Apple has posted data plans from each carrier on its site. AT&T will charge US$14.99 for 250MB a month, $30 for 3GB per month and $50 for 5GB. Verizon is charging $20 a month for 1GB, $30 for 2GB and $50 for 5GB.
Verizon will also offer hotspot functionality on the iPad for $20 per month. AT&T plans to support the feature, but won't have it enabled at launch.
The iPad is different from the iPhone in that the user buys the device outright, not on a two-year contract, so iPad users can decide to buy into the monthly plans, or not.
Why this matters These are the same plans that the carriers offer for the iPad 2 but the 4G device is capable of viewing HD movies and more, and it's likely to use more data traffic than its predecessor. Right now, streaming a movie in standard definition over Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) results in data usage of around 1GB an hour. If you want to view in HD, that number will get higher. (See Balancing Faster 4G Data & Tighter Caps.)
For more Check out our coverage of the latest iPad launch:
- OS Watch: Apple iPhone Updates Photos, Not 4G
- New iPad Can Be Speedy Without 4G
- Euronews: Limited Release for New iPad
- Sprint Could Support 4G iPad (But Doesn't Yet)
- Apple Intros First 4G LTE iPad
- LTE Not a Selling Point for Apple's New iPad
- Apple iPad: 4G or Not 4G?
— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile
Really isn't much to chose between these plans is there?