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Verizon's 4G LTE iPads will hot spot at launch, but not AT&T's

To clear up some Internet confusion about which provider would support the new iPad hot-spot feature on LTE-ready tablets, CNET's Jessica Dolcourt went straight to the carrier source.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
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There seems to be some confusion on the Web as to which carrier will support Apple's hot-spot feature for "the new iPad" it announced yesterday morning.

Well, I got the information straight from the horses' mouths. Verizon will support the feature for the 4G LTE iPads it starts selling on March 16, and AT&T won't.

"Yes, we currently have hot spots on other tablets, and we will continue to support it," Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney told CNET in a phone call. "We will support the iPad mobile hot spot at launch."

As with other tablets that Verizon carries, the monthly data plan will include portable hotspot use, unlike the stipulation for smartphone hotspot use, which costs an extra $20 per month. Verizon's monthly data plans for the iPad will span 1GB of data for $20, 2GB for $30, 5GB for $50, and 10GB for $80.

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It will take AT&T a little longer to get up and running with this feature, which can supply a 4G LTE connection to a maximum of five devices, but the carrier has every intention of turning hot spots on.

"We are working with Apple to enable this feature in the future, but we currently do not offer it," AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel told me over the phone.

AT&T's data plan covers 250MB for $15 per month, 3GB for $30, or 5GB for $50.

In addition to the hot-spot feature, Apple's third-generation iPad sports a Retina Display with 2048x1536 pixels (yowza!), a souped-up processor to boost gaming, and of course, optional 4G LTE support in addition to Wi-Fi-only options.

Check out how the iPad's specs stack up against the competition.

Hands on Apple's new iPad (photos)

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Article updated at 11:25am PT with more details on monthly hotspot plans.