Telstra and Optus revealed generous, pay-as-you-go internet plans for the Apple iPad this week that cut the price of mobile internet use by more than 90 per cent.

The announcements came before Apple began accepting pre-orders for the delayed and highly anticipated tablet computer yesterday.

Telstra’s iPad plans cut the price of mobile internet by as much as 92 per cent, while Optus bettered Telstra’s bid by offering twice the data allowance for the same price.

Under the iPad plans, 2GB of mobile downloads will cost as little as $20.

By comparison, Telstra currently offers a 1GB mobile phone internet pack for $39.

Also, both companies are offering iPad internet access on pay-as-you-go plans rather than in a 12 or 24-month contract.

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The price cuts mean using an Apple iPad (priced from $629 to $1049) will be cheaper than using the smaller Apple iPhone.

Gartner research director Robin Simpson said he was surprised and mystified at the “aggressive pricing” from both leading phone carriers, but said it could be an attempt to be associated with Apple and the iPad.

“There’s no doubt it will be another iconic device like the iPhone, so maybe the thinking is that they’d like to have their brand associated with such a successful product and it’s simply a marketing exercise,” Mr Simpson said.

“Also, because it’s a data-only product, and has no voice component, this will represent getting new subscribers that they can report to their shareholders.”

While users will not be able to use the smaller Apple iPad SIM cards in other gadgets, Mr Simpson said the discounted internet plans could trickle down for use with other gadgets such as phones and laptop connections.

“It should put some downward pressure on other mobile internet plans and it certainly represents a good deal if you’re in the market for a mobile internet plan,” he said.

An Optus spokeswoman said the company would reveal more details of its iPad data plans this week, and Vodafone Hutchison spokeswoman Tess Mion said Vodafone and 3 Mobile would reveal iPad internet plans “soon”.

Apple has sold more than a million iPads since its April 3 US launch and will launch wi-fi and 3G models of the touchscreen tablet computer in Australia on May 28.

Resource:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/ipad-could-spark-mobile-net-price-war/story-e6frfro0-1225864843995

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Apple plans to release the iPad 3G on April 30 to those who have preordered the device and shoppers who plan to pick one up at the company’s retail locations.

Now that a launch date has finally been confirmed, it’s time for consumers who have yet to order an iPad to consider which version of Apple’s tablet they really want.

Admittedly, it’s a difficult decision. Both devices have advantages and, depending on a how a consumer plans to use the tablet, opting for the cheaper WiFi-only version might be a good bet.

But for potential iPad owners who are still on the fence and can’t quite decide which version to pick up, we’re going to make it really easy for you: the iPad 3G.

As nice as the WiFi-only version of the iPad is, it will look like the hobbled cousin of the 3G version once that’s released next week.

Owners should be able to get much more out of the 3G version than the WiFi-only model. It might be more expensive, but the iPad 3G is the best bet both for consumers and for enterprise customers.

Here’s why:

It’s 3G

Let’s just get the obvious point out of the way: The iPad 3G allows users to connect to a high-speed Web connection wherever 3G networking from AT&T is available.

That’s important. Currently, owners of the WiFi-only iPad can only connect to the Web whenever they’re within range of a wireless hot spot.

That means no checking e-mail in the car or surfing the Web at a park. If nothing else, 3G connectivity provides users with options that the WiFi-only version doesn’t. That’s a major selling point for many consumers.

Look Toward The Future

Although Apple will support both versions of the iPad, the 3G model future-proofs consumers. What Apple and developers have planned for the iPad is unknown.

They could offer new features or interesting new applications that would accommodate owners of both versions of the tablet. But there’s a stronger possibility that as time goes on, Apple will only offer improvements to 3G owners.

It followed a similar strategy with the iPhone in an attempt to move consumers to the newest version of the mobile phone. What would stop it from doing the same thing with the iPad?

