Verizon iPad to Become a Reality October 28th

The likelihood of the iPad coming to Verizon Wireless before the iPhone has been kicked around by the tech press for a good while now: Well, it’s happening, and it’s happening sooner than the “beginning of next year” date previously surmised. As of Thursday, October 28th, Verizon Wireless will begin selling the iPad.
Verizon will be selling the Wi-Fi model only, and not ‘true’ 3G: For 3G-like service, you’ll need to but the iPad bundled with a MiFi mobile hotspot, the data plan for which is $20/month for one GB of data. Still, this will likely push some Verizon customers who didn’t want to have to deal with two different phone companies for billing over the edge, and, most significantly, this move represents the first official gap between Apple and AT&T since they began selling the iPhone in 2007: Paired with the iPhone’s going multicarrier in Germany earlier this week (where Deutsche Telekom rather than AT&T had previously been the single anointed carrier), this is going to have a lot of people salivating over a Verizon iPhone announcement which may or may not come any day.
Price points are $630, $730, and $830 for 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB iPads bundled with the MiFi device, respectively.
Full press release below:

Verizon Wireless Offers iPad at Stores Nationwide on October 28
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & CUPERTINO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced that iPad™ will be available at over 2,000 Verizon Wireless Stores nationwide beginning Thursday, October 28. Verizon Wireless will offer three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, for a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.
“This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”
iPad allows users to browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface. iPad Wi-Fi models are just 0.5 inches thick and weigh just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and deliver up to 10 hours of battery life.*
Apple’s App Store℠ offers iPad users access to the world’s largest catalog of apps with over 280,000 apps and more than 30,000 iPad specific apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. With Apple’s iBookstore℠, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device, iPad users have access to more than 100,000 books from major and independent publishers.
MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The MiFi 2200’s rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.
Customers can sign up for more information on Apple’s iPad together with Verizon Wireless’ MiFi 2200 at www.verizonwireless.com/iPad, at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN.
*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.