Now that Sprint (NYSE: S) is getting the iPad, all eyes are on the company's unlimited data plans. Will they carry over to Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) new tablets or will consumers be forced to buy chunks of data, a la Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T (NYSE: T)?
Sprint announced that its unlimited plans will not apply to the iPad Mini, the fourth-generation iPad or any other tablet available through the carrier.
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While the company has repeatedly stated that it intends to stand behind its unlimited data plans for iPhones and other smartphones, Sprint did not explain why it chose to employ a new strategy for tablets.
Existing Sprint smartphone customers can buy 100MB of data for $10 per month or 1GB for $15 per month. Everyone else will pay monthly fees of $14.99 (for 300MB), $34.99 (for 3GB), $49.99 (for 6GB) or $79.99 (for 12GB).
Surprisingly, these options are not much cheaper than the plans offered by Verizon and AT&T. Verizon customers who use a small amount of data (1GB or less) will be charged $20 per month. From that point on, customers are essentially charged $10 for every additional gigabyte of data. They can also pay $50 for 5GB or $80 for 10GB.
AT&T customers are charged $14.99 (for 250MB), $30 (for 3GB) or $50 (for 5GB). The company does not currently offer any larger data plans, but customers will be charged an additional $10 for every additional gigabyte they use.
Apple has not announced a specific release date for the cellular version of the iPad Mini or the fourth-generation iPad. On its website, the company simply states that it will be available in mid-November. Sprint might have provided consumers with a clue, as its new data plans are scheduled to begin on Sunday, November 11 -- nine days after the Wi-Fi iPads are scheduled to arrive in stores.
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