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Reports in The Times have suggested that Orange is the first UK operator to begin talks with Apple about hosting the newly-unveiled iPad on its network.
However, it is likely that other operators including O2 and Vodafone will be talking to Cupertino at some stage, given that all three networks now offer the iPhone in the UK.
All three operators, and potentially other providers such as 3, will no doubt be keen to win the PR war and be the first to announce the device on their networks, given the undoubted frenzy there will be for the device when it becomes available.
While AT&T has been confirmed in the US as the first network operator to carry the device, news on the UK carrier for the device remains speculative at best and an Apple spokeswoman was unable to offer any comment on network negotiations.
T-Mobile and Vodafone declined to provide any comment on the matter as well while we were still waiting to hear back from Orange at time of writing. The UK's current market leader O2 said, "The iPad is an exciting device but we have nothing to announce at this time."
However, Apple's spokeswoman confirmed that the device would be available worldwide from March after Apple yesterday said that the Wi-Fi enabled version of the iPad would be available in 60 days and the 3G version in ninety days.
Based on some calendar calculations this would place the launch date of the Wi-Fi iPad around 30 March and the 3G version around 30 April.
Apple refused to release info on pre-order dates or UK pricing for the iPad, but if they match the US prices confirmed yesterday we could see the device retail between £307 and £510.
28 Jan 2010
