Optus, Vodafone, Telstra announce iPad pricing
Just in time for tomorrow's launch, Telstra and Vodafone have unveiled their pricing plans for the new iPad.
The new iPad is set to debut in Australia tomorrow, with shipments being sent out by Apple, and stock arriving at a number of select retail outlets. The new iPad boasts a 2048x1536-pixel resolution "retina display", an A5X processor, a dual-core CPU, a quad-core graphics processor, a 5-megapixel camera and 10 hours of battery life.
Although the device is also designed to be LTE-compatible in the US, Australian customers will miss out because it will not work in the 1800MHz spectrum band where Telstra has deployed its LTE network. However, the device does allow for HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA connectivity on 3G networks, promising theoretical speeds of up to 42 megabits per second.
Vodafone's plans win out on cost, with larger data plans for a lower price. Contracts vary from 12 to 24 months, with monthly data allowances at 2GB, 6GB, 12GB, 14GB or 18GB. On a 24-month contract the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G iPad will set you back $47 per month with 2GB of data, while the high-end 64GB model on a 12-month plan with 18GB of data per month will cost $93 per month.
All plans come with Vodafone's new network guarantee, which means if Vodafone's network doesn't meet customer expectations, they can get out of their contract within 30 days of signing.
Telstra is only offering the new iPad on a 24-month plan with monthly data allocations of 1GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. Prices range from $48 for the 16GB iPad with 1GB of data per month and up to $107 for the 64GB iPad with 16GB per month.
Telstra has also announced business packages for the new Apple tablet; however, unlike the retail prices, business customers will face an upfront fee for the device in most cases, and will have to pay a monthly mobile repayment option (MRO).
This afternoon, Optus also jumped in with its prices (pictured below), starting at $19 per month for 500MB, and $19 per month in MRO for the 16GB device. Prices go up to $79 per month for the 64GB device, with 16GB of data per month with no MRO.
Business customers also get a range of options with Optus, starting at $19.95 per month, and a $26 MRO for the 16GB model with 2GB per month. These prices go up to $49.95 per month, with a $20 MRO for the 64GB model, with 10GB of monthly data.
(Credit: Optus)
Stock of the device may be limited; Apple has already extended the date it expects to be able to deliver the devices to new buyers by two to three weeks.
Telstra will host a midnight launch of the device at its George St, Sydney, and Bourke St, Melbourne, stores, while Vodafone and Optus have said that they have no intention of doing so.
Updated at 2.39pm, 15 March 2012: Optus pricing added.