the operators understand the need to limit the invoice

They all want the iPad. With the Apple tablet, which the France output is expected around April 24, Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom hope to take advantage of the media will have a firm Apple. The loudest is probably the historical operator, which has long benefited from the exclusivity of the iPhone. End of March, on BFM, its Director General, Stéphane Richard, confirmed that the Group was "a little tight" discussions - Apple is true to his reputation as a hard business - for the iPad, while stating that there is no exclusivity. But SFR and Bouygues Telecom are also on the ranks, especially for the launch of the 3 G version, scheduled late June - early July.

In fact, operators know not yet very well how they will sell to their customers this terminal which is not designed to call. "The first question to ask, this is what the consumer will be able to do", said one of them. "The tablets are a new market." "It cannot be said that experience has already conducted SFR with the Archos has been a success", he insists. Two weeks ago, Orange leaders went to Cupertino, at the headquarters of Apple. The objective was to understand how the future clients will use the iPad. Download content in mobility, it i.e. via a 3 G mobile network, or well connect home in Wi - Fi In the latter case, they will not need to pay a subscription.

The computer of the housekeeper

Three French operators believe that the iPad will be "the computer of the housekeeper": with its "smartphone" operating system, it turns in a blink of an eye, unlike the desktop computer. No more practical to search an address, show photos, watch the video with YouTube, passing from the lounge to the kitchen. It will be directly connected in Wi - Fi to the Internet box. "In fact, Apple positioned the iPad as the MacBook Air, which means that he considers more as an object of salon, explains a good connoisseur of the Californian group." In these circumstances, it is unclear why the operators heavily subsidize the iPad. "Opinion shared in ATT. Randall Stephenson, President and CEO of the American operator, had said early March that it expected that there is "not a lot of people ready to purchase a new subscription."

This does not preclude certain operators to explore new forms of billing for the 3 G model. "We're working with Apple teams on the iPad-specific packages, as those of the iPhone, a framework of Orange." A solution would be to pay that when actually using his Tablet, advance another operator, for example with the pre-paid, as provided to ATT in the United States. Each month, it reloads its package. "Knowing that 3 G connections will be minority (travel by train, terraces of coffee...), the operators understand the need to limit the invoice. As mobile subscriptions tend to stack in homes: key 3 G, "smartphones", iPad... Who can pay There is almost no discount for the multi-user offer. But this cannot delay.