News: Verizon Gets First iOS Device…It’s the iPad!

Verizon is getting an iOS device in the near future, but it’s not the one everyone was expecting. The largest cell phone provider in the United States will be getting the iPad on October 28, along with AT&T. The announcement explains that the iPads will be the Wi-Fi-only models, coupled with a MiFi device to bring data to them.

AT&T will be selling the WiFi + 3G iPad models, with an AT&T micro-SIM card (this pairing is what has been available for quite some time, but simply available at AT&T retail stores.

As for the Verizon deal, the press release explains the partnership even more, including how the iPad will work on Verizon’s CDMA-based network (the 3G iPad uses GSM technology):

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.

The data plan pricing is a little different than AT&T, with Verizon offering a slightly-higher initial cost, but more data for the money. In theory, the plan could also allow a MiFi to work with a computer, unless Verizon cripples the firmware. In case you were unfamiliar with the MiFi Hotspot, that is also explained:

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.

Although this isn’t an ideal pairing, such as a CDMA- or LTE-compatible iPad, and certainly not the almost mythical Verizon iPhone, it is a good first step for Apple getting products into the hands of other cellular users in the United States. Will a Sprint MiFi-paired iPad be next?