iPad pricing comparison - which network will you choose?

by Rob Clymo
on Wed 12 May 2010 1 Comment

All networks have now released pricing for UK iPads

Apple's iPad is due to launch in the UK on May 28, and three of the UK's mobile broadband providers have announced that they have tariffs for the device. Which means that would-be iPad owners now have a choice of three providers to get online with their new toy - so which represents the best value?

Orange was first out with iPad tariff information, announcing prices starting from £2 for a day's mobile broadband, with packages going right up to £25 per month for a wopping 10GB of data usage and 750MB of Wi-Fi.

Next up O2 announced its deals, again starting from £2 for a day's worth of mobile broadband (500MB), but this time only going up as far as £15 per month for 3GB. However, O2's tariffs all come with unlimited access to BT Openzone and The Cloud Wi-Fi hotspots - making it a good bet for the Wi-Fi user.

And last to the table was Vodafone, which seems to be largely unable to make up its mind what it wants to offer, mainly because its pricing was too high in comparison to its competitors. Initially there was a 250MB allowance for £10, which it then updated to match O2's 1GB allowance for the same price. Then there was a £25 per month 5GB option, which obviously didn't look too attractive set next to Orange's £25 per month 10GB deal; so now that's been updated to an 'unlimited' data allowance for £25, but don't get too excited because there's still a 5GB limit on it.

So which deal is the best? Well, it depends a lot on how you want to use your iPad, when you get it. None of the providers are asking for a long-term commitment  - all the monthly contracts can be cancelled at the end of the month provided you give 24 hours notice; so it's really down to pricing. O2 allows genuinely unlimited use of 7500 Openzone and Cloud hotspots across the country, without even a fair usage policy, so if you're a regular Wi-Fi user, that's the one for you. However the company does not offer large data allowances for the keen 3G user - the most you can have is 3GB per month. On the other hand, if you're a big 3G user, and not so often on Wi-Fi, then Orange is the logical choice, with a 10GB heavy user package offset by the relatively stingy 750MB Wi-Fi usage cap.

And as for Vodafone, at the moment it's not really clear what would set their tariffs apart or make anyone want to choose them, but who knows, there could be more adjustments in store.

 

Originally published on www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk, now incorporated into Broadband Genie

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Comments

  • neutral

    by Mr Oded Fehr at 21:19 on 12 May 2010Report abuse

    I found it to be a pointless device, has no usb ports or memory card slots so instantly my 10 year old Pentium 3 Fujitsu Stylistic LT P600 has an advantage over it, can't see the point of it as to be honist its a giant iTouch, its not pocket size so you won't be taking it out with you like an iTouch / iPhone so its limmeted use is for home really, businesses will find it hard to integrate with their existing systems as it has no usb memory card etc, I think Apple did it to show they could but there are better and more functional devics out there that allow for upgrading and external device connections, was all excited in the USA on my way home off holiday when I bought it to find it does nothing better, I was a little dissapointed as any current "true" tablet device is far more usefull, I am not one for all these for want of a better word "crap apps" the iPad / iPhone and iTouch have but maybe its just me, I mean a spirit level app you need a real spirit level to calibrate the darn thing so why not use a real one ???? I am anti Microsoft and decided to give Apple a go but to be honist after owning one I can't see what all the fuss is about over the iPhone and iPad does anyone actaully use to its full potential ? I doubt it also the iPhone 3GS 32Gb I had went wrong 7 times in 3 months (white screen, blank screen, PC would not find it etc over and over again) so ended up going back to my Nokia N95 8Gb,and my iPod clasic was forever going wrong, maybe I'm slightly biased by the constant issues I have had with Apple producst, I can really only say 2 good thing, 1 actual touch screen and 2 is the LCD panel / screen these are simply stunning but to me that's not worth spending the money on, I have now sold my iPad on the well known auction site, fortunataly I got more than I paid for it so was quite happy with that so to sum it up i don't hate it but I don't love it, just could not warrant spending on a device I my use one or twice a week, maybe other people will have more uses for it than I had ??

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