Telstra, Optus won't sell the iPad

The nation's biggest telcos Telstra and Optus have confirmed they won't directly sell the Apple iPad when it launches in Australia on 28 May, but will offer mobile broadband plans designed specifically for Apple's iconic tablet device.

Telstra will offer a prepaid SIM card specifically for the iPad for $30, which will include 1GB of data, with a further bonus of 2GB of data for customers that activate their Telstra iPad SIM by 30 June. The company noted the iPad could operate on the same 850MHz band as Telstra's Next G network.

Telstra plans

Telstra plans(Screenshot of the Telstra email by Renai Lemay)

"Telstra's pricing for iPad 3G gives customers control and flexibility to access the internet on the go while connected to the Telstra Next G network," said Ross Fielding, executive director, Telstra Mobility Products. "Telstra is providing Australians the ability to enjoy 3G on iPad in more places than on any other network."

Optus this afternoon confirmed that it also wouldn't directly sell the iPad, but will offer a number of pre- and post-paid 3G mobile plans.

Optus plans

Optus plans(Screenshot of the Optus email by Renai Lemay)

The company has not yet released any further details or terms and conditions of the plans, but it said it would provide further information on the plans "soon".

Late on Friday night, Apple revealed it would start taking online Australian iPad pre-orders tomorrow (Monday, 10 May) in preparation for its Australian launch day of 28 May.

Apple said on Friday that the iPad models with Wi-Fi access will sell in Australia for a recommended retail price including GST of $629, $759 and $879 for the models with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage space respectively. The 3G models will go for $799, $928 and $1049 for the models with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage space respectively.

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TLT posted a comment   

This story is a bit silly- Why just mention Optus and Telstra? NO TELCO in Australia can sell the I-Pad as APPLE wont let them. Apple are making these rules....

 

NickBoy98Inc. posted a comment   

this is bull crap these americans are stuck with at&t which is the crappy default provider (our telsta equivalent), but i'd rather be stuck with the a/holes @ telstra and get unlimited data for 30 bucks instead of paying 100 bucks for 12 gigs

 

spg55 posted a comment   

I agree. The price gouging that happens in Australia is a joke. We, as, customers are getting bent over, HARD!!!
Telstra broadband, 50gb for $110 a month. WTF?!?!?

 

telcohater posted a comment   

@Sam, yes, we live in a big country with few people but the fact that the Telcos can discount data to one tenth of the price overnight just shows how much they are abusing their ability to deceive the public. Everybody understands the economies of scale principle, so why don't the telcos increase the scale by offering unlimited data and encouraging greater uptake of 3G iPads Vs WIFI only iPads? ANSWER = GREED.

@walt, one customer getting billed multiple times for their data. Yes, what a disgrace, you can only absorb so much content regardless of how it arrives, but the mongrels use the fact that we are isolated from the rest of the world to brainwash us into believing this is fair treatment. Most of my colleagues overseas can't believe we let the telcos get away with this criminal gouging behaviour.

Sad thing is that the Rudd government don't seem to have the guts to deal with this issue and the Libs, especially under Abbott will probably help the telcos to gouge even more profits to benefit shareholders.

Oh, and I bet they will block skype use over 3G, meaning 1). we are already paying for our mobile accounts, 2). we will be paying for 3G again on the iPad, 3). ADSL service and exchange upgrade, 4). landline connection for home broadband...

How many times can these telco behemoths rape and plunder the populace for the same thing? As many times as they can invent a way to compartmentalise DATA.

 

Sam posted a comment   

Unfortunatly because of the size of Australia and the cost involved in hiring people to upkeep/maintain all the required infrastructure (and the cost of the infrastructure itself) that goes with running a telecomunications company the cost must be higher than in smaller countries with denser populations. Strange, but true!?

 

Gregaruss posted a reply   

Unfortunatly, you are not entirely right as your rationale is based on the premice that services are availible 'nation wide'. This is not the case and a significant proportion of the population live in urban/metropolitan areas that are very comparible to other countries (e.g. the US).

It is widely acknoeledged that Australia has exceptionally high telecommunications costs (not just mobile) and this is mainly attributed to the oligopoly heald by Telstra, and its agressive marketing to force incorrect premices like the one you have provided.

 

dod posted a reply   

Telco coverage may be concentrated but you still have to backhaul the traffic across the country and between capitals. You also have to measure population against price.

 

dod posted a reply   

Telco coverage may be concentrated but you still have to backhaul the traffic across the country and between capitals. You also have to measure population against price.

 

Jimmy posted a comment   

Data in Australia has (and probably will) always be a rip off. If you talk to people in most other countries about data cost and plans they wont even understand having a data limit, and the thought that you might pay as much as $100 for 100GB confuses them no end! Yes mobile data is a bigger rip off than fixed line data, but even the best fixed line data rates available in Australia are a disgrace.

 

BW posted a comment   

there are other options. just downsize your SIM card.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/trim_your_sim_ftw.html

 

walt posted a comment   

@TD of course just a further scam on data pricing. For one thing whay do I have to pay $30 for $300mb on Telstra for my iPhone but suddenly it is 10 times cheaper on an iPad. Shows the gouging all right! For another, although they bill me as a customer with multiple devices they still make us pay for broadband for every device to have a data connection. It's pure rip-off, the same as if your ISP asked you to pay for a new subscription for every computer you have connected to their network under your account number. Telco's have their heads in the sands, it's a pity Rudd is on the nose as we really need some better competition in this area.


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