Productivity

If a consumer plans to use the iPad as more than just a Web-surfing tool, the 3G version is the best choice. As Apple has said time and again, it wants to make the iPad an alternative to current mobile computers, like netbooks or lightweight laptops. Users can type up documents, create spreadsheets and perform several other tasks.

But having the option of connecting to the Web wherever a 3G connection is available will increase the user’s productivity.

Sure, a WiFi-only model would be similar to using a desktop or a standard laptop, but 3G increases productivity beyond that.

You’re an Enterprise Customer

Although the iPad looks like a consumer-focused device, it has some uses for company employees. The device is readily mobile, its virtual keyboard works well enough to get work done and, thanks to 3G, employees can be online at any point in the day.

The corporate world will find a lot to gripe about when it comes to the iPad, but it might also like what it sees in some cases. If an enterprise customer is looking to use the iPad at work, the 3G version is the only option.

More App Possibilities

Part of the value of owning an iPad is the access to Apple’s App Store. Since the iPad comes without several apps users might want, the App Store quickly becomes the go-to place to find all the functionality that Apple doesn’t bundle with its device.

In many cases, that means needing a connection to the Web for the app to work as described. When a user is home, connecting to the Web via WiFi isn’t any trouble and using such apps is a cinch. But when away from WiFi, only a 3G connection will be able to keep the iPad as functional as a user wants.

More GPS Ability

Unlike the WiFi-only version of the iPad, the 3G model comes with full GPS functionality. As soon as a user boots up the iPad 3G and works on it away from a WiFi hot spot, GPS satellites will be able to pinpoint its location. The WiFi-only model, on the other hand, uses known WiFi hot spots to find a user’s location.

Although that’s better than nothing, it doesn’t truly pinpoint the exact spot at any given time for use with location-based apps. That might not be a deal breaker, but given the recent popularity of location-based services, more users than we think might want to have their exact locations broadcast to the rest of the world.

3G Coverage is Optional

The beauty of the iPad 3G is that users aren’t forced to enter into a contract when they buy the device. So, if users decide that 3G might be useful down the road, but for now they will be content with WiFi only, they can still buy an iPad 3G.

If or when they decide they want to connect to the Web via 3G, they need only pay $15 per month for up to 250MB of data or $30 per month for unlimited data. And they can cancel that service at any time. Not bad.

The WiFi-only Version Won’t be Supported For Long

If we consider Apple’s history with mobile products, it becomes clear that the underpowered, old models that it once offered are quickly phased out in favor of new, capable versions of the respective device.

Remember the iPhone 2G? Yeah, it’s history. And since multitasking will only make its way to the iPhone 3GS, it looks like Apple is trying to push users to the newer version of its mobile phone. Apple has a long history of doing that. The iPad won’t be any different.

The Time Factor

The iPad 3G has been in the cooker a month longer than the WiFi-only version of the tablet. That’s important. Lest we forget, the WiFi iPad suffered from connectivity issues that Apple is still attempting to address.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that the 3G model won’t suffer from those problems too, but given the fact that Apple has known about it for a month, it’s entirely possible that a fix has already been implemented in the 3G model.

The same can be said for any other quirks Apple might have found along the way. The WiFi-only iPad might be a robust offering, but the 3G version will likely be a little better.

This is Apple we’re talking about

If Microsoft was offering two versions of the same product, getting the hobbled model probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. That company has a long history of supporting products until it really shouldn’t. But Apple doesn’t.

Steve Jobs has made it clear with every product his company offers that the most expensive versions of that device will get preferential treatment over the cheaper versions. It makes sense.

Apple can make much more off the more expensive models. Plus, by only giving desired features to the more capable versions, Apple is softly prodding customers to move to the new product.

Apple doesn’t like less capable products. That will quickly become clear with the WiFi-only version of the iPad.

Resource:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/10-Reasons-to-Go-for-iPad-3G-Instead-of-WiFi-132985/

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Bluetooth is the less-capable, but still ubiquitous cousin of Wi-Fi. It is an open wireless technology standard used for transmitting data over short distances using short-length radio waves. It is the technology responsible for elevators full of business professionals with little device plugged into their ears appearing to talk to themselves, and the technology found in many vehicles to pair with mobile phones and provide hands-free communications.

