A press release from AT&T claims Apple iPad activations from Nov. 1 through Nov. 3 were up 200% over the same launch period last year. The statement, from AT&T’s Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility, attributes much of the growth to the excitement about the new iPad Air, as well as AT&T’s Mobile Share option, allowing customers to add an iPad to their existing plan for $10 per month.
Some of the growth from last year’s numbers could also be attributed to AT&T’s Next device upgrade plan, which lets customers get a phone or iPad for zero money down. The Next plan, launched in July, spreads device payments over a period of two years, allowing qualifying customers to upgrade after 12 months in the plan.
The upgrade plan must be attached to a wireless service plan (albeit with no long term contract), otherwise, if the wireless service is cancelled the customer must pay the remaining amount on the device.
