As you might already know, iPad Wi-Fi+3G customers will have the option to opt for either $14.99 per month for 250 MB or $29.99 for unlimited contract free data plans.
Though iPad Wi-Fi+3G models will be available only towards the end of April, Apple has released details on how customers can manage their 3G data usage on the tablet.
According to the iPad 3G page, iPad users will be able to sign up for AT&T’s 3G data service from the iPad itself. They won’t need to visit a store or call customer service. Users can also sign up for a data plan in monthly increments and can cancel the plan at any time and then sign up again whenever they need 3G service.
iPad customers will also be able to monitor data usage on the iPad via the Settings app.
iPad will even let you know when you’re about to reach your 250MB data limit. You’ll get three alerts — at 20 percent, 10 percent, and zero. With each alert, you can choose to add more data or wait and do it later. Tap Now and iPad opens the Cellular Data Plan window so you can update your data plan.
This would be quite useful in managing iPad's 3G data plans and also allow users to to change plans or cancel service automatically at the end of any billing period.
I think the ability to sign up for the data plans from the iPad and the option to purchase data service in monthly increments might convince customers to go for iPad Wi-Fi+3G rather than iPad Wi-Fi only so that they always have an option to opt for 3G data service in case they ever need it in the future.
AT&T's 3G service plans for the iPad also provide users with access to over 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots as an added bonus.
What do you think?
[via Apple]
