Not telling
Shortest and most vague press-release ever? Maybe. Vodafone have announced today that they will be launching iPad-specific data plans, but don’t actually spill the beans on any specifics. Hit the ‘read now’ for the ‘full’ press release that contains only marginally more information than our headline.
Posted Today, 11:06 AM
Vodafone NZ today announced that it will offer dedicated iPad price plans for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G in the coming weeks. iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. For more information about iPad please visit www.apple.com/ipad/
So… there’s not a lot to actually get excited about here, and I was hoping that today’s announcement might actually be about the iPhone 4 but, hey! Any news about Apple gear in NZ is good news, right?
Yes looks like data plans are going to be the next battleground. Vodafone like any carrier will have to weigh up the impact of what these plans will be doing to their existing mobile broadband market which (looking at Vodafone Australia) the rates for on account vs prepaid iPad data plans are only a few dollars apart therefore having no real incentive to go on account other than a free vodem.
Yes these plans are for different devices, (ipad vs mobile broadband) but do the same thing and it would not take long for customers to question why the current on account data pricing is higher than prepaid for a single device (should VFNZ adopt the same pricing as VFAUS).
I don't know if the mobile data on account pricing was different in Australia before the iPad plans but the cost to do this for VF and Telecom (should they wish to compete for the business) to provide similar here would cost money.
I'm wondering if it would be more likely that the iPad data plans are going to be closer to the on account data plans currently in place and recently increased data caps. We will see.
(Topes has made 66 comments)