Verizon crushes AT&T on iPad entry-level data rates

You guys are being totally ripped off. On Three here in the UK the choice is between a 1GB plan for £7.50($12) or 10GB for £15 ($24). Vodaphone offers the cheapest available plan for 250MB at £3 ($4.85).

Here's my plan...

Jailbreak.

MyWi.

Some extra battery thingers for my iPhone.

Generally being able to stay plugged in at any given point.

Use my current 6 gig plan on my iPhone at no additional cost.

Done and done.

That saves me, if I was to purchase a data plan on my iPad AND have to pay extra to get the 3g model, $300ish/year.

That's my preference. I understand it might not work for everyone, but chances are whatever phone you have, you can share your data plan and save yourself a big chunk of money, as long as you're willing to deal with some inconvenience.

And if you're on Verizon, though - that's another story. No data + voice makes it much less functional.

I'm completely happy with Verizon's service on my iPhone (and all phones I had before it), but if I buy a 3G iPad, I'll buy the "AT&T" model, simply for travel ability.

Two important points to consider:
1. If you can't get an A T & T signal when you use it most, it doesn't matter how much it costs.

2. If A T & T does support your signal needs then you get twice as much speed from A T & T than you get from Verizon.

My choice for sure will be A T & T.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion. By your logic AT&T's 2GB for $25 crushes Verizon 3GB for $35 and 1GB for $20.......... Did you actually read your chart before you wrote this??

If you plan to use the device mostly on WiFi, only turning the 3G data on for a month here and there when you travel, then Verizon MIGHT be actually a completely raw deal.

Word is that activation of the iPad 2 is going to work just like the Xoom. Meaning, there is a $35 activation fee anytime you turn data on. Apparently on the Xoom, you can "suspend" your 3G service and then turn it back on later and not have to re-pay the activation fee, but you can only do this once per year, and the "suspension" can't last more than 6 months.

So, if you are the type of person who might want to only use 3G data a couple of times per year (once in the summer for vacation and once at the holidays), you'd end up having to pay the $35 fee at least once and probably twice.

That makes Verizon's plans WAY more expensive for a la carte users.

TUAW, stop being annoying!

Can we refrain from hyperbolizing article titles unless the event really deserving of it? It's important information yes, but this was such a non-event! There definitely was no "Crushing" involved. Are you afraid we won't read if you don't resort to using shock & awe techniques? Your readers are better than that.

btw - VZ's $30 plan is 2x more expensive than the $15 ATT plan.... does not seem like interchangeable alternatives to me. IMHO, AT&T's $15 is not even a real option because it's too easy to go over 250mb on the media centric iPad. Instead, focus on the fact that if you cannot afford $20-$25/mo for mobile data.... you shouldn't even bother. The real fight is at the $20-$30 price points.

An important detail is omitted here. Verizon will charge a $35 activation fee when you first sign up, and when you drop coverage and come back. AT&T activation fee? $0. Decision made.

This is insane. There is no reason AT&T and verizon need to charge that much other than pure greed.

I will continue to use my unlimited data plan on my iPhone and tether my iPad to it via jailbreak until such time that these companies change their rates.....which I doubt they will

One thing that I don't see taken into account in any of these articles or posts is the resale value. I have always been able to resell my AT&T iPhones for what I paid for them originally because they are able to be used overseas. I would imagine that the Verizon iphone and Verizon iPad 2 will not be worth as much when it comes time to sell them as the market for them is a lot smaller. Something to consider and another reason why I will be buying the AT&T iPad 2.