Canadian mobile carrier Rogers has announced their iPad data plans amid some confusion. When the iPad pre-sales began on May 10th, Rogers was advertising a $20 option to add the iPad to your existing cell phone contract. Many believed, unrealistically in our opinion, that it was a one time charge and then you could share the data bandwidth quota of your iPhone (or other smartphone). The wording was pretty straight forward that it was a monthly charge. It is a moot point at the moment as Rogers quickly removed the option from their site. Discussion boards were buzzing with all kinds of rumours of phone calls to Apple and then to Rogers all claiming different things. Again, meaningless now.

Presently, there are only two options, as seen above. The first option of $15 is on par with at&t's 250 MB for $14.99. They differ with the second option. at&t offers unlimited data for $29.99. If the iPhone is any gauge, 5 GB is the same as unlimited because very few people come close to using that much in a month. We shall see if 250 MB is enough for the average user. However, since many people may only activate the data plan as a la carte type of option, $35 may be within the price point for consumers. If I am going on a trip and plan to only use the data plan for a month, I am much more willing to spend the extra $20.

Because the iPhone is unlocked, the possibility of competition (something Canadian cell users are not used to) could bring these prices down.