Many wireless computer peripherals rely on Bluetooth as well. Wireless keyboards, mice, and headsets enable users to be comfortable and productive at the same time–untethered by oppressive cords getting tangled and restricting movement.

“Bluetooth v4.0 throws open the doors to a host of new markets for Bluetooth manufacturers and products such as watches, remote controls, and a variety of medical and in-home sensors. Many of these products run on button-cell batteries that must last for years versus hours and will also benefit from the longer range enabled by this new version of the Bluetooth specification,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG in a press release.

Bluetooth v4.0 is described by the Bluetooth SIG as a versatile combination of three different Bluetooth protocols–the classic Bluetooth we know and love, the low-energy Bluetooth, and the high-speed Bluetooth. The three faces of Bluetooth v4.0 can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

One of the defining characteristics of Bluetooth–especially compared with Wi-Fi–is the short range. Standard Bluetooth devices are generally restricted to about a 30 foot range in order to maintain the wireless connection. With Bluetooth v4.0, it’s possible to optimize the range of Bluetooth devices up to 200 feet or more.

Resource:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/194648/bluetooth_v40_enables_lowpower_highspeed_wireless_devices.html

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The move apparently comes after the ministry’s engineering staff could not agree on a means to test the iPad’s compatibility with Israel’s wireless networks.

“The iPad device sold exclusively today in the United States operates at broadcast power levels [over its WiFi modem] compatible with American standards,” according to statement published by the Monitor. “As the Israeli regulations in the area of WiFi are similar to European standards, which are different from American standards, which permit broadcasting at lower power, therefore the broadcast levels of the device prevent approving its use in Israel.”

One man had his iPad taken away and placed in a customs warehouse. He will have to apply to the Israeli government to have it shipped back to the U.S.

Apple announced yesterday that it has sold 500,000 of the tablets since its April 3 debut, but increased demand has prompted the company to delay international sales for one month, until the end of May.

Resource:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362697,00.asp

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In the coming months, we’ll see how exactly the iPad will impact the ‘gadget’ industry. Will it save publishing? Will it revolutionise gaming? Will it change lives? Will it kill laptops and netbooks?

Apple has priced the basic Wi-Fi-only version at $499. The highest-end 3G version goes up to $825. Pricing will play a significant role in whether the iPad gains widespread acceptance or remains a niche product that is reduced to being an expensive indulgence or a fanboy badge of honour. People respond to pricing based on perception-they will compare a product to what they consider alternatives in the same category. Since the iPad is technically creating a whole new category (at least according to Apple), consumers will start comparing it, to either other media players such as the iTouch, or netbooks and laptops. And herein lies the rub. Evaluated on its own as a standalone category, the iPad does seem like it’s reasonably priced. However, things get murkier when you start comparing it to media players or netbooks. Netbooks and laptops offer far greater functionality and much better value for money. Media players, notably Apple’s own iTouch, offer very acceptable experiences at much lower prices. And so, while many consumers will still buy the iPad simply for the quality of its experience, many will consider it and then opt for alternatives which, in their perception, offer better value for money.

However, the fact is that Apple are past-masters at manipulating perception, and convincing huge masses of people that the iPad is something they absolutely cannot do without shouldn’t be a major challenge. It is undeniable that they have delivered an impeccably engineered product that delivers an experience quite unlike any other. And all those complaints about the lack of features, functionality and the closed ecosystem really won’t matter, because the iPad user is looking for an experience, not functionality. Thanks to Apple’s flair for great design and supercharged brand management, it will only be a section of techies and sworn Apple-haters who will end up disappointed, and this is not something that will give Steve Jobs sleepless nights.

