Telstra iPad 2 vs Optus iPad 2 vs Vodafone iPad 2 vs Virgin Mobile iPad 2 Data Plans Prices
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile data plans are really competitive to reach the Tablet consumer market in Australia. Mostly in Australia a lot of people buy Apple products comparing to other products. But this time, the real competitors for Apple iPad 2 would be Blackberry Playbook as well as Android Tablets by Samsung, LG and HTC. Users can’t place voice calls from Tablets except Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Coverage wise Telstra has considerable good coverage across Australia and recently announced their plans to be ready with 4G LTE in later this year. If you have the good network only you will use and feel the features and functionality from iPad or any tablet. If you are going to use iPad 2 only for built in entertainment and reading downloaded books, better to buy iPad 2 Wi-Fi model for lower price. Other alternative is to buy a Prepaid Wi-Fi model from Telstra and use it as and when required.
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin use 3G-UMTS in Australia and Virgin Mobile is a subsidiary of Optus and mostly uses Optus networks only. Telstra CEO recently announced in MWC 2011 their plans to rollout 4G later this year.
iPad 2 Performance and Features
iPad 2 tablet is a wonderful computing and entertainment gadget released by Apple in early March 2011. iPad 2 has excellent multitasking feature with the support of 1GHz dual core high performance A5 application processor and revamped OS iOS 4.3.
iPad 2 is amazingly slim and light, it’s just 8.8 mm thin and weighs 1.33 pounds, that is 33% thinner and 15% lighter than first generation iPad. The new A5 processor’s clock speed is twice faster than A4 and 9 times better on graphics while the power consumption remains same.
iPad 2 has added some new features like camera with gyro and a new software PhotoBooth, 720p video camcorder, front facing camera with FaceTime for video conferencing, RAM increased to 512 MB, and two applications introduced – improved iMovie and GarageBand that makes iPad as a small musical instrument, each priced at $4.99. The device is HDMI capable up to 1080p video play, you can connect to HDTV via Apple Digital AV adapter.
iPad 2 is available in black and white colors and Apple introduces a new bendable magnetic case for iPad 2, named as Smart Cover.
There is no contract for iPad, you can opt for monthly data plan or else can buy the prepaid SIM. You can activate or cancel the plan anytime.
| iPad 2 Data Plan, Price | ||||||
| Pre-Paid |
Recharge |
BYO Monthly | ||||
| |
SIM | Data | Price | Data | Price | Data |
| Telstra | $30 | 3GB | $20 | 1GB (30day) | – | – |
| $30 | 3GB (30day) | – | – | |||
| $60 | 6GB (30day) | – | – | |||
| $80 | 9GB (30day) | – | – | |||
| $100 | 12GB (30day) | – | – | |||
| $150 | 12GB (365day) | – | – | |||
| Optus | $30 | 3GB (30day) | $15 | 300MB (15day | $20 | 2GB |
| $0 | 500MB (20day) | $20 | 1GB (30day) | $30 | 4GB | |
| $30 | 4GB (30day) | $60 | 8GB | |||
| $40 | 5GB (60day) | |||||
| $50 | 6GB (60day) | |||||
| $70 | 7GB (3month) | |||||
| $80 | 8GB (6month) | |||||
| $100 | 10GB (6month) | |||||
| $130 | 15GB (365day) | |||||
| Vodafone | $15 | 1.5GB (30day) | $9.95 | 250MB (30day) | $15 | 1.5GB |
| $14.95 | 1GB (30day) | $29 | 4GB | |||
| $29.95 | 4GB (30day) | $39 | 8GB | |||
| $49 | 10GB (30day) | $49 | 10GB | |||
| $100 | 6GB (6month) | |||||
| $150 | 12GB (365day) | |||||
| 3 | Free | $15 | 500MB+1GB*(30day) | $15 | 1GB | |
| $29 | 2GB+2GB*(30day) | $29 | 3GB | |||
| $49 | 4GB+2GB*(30day) | |||||
| $149 | 12GB (365day) | |||||
| Virgin Mobile | ||||||
* – Bonus data. 3 offers bonus data each time customers recharge. Bonus data will be credited to an account and available for use within 48 hours of a recharge.
Vodafone and 3 iPad 2 data plan: If you recharge before the end of the credit expiry period, you are allowed to roll over any unused data to the next month, provided the maximum balance does not exceed 14GB.
All data plans above are available without a contract, but have fixed expiry dates.
(Note: Vodafone accrued Three and the new name is VHA – Vodafone Hutch Australia but product branding would be Vodafone)