update Mobile carrier VHA today revealed it would offer dedicated iPad pricing plans for all of the models of Apple’s new tablet from the end of May in Australia on both its 3 and Vodafone brands, in a statement later echoed by Telstra and Optus.

The news echoed a global statement from Vodafone overnight about the release of iPad plans, but neither Optus, Telstra nor VHA included any further information about whether they would actually sell the iPad locally or what sort of pricing structure would make up the plans.

The news comes as Apple overnight delayed the launch of the hotly anticipated iPad outside of its home country of the US (including Australia) due to higher than predicted demand.

The device had previously been slated to launch in Australia in late April, but will now go on sale at the end of May.

“We will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders on Monday, May 10. We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news, but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason—the iPad is a runaway success in the US thus far,” said Apple.

“Although we have delivered more than 500,000 iPads during its first week, demand is far higher than we predicted and will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks as more people see and touch an iPad,” Apple’s statement said. “We have also taken a large number of pre-orders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April.”

Information about how the iPad will launch in Australia remains extremely scarce so far, with today’s revelation being the first release of any information at all — no matter how limited — on how carriers plan to tackle the device, mirroring the situation that occurred before the iPhone launched in Australia almost two years ago.

Image credit: Apple

Related posts:

1. Telstra won’t sell the iPad — just iPad plans
2. Vodafone launches unlimited iPad plan
3. Optus revamps plans for iPad 2 launch
4. Optus reveals full iPad plans
5. VHA dodges iPad questions, revamps plans

1. Geordie
   Posted 15/04/2010 at 12:15 pm | Permalink | Reply

   It wasn’t due to higher than anticipated demand, it was due to lower than anticipated salivating, priapic hysteria.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 15/04/2010 at 1:31 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Personally I do feel that the iPad is hyped to the sky at the moment — i don’t think Apple will sell anywhere near the numbers I think it thinks it will.

2. David McDonald
   Posted 15/04/2010 at 12:18 pm | Permalink | Reply

   It’s probably too much to hope for that one of the Aussie carriers will offer a no-contract data plan similar to what AT&T are doing in the US. I’m almost resigned to being force fed crappy, locked in iPad plans with meagre download limits. Aussie telcos, please surprise me!

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 15/04/2010 at 1:32 pm | Permalink | Reply

     I think everyone in the Apple eco-system is planning to milk this one for all it’s worth :(

3. Bryn
   Posted 15/04/2010 at 3:36 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Apple sells this device directly, unlocked. You could use any existing data plan you have or can get, which includes contract-free options (you’ll need a micro-SIM but a normal SIM & 2 minutes with some scissors and you’re set).

   Its possible our carriers will offer it on subsidised long term contracts as well, like the iPhone but at the moment, the ONLY sale model (the US market) does not have that…

   • David McDonald
     Posted 15/04/2010 at 3:55 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Sure, technically you could do that. But not really practical to swap out your phone sim, modify it and put in the iPad to get a connection. Plus, once you cut up the phone sim it’s not going to work in your phone again …

     • Bryn
       Posted 15/04/2010 at 4:06 pm | Permalink | Reply

       I actually meant a datacard sim- you can get contract free data plans all over the place, any of them would work in the iPad. So, you can get any data plan you can get now…and use it in the iPad, so you aren’t restricted to whatever ” crappy, locked in iPad plans with meagre download limits” they offer on the subsidised plans, if they even offer them.

       • David McDonald
         Posted 15/04/2010 at 4:17 pm | Permalink | Reply

         OK, that does sound interesting. Who does contract free data plans in Australia?

         • Bryn
           Posted 15/04/2010 at 4:20 pm | Permalink | Reply

           The smaller resellers all do (Internode for example, their Nodemobile plans are getting revamped in the next week or two). The prepaid options from all the big carriers are of course contract free.