest connection 02 probally ?

that is if they are cheap and are on prepay

Orange has better signal (based on my location) than O2 and are generally a better network (Cust. Service wise) and all are offering Pre-Paid

You are right, withdrawal hasn't got a clue what he/she is talking about. The iPhone deals in the UK work out a lot cheaper than those offered by AT&T in the US.

He seems to be the typical American spouting off their BS about how their services are cheaper than elsewhere

 

[dino26]

Orange has better signal (based on my location) than O2 and are generally a better network (Cust. Service wise) and all are offering Pre-Paid


He seems to be the typical American spouting off their BS about how their services are cheaper than elsewhere

Is there a way online of checking who has strongest connection in your area ?

 

[northy124]

Yes I am originally from the North but I live down south (although that has nothing to do with my Username so you have got that wrong), I know someone that lives in the US and how much their cell phone bill is, $75 a month or something which is £48 and that is expensive (not sure what there plan is however), and you have to pay to receive texts and calls.

I would like to clear up that I am not Anti-American (if I were do you think I'd buy American products?), I was joking but obviously you couldn't tell from the I am sorry I offended you but you have gone to far with what you have said

@dino26, I think that O2, Orange and Vodafone have a section for that on their sites but I am not 100% certain otherwise Google should help

 

[withdrawal]

You can save your underhanded pseudo-victimization. You made a sweeping generalization of Americans despite the fact that you are posting on a forum dedicated to products designed by the most enlightened computer company in the world which is based in California - my home state.

I've been dealing with bigots like you since I was born - you misery-mongers come in every shape and color. You can keep your grim prison island. I don't want it and neither do you.

 

[yogamonkey]

I bought a 64Gb WiFi iPad in the US which I'm now using in the UK via my MiFi on 3. It works really well but I've been worried about going over my allowance. So yesterday I unlocked the MiFi unit so that it's SIM lock free, ordered a T-Mobile internet dongle and will be cancelling my account with 3 when it arrives. 3 charge £15/month for 5Gb whereas T-Mobile charge £15 "PAYG" for Unlimited use per month. Unlimited does have a fair use of 2Gb but they say that they won't charge you for going over. The benefit of the MiFi is that I can also use it at the same time with my iPhone, and share my connection with others if I want to give them access. Wouldn't be able to do that with a 3G iPad.

Just thought I'd add my experience into the discussion.

 

[northy124]

You can save your underhanded pseudo-victimization. You made a sweeping generalization of Americans despite the fact that you are posting on a forum dedicated to products designed by the most enlightened computer company in the world which is based in California - my home state.

I've been dealing with bigots like you since I was born - you misery-mongers come in every shape and color. You can keep your grim prison island. I don't want it and neither do you.

You made generalisations (how expensive stuff is and that the UK is a prison island) as well, don't see me coming back as rude as you do you? and Again I am NOT Anti-American.