Which UK Operator will get the Apple iPad?
A couple of months back, Orange Mobile UK announced that it would also be offering the Apple iPhone. This was after O2 Mobile’s exclusive hold on the Apple handset ended last October. At that time, many speculated that Orange’s entry into the Apple market, as well as Tesco’s and Vodafone’s involvements would create a new time of prosperity to would-be iPhone buyer through a price war.
The price war never happened, but Vodafone got closer to the hearts of many iPhone users with their fully upgraded and enhanced 3G network. In the first week of Vodafone’s iPhone sales this January, they sold over one hundred thousand units (about five times the number of Nexus One phones sold).
Now, Apple has just announced that its’ tablet will come in 3G and non-3G variants. Obviously, a lot of interest will be placed on the 3G version, as it would enable to the device to use other means of connecting to the internet without relying on nearby wireless LAN.
Vodafone right now seems like a prime contender –the network operator currently boasts to have the most extensive, stable and fastest 3G service available; and from the iPhone’s performance, we are inclined to believe that.
Even retailers are getting on with the talks with Apple. According to reports, Carphone Warehouse is very interested in retailing the device; chief executive Andrew Harrison has stated that he considers the iPad to be a very customer-centric device.
Subsidizing the iPad is a very important step for Apple. The iPad does not use the average SIM cards used in mobile phones; instead, it uses smaller micro-SIM cards; this means having to encourage users to invest in yet another SIM card is in order.
For more details about the Apple iPad and UK mobile network operators, go to the Guardian UK.
Tags: Apple-iPad