While the price of the device itself shouldn’t be a major worry, the price of content is going to play a more significant role. If the iPad is to seriously impact publishing and gaming, then it needs to offer a wide variety of affordable content. But a monthly subscription to the iPad version of the WSJ is $17.99, while an iPhone subscription to the same publication costs less than $10. Going by initial murmurings, books and games are also going to be costlier, on average, on the iPad than on other digital distribution platforms. How this impacts the acceptance of the device as a primary media consumption platform remains to be seen.

What Apple needs to watch closely, this time around, is the competition. While mobile handset manufacturers were caught napping by the iPhone’s revolutionary design, there is already talk of iPad-killing devices hitting markets soon. The iPhone had the advantage of completely upending the market because it changed the perception of what people want from a phone. With the iPad, Apple is the incumbent that is setting the standard-and the competition will look for ways to make their products ‘better than the iPad’. Since there really are no strong preconceived expectations from the consumer for the category, people will be more receptive to competing products this time around. In fact, lots of potential customers have already proclaimed that they are waiting for alternatives from companies such as HP, Asus and India’s own Notion Ink before they take a buying decision. It’s extremely likely that these products, with the benefit of hindsight, may offer comparable experiences with more flexible features and open standards that attack the iPad’s perceived weak areas. In the long-term game, Apple could find that how they respond to competition could make the difference between mainstream dominance and niche presence.

But hey, this is Apple. They have built up a fan following that borders on being a religion, based on their ‘less is more’ philosophy. They have shown that a lot of people value simplicity, aesthetics and quality of experience over features or flexibility or open standards. Will they prove it all over again with the iPad? I wouldn’t bet against it.

Resource:
Yahoo News

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On Thursday, Apple Inc. will unveil updates to the software that powers both devices. Although Apple has provided no details, iPhone owners and computer programmers who write applications for the popular smart phone are hoping the company will address their gripes about limits to such multitasking. The matter may escalate as people with iPads, which have larger screens, try to use them in place of more powerful computers.

The iPhone already allows for some multitasking, but that’s largely limited to Apple’s own programs. One of Apple’s recent commercials shows an iPhone user taking advantage of time spent on hold paying bills, checking e-mail, playing games and then switching back to calling.

But Apple has yet to give users ways to seamlessly switch among all the software “apps” available from outside software companies, the way phones from rivals Palm Inc. and Google Inc. already do.

So an iPhone user wouldn’t be able to listen to music using the Pandora program and check a bank account online simultaneously, for example. In most cases, users must return to Apple’s home screen, effectively quitting the open program, before starting a new task.

That’s unacceptable to many users and software developers, and full multitasking remains high on many people’s wish lists. Because Apple’s new iPad runs the same software as the iPhone, changes would apply to that larger gadget as well. Some people have held off buying one because of its inability to run more than one program at a time.

But the reasons Apple is believed to be resistant to broader multitasking — worries about battery life, performance and security — remain.

Ross Rubin, an analyst from NPD Group, said he believes those are still big issues for Apple, and he doesn’t believe full multitasking will be among the changes in the iPhone operating system to be announced at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif., headquarters Thursday. Apple did not immediately answer requests for more information about its plans.

Apple has given software developers limited ways to work around the multitasking restrictions, such as allowing them to send very basic notifications nudging iPhone users to open an app for updated information.

Some people hope that if Apple doesn’t add multitasking, it would at least make the notifications less intrusive. Now, if a notification comes through, users must deal with it or dismiss it before returning to what they were doing.

The last time Apple made a major revision to its iPhone operating software, in March 2009, it added features that many iPhone users had been clamoring for since the device launched two years earlier. Those features included the ability to copy, cut and paste, and a search function that worked across all programs.

But this time, beyond multitasking, there seemed to be fewer big-ticket requests from everyday iPhone owners.

The new version of the iPhone system that Apple is announcing Thursday, likely to be known as OS 4.0, probably won’t be available for a few months. Most of the changes would have immediate appeal to software developers, not regular users, said Charles Golvin, an analyst for Gartner Inc.

Golvin believes Apple is likely to launch a system for delivering ads to iPhone and iPad apps, reflecting its January acquisition of mobile advertising company Quattro Wireless.

