Apple iPad price plans released for 3 network

Fourth operator jumps on 3G bandwagon ahead of iPad's UK launch

Mobile operator 3 has announced price plans for Apple's 3G iPad tablet, which goes on sale in the UK this Friday.

The web, email and app tablet comes in two versions: wi-fi only, or wi-fi-plus 3G. The latter requires a micro SIM card and mobile access in order to get online when out of range of a wi-fi router or hotspot.

3 has two monthly tariffs for iPad users: either £7.50 for 1GB of data per month, or £15 for 10GB. As with other UK iPad price plans, there is no minimum contract length with users able to come and go on a month-by-month basis.

3 is the fourth operator to enter the iPad arena - Orange, O2 and Vodafone have already announced price plans for the device - including daily and weekly rates for iPad use. Click here to read more on Orange's iPad price plans, and here for more details on O2's or Vodafone's iPad price plans.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives the world its first glimpse of the iPad earlier this year
(Photo credit: James Martin/CNET)

In other iPad news, The Times has reported that Apple has signed a deal with DSGi to stock the device at 139 Currys and PC World stores exclusively for two months from launch, after which rival retailers will presumably look to grab a slice of iPad pie.

A spokesman for DSGi confirmed the retailers will be stocking the device.

The iPad is currently available for pre-order on the Apple website but the shipping date is listed as June - suggesting there may be some delay for customers seeking to buy an iPad online.