High Speed Internet Access (HSIA): Mobile Internet

Telstra and Optus have both released aggressive data plans for the Apple iPad. Compared with the cost of data for mobile phone plans the iPad plans are roughly half the price. For example 2GB of data costs $20 for the iPad. In comparison, Telstra offer 1GB of data for $39 on a mobile phone plan.

This is obviously good news for consumers and may spark further price wars for data mobile data downloads. Vodafone and 3 Mobile will be revealing their iPad Internet plans shortly.

The iPad can’t be use to make calls so the plans only have a data component, no voice component. Additionally the iPad SIM card cannot be used in other devices so consumers signing up for an iPad product will be counted as new subscribers rather than existing customers. Gartner research director Robin Simpson offered this as one explanation for the very aggressive pricing of which he said he was surprised and mystified.

With the competitive plans the iPad is cheaper to use than the smallest iPhone. The iPad can be bought unlocked from mobicity for $879.

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