Apple, Verizon, and AT&T have announced that the iPad will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless stores nationwide and 2,200 AT&T retail locations. They will go on sale next Thursday, October 28th. While both carriers will offer the iPad, the options will be slightly different. Verizon will offer a bundle including a WiFi-capable iPad and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. AT&T will offer 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad, including Apple’s easy on-device activation and management. AT&T is offering all iPad data plans with no contract and including unlimited access to AT&T’s 23,000+ domestic Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
Verizon Chief Operating Officer John Stratton says this is “the perfect pairing for holiday travels” and says that “the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network” will make it easy for customers to “connect on the go wherever they are.”
Glenn Laurie, AT&T’s President of Emerging Devices, Resale and Partnerships, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, says that they “can’t wait to showcase the amazing features of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G in our stores across the country.” Glenn goes on to say that AT&T’s “breakthrough iPad data plans starting at just $14.99″ offer the best of both worlds combined with “access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the country at no extra cost.” Definitely a compelling argument.
Apple COO Tim Cook offers similar responses on both fronts, basically saying that Apple is happy to get the iPad into more stores in time for the holiday season. They “look forward to expanding the reach of the iPad” and “to get iPad into the hands of even more customers.” They are happy to offer iPad Wi-Fi +3G at AT&T Stores, while also offering Verizon Wireless customers an “easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”
One important point to note here is that, while AT&T is offering a 3G model, Verizon is only offering the iPad Wi-Fi. AT&T will offer iPads at the suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. The $14.99 per month data plans include 250MB and $25 per month plans offer 2GB with no term contract.
Verizon will also follow the suggested retail pricing, but is throwing in a MiFi Mobile Hotspot. iPad customers can get 1GB of data for just $20 a month. Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.
This comes just after the announcement that Walmart will begin selling the iPad this Friday. Target has sold iPads for a few weeks now. Other tablet makers are also rushing to get their devices into stores for the holidays, but it might be hard to compete when Apple’s iPad is so well-known and now available just about everywhere.
via Apple, Business Wire