Now that the iPad is being sold at Amazon, Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club, Verizon and AT&T are two more (and big ones at that!) to add to the list of the all-time fastest selling gadget. It makes sense that AT&T is going to sell the iPad in its retail stores since they already carry the iPhone line; Verizon could be making room in their showroom for the iPad because rumors are saying that a Verizon iPhone may be here very soon.
Verizon’s iPad, Wi-Fi only (for now), seems to be the same model as AT&T’s WiFi model, which means if you want 3G access you’ll have to purchase a bundle with a Verizon MiFi mobile hotspot. Verizon pricing: a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad bundled with MiFi will cost $630, 32GB Wi-Fi iPad + MiFi will be $730, and 64GB Wi-Fi iPad plus MiFi will be $830.
Verizon Wireless Offers iPad at Stores Nationwide on October 28
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & CUPERTINO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that iPad™ will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide beginning Thursday, October 28. Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.
“This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”
iPad allows users to browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad Wi-Fi models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life.*
Apple’s App Store? offers iPad users access to the world’s largest catalog of apps with over 280,000 apps and more than 30,000 iPad specific apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. With Apple’s iBookstore?, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device, iPad users have access to more than 100,000 books from major and independent publishers.
MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The MiFi 2200’s rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.
Customers can sign up for more information on Apple’s iPad together with Verizon Wireless’ MiFi 2200 at www.verizonwireless.com/iPad, at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN.
*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com
AT&T’s iPad (Wi-Fi + 3G models) will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. Domestic data plans for iPad are priced at $14.99 per month for 250MB and $25 per month for 2GB with no term contract. The iPad (Wi-Fi + 3G) will of course use AT&T’s own cellular data network(s), so no bundles will need to be purchased like the Verizon model.
Apple’s iPad Coming to AT&T Stores on October 28
DALLAS & CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AT&T* and Apple® today announced that all three iPad™ Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available at more than 2,200 AT&T Stores starting Thursday, October 28. AT&T will offer customers 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad, complete with Apple’s easy on-device activation and management. All iPad data plans are available without a term contract and include unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000+ domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
“We look forward to expanding the reach of iPad, allowing even more customers to experience the magic of iPad for themselves”
“We can’t wait to showcase the amazing features of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G in our stores across the country just in time for the holidays,” said Glenn Lurie, AT&T President of Emerging Devices, Resale and Partnerships, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With our breakthrough iPad data plans starting at just $14.99 and access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the country at no extra cost, our customers will have the best of both worlds.”
“We look forward to expanding the reach of iPad, allowing even more customers to experience the magic of iPad for themselves,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “As we approach the holiday season, we are very happy that customers will now be able to buy iPad Wi-Fi + 3G at AT&T Stores.”
iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.6 pounds — thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook — and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life for surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching videos or listening to music, and up to nine hours of surfing the web using a 3G data network.**
Apple’s App Store? offers iPad users access to the world’s largest catalog of apps with over 280,000 apps, and more than 30,000 iPad specific apps in 20 categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. With Apple’s iBookstore?, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device, iPad users have access to more than 100,000 books from major and independent publishers.
Pricing and Availability
All iPad Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available beginning Thursday, October 28 in AT&T Stores across the US for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. Domestic data plans for iPad are priced at $14.99 per month for 250MB and $25 per month for 2GB with no term contract. Both plans include unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000+ domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
So what do you readers think? I agree, it’s really a #firstworldproblem for us Americans, because this doesn’t affect most people outside the United States. Verizon’s 3G network has better coverage across the whole US, AT&T’s 3G is still filling in holes. Apple’s Wi-Fi + 3G iPads are not selling nearly as well as the Wi-Fi only model, so maybe this is another attempt to sell more at the AT&T stores. If Verizon gets an iPhone, I am sure they would also be adding Wi-Fi + 3G iPads as well. All this is great news for Apple either way. Santa is going to be very busy this holiday season.
What happened to iPhone + iPad tethering anyway? Back in June, Apple/AT&T said that this service would not be available but now that iPads are going to be sold by AT&T and Verizon, I think we could see a possibility of tethering being offered next year.
