AT&T CEO not confident in 3G appeal for iPad. Perhaps the remedy is more attractive data plans?

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When the chief executive of a telecom is pessimistic about its most notable product launch on the horizon, there might be cause for concern.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said he expects the cheaper Wi-Fi version of Apple’s iPad to dominate the market over the pricier AT&T device, which can connect to the Internet anywhere the network offers 3G service. (Which Verizon argues isn’t in very many places, but AT&T is working on it.)

‘My expectation is that there’s not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription,’ he said during an investor meeting webcast, as Reuters reports. Stephenson envisioned the iPad would be a mainly ‘Wi-Fi-driven product.’

Neither AT&T’s nor Apple’s stocks saw a drastic impact from the statements. Maybe that’s because Apple would presumably still sell devices (even if they’re of the less expensive variety), and AT&T is a major player in the subscription-based Wi-Fi game, with hotspots at Starbucks and Barnes & Noble.

Still, a 3G iPad seems attractive in theory.

IPhone subscribers obviously appreciate being able to tap into the Internet from anywhere, rather than having to be wirelessly tethered to a limited-distance Wi-Fi broadcast. Otherwise, they’d just buy iPod Touches. Congruently, Stephenson said the iPhone would be ‘an important part’ of the company’s lineup ‘for quite some period of time.’

AT&T could have gone several directions with the data plans for iPad. The telecom could have encouraged smart-phone subscribers by giving breaks to those who are already AT&T customers. Or what about allowing iPhone users to tether the data they already pay for to the iPad (even for a nominal fee), similar to Verizon’s feature for the Droid (and AT&T’s for BlackBerry)?

Instead, AT&T will charge $14.99 per month for 250 megabytes -- by some estimates, not enough to cover most users -- or $29.99 a month for unlimited data -- what many already pay for 3G access for their smart-phones. That’s on top of a device that costs $130 extra upfront.

A hardware expert tells Computerworld that the pricing is ‘ridiculous.’ How much does a 3G chip cost? $7?

No wonder AT&T is rightfully doubting the potential of the 3G iPad. Hey, guys, are we still in a recession?

-- Mark Milian
twitter.com/markmilian