In one of the least surprising announcements of the year, EE has announced that it will be selling the iPad Mini and iPad 4 with a range of 4G data plans – the only network able to do so.
EE boasts speeds typically five times faster than 3G’s 1.5mbps (and above the UK’s average ADSL speed of 8mbps) – of between 8-12mbps (see What Mobile’s 4G feature in our January issue).
Orange and T-Mobile will also offer these new iPads on fast HSPA+ and DC-HSPA (3.5G) networks.
The new plans
24 month Mini iPad 4
3Gb – £25.99 £149.99 £249.99
5Gb – £30.99 £99.99 £199.99
8Gb – £35.99 £49.99 £149.99
30 day Mini iPad 4
3Gb – £15.99 £339.99 £449.99
5Gb – £20.99 £339.99 £449.99
8Gb – £25.99 £339.99 £449.99
EE is also offering a Christmas special, a 30 day 3Gb plan with the first month free (if ordered before 23rd December). Effectively this means that customers can try 4G, free. If they have a device already, then it’s effectively a SIM only plan; if they want to buy the iPads from EE, it’s discounted versus retail from Apple.
“We’re delighted to be launching the 4G iPad mini and iPad with Retina display,” said Pippa Dunn, Chief Marketing Officer, EE.
“To celebrate the launch on the UK’s only 4G network we will be offering customers the chance to try 4G free for a month on our EE £15.99 30 day SIM Only Plan, which comes with 5GB of data and Wi-Fi.”
Users who have already bought iPads on SIM plans (i.e. through Orange or T-Mobile) will be able to upgrade also. Those that have SIM only plans will be able to purchase personal wi-fi hotspots, which retail from £49.99 (device costs) with a 1GB plan (£12.99 per month) for 24 months.
4GEE is available in 14 UK cities today – London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Southampton, Derby, Nottingham and Newcastle. EE is aiming for 98% of the UK population to be covered by the end of 2014.
