Apple confirms UK pricing and release date for iPad

Apple has finally confirmed the UK release date for the iPad, along with its equally long-awaited pricings.

The iPad will be available from Friday 28 May through Apple retail stores and authorised resellers.

The suggested retail prices of the Wi-Fi models are as follows:

- 429 (inc. VAT) for 16GB

- 499 (inc. VAT) for 32GB

- 599 (inc. VAT) for 64GB

The suggested retail prices of the Wi-Fi and 3G models are as follows:

- 529 (inc. VAT) for 16GB

- 599 (inc. VAT) for 32GB

- 699 (inc. VAT) for 64GB

Orange is the first mobile operator to come out with a deal on iPad tarrifs.

As well as offering what it calls a "pay for what you use plan," charging 5p per MB, it has confirmed four bundle choices.

There are two shorter term plans. The iPad Daily bundle is valid for one day until midnight at a cost of 2 for 200MB and the iPad Weekly bundle is valid for seven days until midnight at a cost of 7.50 for 1GB.

There are also two monthly plans. The iPad Monthly 15 costs 15 for 3GB of data and unlimited browsing at Wi-Fi hotspots and the iPad Monthly 25 costs 25 for 10GB and the same browsing priveleges.

However Orange has confirmed a fair usage of 750MB applies with additional data being charged at 5p per MB.

If you don't fancy that deal however, a do-it-yourself techy has posted instructions of how to cut up your current SIM card to make it fit in the tablet device.

John Benson may have used a meat cleaver and scissors, but he claimed the makeshift MicroSIM worked without any issues. So until any deals are struck, this could be a somewhat extreme alternative option for iPad users