ABOVE: Orcon chief executive Scott Bartlett poses with his Apple iPad. Orcon is claiming to be "the first telco in New Zealand" to sell Apple's iPad.The ISP turned mobile operator begins taking orders for the tablet at 1pm today.A spokesman
ABOVE: Orcon chief executive Scott Bartlett poses with his Apple iPad.
Orcon is claiming to be "the first telco in New Zealand" to sell Apple's iPad.
The ISP turned mobile operator begins taking orders for the tablet at 1pm today.
A spokesman told NBR that iPads would be shipped immediately.
Orcon is retailing the 32GB iPad 3G for $1179 while the 64GB version is $1349.
Both prices are the same as those offered on Apple's online store.
Orcon mobile data plans start at $19.95 per month for 500MB with a 4GB plan available at $69.95 per month.
Ex-retail
The company is sourcing the iPads "ex-retail", a spokesman told NBR (a la Telecom's Gen-i division).
Orcon buys iPads from Apple's online store, then passes them on to its mobile customers at cost (presumably making up its end on the data charges).
Vodafone is Apple's official New Zealand carrier and all iPads sold through Apple's website, or official Apple retailers, come with a Vodafone Micro-SIM card inside.
However, Vodafone itself does not sell iPads, with the iPad page of its website referring buyers to Apple's online store.
Vodafone MVNO
Orcon has a mobile virtual network operator agreement with Vodafone, and launched its 020 service - complete with iPhone and iPad-friendly Micro-SIMs - on July 19.
Desire
Last week the company expanded its handset line-up to include HTC's Desire ($899), an Android phone hot with critics, plus a second well-regarded Android, the HTC Legend ($799).
Both handsets are unique to Orcon.
The company also added four monthly mobile broadband plans: 500MB for $19.95, 1GB for $29.95, 2GB for $49.95, and 4GB for $69.95.