Although many of the changes Apple makes to the iPhone software will take awhile to translate into benefits for the average iPhone user, the most committed Apple watchers and bloggers have been honing their iPhone wish lists.

They want, among other things, a unified inbox for all e-mail accounts, support for more e-mail folders, wireless synching with a computer and a way to connect an iPhone with a regular keyboard, by plugging one in or using Bluetooth wireless technology.

But as is always the case, predicting the next move by secrecy-obsessed Apple is next to impossible.

“It’s Apple,” Golvin said, “so who … knows what actually could come out.”

Resource:
Yahoo News

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Apple’s support forum contains several reports from users complaining about their iPad’s behavior with Wi-Fi networks, Macworld first noted. Some complain their iPad’s Wi-Fi signal is very weak, while others say they’re unable to join their network after waking iPads up from standby

In a support bulletin, Apple on Monday acknowledged an issue specific to dual-band Wi-Fi routers — those that are compatible with both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz spectrum bands

“Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known Wi-Fi network after restart or waking from sleep. This can occur with some third-party Wi-Fi routers that are dual-band capable when: Using the same network name for each network, [or] Using different security settings for each network,” Apple wrote

Typically, dual-band routers transmit both the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands as one network with the same name and password. Apple recommends splitting the bands into two separate networks, naming them differently and making sure that both networks use the same type of security (WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc).

If all else fails, Apple recommends resetting network settings in the iPad’s Settings app (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings).

In the past, some Apple customers have complained about slow, unreliable Wi-Fi performance with Apple’s iPhone 3GS as well. Traditionally, Wi-Fi problems have been difficult to diagnose, as performance varies among different types of routers, and signal interference can be caused by a number of factors (such as a large number of Wi-Fi units in the area using the same channel, or turning on a microwave, among other causes). For a deep dive on the different types of Wi-Fi bands, see Glenn Fleishman’s article “Understanding Wi-Fi’s two spectrum bands.”

Resource:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/04/ipad-wifi/

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As we mentioned in our previous coverage of the update — which was initially supposed to land sometime in early February — it includes pinch-to-zoom multitouch capabilities in the web browser, maps, and gallery applications. It will also include Google Goggles, a visual search app for Android that generates search results from photos.

Other new features include speech-to-text support for any text box, a 3D layout in the pictures gallery, and support for Yahoo e-mail. Inexplicably, Verizon notes that Yahoo e-mail isn’t accessible over Wi-Fi.

The update started rolling out at noon yesterday to 1,000 Droid owners and reached 10,000 users by midnight last night. Verizon planned not to roll out any updates today, possibly for troubleshooting purposes in case something goes wrong with the update. The roll out will continue tomorrow, April 1, at 200,000 users a day until all Droid owners receive it. If you’re anxious to receive the update right away, you can try manually updating as demonstrated by TechCrunch.

Resource:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/technology/personaltech/01pogue.html

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A 7 inch touch screen tablet, it comes bundled with content from premier education institutes and has been launched at a price of INR.14900/- (content packaged tablet, exclusive of taxes).

iStudy Zones are enablers of the e-learning delivery mechanism. High performance servers are being deployed in iStudy zones with high speed broadband and Wi-Fi capabilities, so that content can be downloaded on iProf in a secure environment. Besides, the iStudy Zones can hold video conference for doubt clearing sessions between faculty and students, to make sure that the learning circle is complete.

Initially, iProf is set to cater to the test-preparation education segment, the market of which is estimated at about INR 10,000 crores.

iProf is starting with IIT-JEE preparation and has tied-up with Brilliant Tutorials. iProf would foray into MBA test preparation by end of May 2010, followed by PMT, CPT, CA among others. The company expects to mobilise investments of over INR.

100 crores via iProf eco-system in the next 18 months. In April 2010 the company will launch iStudy Zones in 30 cities Delhi, Kota, Pune, Nagpur, Jaipur, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Patiala, Nasik and Kolkata (Appendix I).

