SYDNEY: Apple SIM cards, which can be used in iPads, have been added to Australian Apple Stores with data packs provided by partner GigSky.
The SIM cards can be used in more than 90 countries, with prices as low as $50 for three gigabytes of internet access, depending on where you roam.
GigSky chief executive Ravi Rishy-Maharaj said the SIM cards would help end the hunt for free Wi-Fi while overseas.
“We’re elated to offer iPad users a new way to stay connected around the world,” he said.
“Travellers have the freedom to email, map and tweet wherever they go, without the usual challenges of connecting.”
Apple SIM users will be able to select a data pack when they arrive in a foreign destination, with GigSky offering 3GB downloads for $50 in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece and Italy, and 1GB for $50 in countries such as the United States, France and Denmark.
Access in Oceania is significantly more expensive, however, with New Zealand data roaming charged at $50 for 500MB, and $50 for just 90MB in Fiji.
The plans offer a significant discount on global roaming from some Australian telecommunications carriers, however, with Telstra charging as much as $3000 to download 1GB overseas without a plan, and Vodafone and Optus charging $1000 and $500 respectively.
