 Apple began taking pre @-@ orders for the iPad from US customers on March 12 , 2010 . The only major change to the device between its announcement and being available to pre @-@ order was the change of the behavior of the side switch from sound muting to that of a screen rotation lock . The Wi @-@ Fi version of the iPad went on sale in the United States on April 3 , 2010 . The Wi @-@ Fi + 3G version was released on April 30 . 3G service for the iPad in the United States is provided by AT & T and was initially sold with two prepaid contract @-@ free data plan options : one for unlimited data and the other for 250 MB per month at half the price . On June 2 , 2010 , AT & T announced that , effective June 7 , the unlimited plan would be replaced for new customers with a 2 GB plan at slightly lower cost ; existing customers would have the option to keep the unlimited plan . The plans are activated on the iPad itself and can be cancelled at any time . 