On bringing the novel concept to India, Sanjay Purohit, Founder & CEO, iProf Learning Solutions India said, “Through innovative technology and platform, we aim to revolutionize the education delivery mechanism. iProf will provide a safe, secure and affordable way to access high quality education content from India’s best faculty.

We address three major problems that plague e-learning from spreading far and wide -low computer penetration, piracy and broadband connectivity. Also, there is an acute shortage of good quality professors, especially in tier II and tier Iii cities. We have created an infrastructural solution enabling access to high quality education which solves all the issues.”

Resource:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/iproftheipadofeducation-nowinindia/597663/0

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A wi-fi connection offers better indoor reception, faster download speeds and quality streaming compared with a normal phone network. And it allows users to preserve their network minutes.

Wi-fi has been popular with notebook computers, but the technology is still at a nascent stage with mobile phones.

The feature is gradually being made available on more handsets and customers have started to ask for it while making purchases.

“Before, it used to be a neat, add-on feature. Now it’s an absolute must-have,” ABI Research analyst Michael Morgan said. “You have to bring this to the table if you want to have a successful smartphone device.”

It is only recently that carriers have started to trust wi-fi, Morgan said. Initially they viewed it as a competition to their cellular networks, he added.

The wi-fi feature was available on about 55 percent of smartphones shipped in 2009, and that is expected to increase to 65 percent to 70 percent in 2010, Morgan said.

Wi-fi capable smartphones, which received a shot in the arm with the launch of the Apple iPhone, are offered by Nokia, Research in Motion, Motorola, HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics.

Nokia is the leading market-share vendor for dual-mode wi-fi handsets, according to market researcher In-Stat.

While about 12 percent of all mobile handsets had wi-fi capability in 2009, it could be a feature on nearly a third of mobile phones four years from now, figures from In-Stat show.

“We are forecasting about 183 million phones with wi-fi in 2010,” In-Stat analyst Allen Nogee said. The total phone market is expected to be about 1.2 billion for the year.

With the growing market for smartphones, consumption of data on mobile devices is growing significantly, creating a lot of pressure on carrier networks.

Wi-fi in phones is seen as an alternative to core carrier networks, not just helping carriers offload traffic but offering consumers with a cheaper and faster option over third generation or the next generation networks like long term evolution.

“Operators are putting wi-fi in phones to offload some of the traffic from their 3G networks because they are finding that many of the 3G networks are being overloaded with data usage,” analyst Nogee said.

Service providers are also using wi-fi to expand their touchpoints with customers.

“Major service providers provide free wi-fi for their customers at places like McDonald’s and Starbucks,” Dell’Oro Group analyst Loren Shalinsky said.

Apart from accessing the Internet, wi-fi is used to make long distance calls via voice over Internet protocol at lower prices. But 90 percent of wi-fi use on phones is still for data, ABI’s Morgan said.

“Wi-fi offload is certainly an effective strategy for carriers to help manage the capacity demands on their network and it is one of the tools that carriers and handset makers will take advantage of,” Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin said.

“But it’s not the silver bullet to solve the problem. It’s just one of a number of pieces of the overall solution.”

The market for wi-fi in phones includes not only handset manufacturers and the carrier providers, but also chipmakers and network equipment makers.

Chipmakers like Broadcom, Atheros Communications Inc, Qualcomm Inc and Marvell Technology Group are expected to be among the prime beneficiaries as demand for the technology grows.

Companies like Aruba Networks and NetGear Inc, which sell the access points, will indirectly benefit as more devices that are connected to wi-fi will create more demand for bandwidth carried by the wireless networks. Despite the growth ahead, wi-fi has its drawbacks: integration between cellular and wi-fi networks, poor power efficiency and low awareness that such a feature exists. There are also issues in getting quality signals.

“I think people will use wi-fi in certain situations such as at their homes or in places where wi-fi is available. But wi-fi is not available in many places and probably never will be,” Nogee said.

Resource:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62O4CR20100325

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