Apple iPad, Picture: Phone Guide Germany

On Friday, May 28th, the Apple iPad will be launched in Germany and several other countries. People will be able to buy the tablet PC at Apple stores in Munich, Hamburg or Frankfort as well as at Apple shops in selected - not in every store - consumer electronics retailers such as Saturn, Media Markt and Medimax. I am pretty sure that Gravis will sell the Apple iPad, too, since Gravis stores will open at 8:00 a.m. in the morning – just like the three German Apple stores. It is also possible to order the Apple iPad at the German Apple web store, but then the tablet will not be delivered before June. Purchase prices start at EUR 499.00 for the Apple iPad WiFi 16 GB and go up to EUR 799.00 for the iPad WiFi + 3G 64 GB. At http://www.apple.com/de/buy/ you can find out the nearest Apple store or Apple shop that is closest to your residence.

Here’s also a summary of the latest developments regarding micro SIM cards and price plans for the Apple iPad in Germany:

• Operator Vodafone has cut prices for accessing the internet with the Apple iPad WiFi + 3G over the mobile network. The iPad price plan “MobileInternet Basic Monatspaket” with 200 MB data volume over 30 days for faster transfer speeds via EDGE, UMTS or HSPA can be booked for EUR 14.90 per month. The “MobileInternet Basic Monatsflat” with 3 GB data volume for faster data transmissions will cost EUR 24.90 per month. Both postpaid price plans are flat rate tariffs and can be booked with a short minimum term commitment of just one month. iPad users can also choose any other mobile data price plan of Vodafone for accessing the internet over the mobile network.
• Again Vodafone: The operator has declared that instant messaging will be allowed in iPad mobile data tariffs. However, voice over IP services may not be used with a Vodafone iPad price plan.
• Mobile phone provider mobilcom-debitel is also marketing micro SIM cards and iPad price plans of the operators Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone. But there is no advantage for the consumer to buy a starter package at a mobilcom-debitel store instead of buying it at a Deutsche Telekom or Vodafone store - prices are the same.

To compare prices and providers please check:
Overview of iPad purchase prices and mobile data plans of mobile phone providers in Germany.