UK Carriers Launch Subsidized iPad Sales With Two-Year Data Contracts

[MacRumors]

Last month, we noted that UK carrier Orange was preparing to roll out subsidized iPad pricing for those customers willing to sign up for data contracts for the device. paidContent:UK now reports that Orange, Three and T-Mobile have all rolled out the subsidized sales today, offering the 16 GB Wi-Fi + 3G iPad model for £199 with a two-year data contract in the range of £25 per month. Orange and Three are also offering subsidized 32 GB and 64 GB models at £249 and £349 respectively.

While the device pricing is the same across the three carriers and a significant discount from the standalone prices of £529/£599/£699, the data plans offered by the carriers do differ in their features:

- For £25/month, Three offers it bundled with 15GB of data per month. WiFi is not included.

- Orange offers 1GB of data at peak times and 1GB of "quiet time" data (between midnight and 4pm) and 3GB of WiFi usage using BT (NYSE: BT) Openzone, at a price of £25 for current customers or £27 for new customers.

- Meanwhile, T-Mobile is also offering 1GB of data at peak times and 1GB at "quiet time" (which in their case is midnight to 10am) but no WiFi hotspot usage, also for the same price as Orange. T-Mobile's overage, however, is a bit more lenient in that the operator doesn't charge you but then reserve the right to restrict your bandwidth in future.

Customers who expect to maintain cellular data access for their iPads will likely find the new deals enticing, while those who plan to utilize 3G data only occasionally will likely prefer to purchase an unsubsidized iPad and purchase one of the many contract-free data packages offered by the carriers when necessary:

Article Link: UK Carriers Launch Subsidized iPad Sales With Two-Year Data Contracts

 

[macdude3394]

Its a great idea because then we have more options for data.

 

[Consultant]

Wow, that's funny.

The reverse world where US iPad has no subsidies and Europeans do. Either way it will probably help sales on those carriers.

 

[notjustjay]

Is that a daily rate for 500 mb PER DAY? That's an awful, awful lot of data.

 

[stridemat]

"quiet time" data (between midnight and 4pm)

Innuendo much?

Competition is good, will be interesting to see if the subsidized iPads take off.

 

[CrackedButter]

Only 3 has a good data plan. Surprised why the other networks even bother. Vodaphone is a total rip off, there is no added value so why over charge so much?

 

[aprofetto8]

Is that a daily rate for 500 mb PER DAY? That's an awful, awful lot of data.

I just saw that. It must be per month based on price.

But imagine that... 500 MB per day for $2 a month? How sweet it is.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Only 24 month contracts? No thanks.

 

[SDub90]

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I'm assuming it's 500mb/day and you pay per day of usage.

 

[Mirai 11]

3 may have a good plan, but trust me from someone living in England, its signal is awful, worse than AT&T's.
the best one I'd say is O2 for signal, followed by Orange.

 

[WildCowboy]

Is that a daily rate for 500 mb PER DAY? That's an awful, awful lot of data.

I just saw that. It must be per month based on price.

But imagine that... 500 MB per day for $2 a month? How sweet it is.

It's a one-day access pass. A pretty good deal for those who just want to hop on once in a long while.

 

[NightFox]

I just saw that. It must be per month based on price.

But imagine that... 500 MB per day for $2 a month? How sweet it is.

No, it's for people who just want to pay for a single day's usage; £2 for 24 hours with a 500MB cap. Useful if you're occasionally away from home for maybe just a couple of days in the month.

 

[Small White Car]

Many of these seem like excellent deals.

 

[57004]

Does that mean that those iPads are simlocked now?

Or are they still simfree because they get their money back anyway through the minimum contract term?

Edit: I've heard that Apple is doing simlocked iPads in Japan now, that's why I'm wondering if that's being extended to the UK.

 

[Duncan-UK]

3 may have a good plan, but trust me from someone living in England, its signal is awful, worse than AT&T's.
the best one I'd say is O2 for signal, followed by Orange.

Well I live in England and for me the opposite is true. I'm on the £7.50 a month tarriff with 3 for the iPad and the reception I get is far superior to that of my o2 iPhone 3G

 

[SiPat]

3 may have a good plan, but trust me from someone living in England, its signal is awful, worse than AT&T's.
the best one I'd say is O2 for signal, followed by Orange.

Where I live (East Midlands) O2 signal is downright crap or non-existent, Orange is much better but a bit slow, and 3 is the best. I've never had anything less than 5-bars in most places and never less than 3 bars. Also, at £15 for 10GB per month, it beats Orange by £120 a year.

My iPhone is on Orange...
My iPad is on 3

 

[gnasher729]

I just saw that. It must be per month based on price.

But imagine that... 500 MB per day for $2 a month? How sweet it is.

No, that is £2 for 24 hours using up to 500 MB. Which is of course excellent if you use the iPad mostly at home and at work, and need 3G connection on rare days. If you need it once a month, it is £2. If you need it for three days, it is £6. And so on.

 

[QuarterSwede]

No, it's for people who just want to pay for a single day's usage; £2 for 24 hours with a 500MB cap. Useful if you're occasionally away from home for maybe just a couple of days in the month.

I don't think it's subsidized on that though.

 

[borisiii]

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That's correct - in part. Apparently the 500MB was just a promotion because some time in October it went down to 200MB.

 

[RichTF]

3 may have a good plan, but trust me from someone living in England, its signal is awful, worse than AT&T's.
the best one I'd say is O2 for signal, followed by Orange.

Nah, 3 have upped their game, it depends where you are.

I switched from O2 to 3 recently and I'm much happier. I travel daily between West London and Reading, and both O2 and 3 drop signal in the very rural bits. However, when 3 says I've got 3G signal, it works. With O2, I kept getting frustrated by having full 3G bars but no actual data. Overloaded network maybe?

Edit: Also in their favour, 3 is the only UK operator that doesn't behave like a dinosaur and try and tell you what you're allowed to do with your ones and zeros. Might switch my iPhone to 3 too...

 

[reckless2k2]

10GB per month is like $25 USD converted? Am I reading that right?

!!!!! I was I had that plan in the US. Well I do have unlimited.

 

[vincenz]

At least you UK people have a lot of choices when it comes to data.

 

[notjustjay]

No, that is £2 for 24 hours using up to 500 MB. Which is of course excellent if you use the iPad mostly at home and at work, and need 3G connection on rare days. If you need it once a month, it is £2. If you need it for three days, it is £6. And so on.

That's still really good, if you needed that much data (for a short time period).

I'm paying $20/month for 500 meg.

 

[WeegieMac]

A two year contract is madness.

Anyone who takes out one of those deals with the new iPad being unveiled is being ripped off.

The £199 price point will entice a lot of people though, especially over Christmas.

 

[Swift]

Interesting

I note that our British brethren have their choice of networks, and they're free to choose which one they go with based on price and strength of signal in their area.

Americans have to start with choosing a proprietary protocol, then finding that they have little choice beyond that. Ecrasez l'infame CDMA!