Verizon iPad Commercial Hits The Air

Verizon just started running a new TV ad promoting its iPad and MiFi bundles. We aren’t used to seeing the United State’s largest wireless carrier promoting Apple products, so it’s interesting to see how Verizon’s positioning the pairing.

In the commercial, Verizon shows an iPad user sitting in a living room. Of course, he has his legs dutifully crossed, just like all the iPad users in Apple’s own iPad promos and commercials. He pulls out his Verizon MiFi, turns it on and starts browsing the Web. The ceiling and walls disappear, revealing the iPad user continuing to surf the Web on a coastline, which appears to be in California.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzsMSijofvc

The voice over says: “Introducing iPad on Verizon. All the magic of iPad. All the nationwide power and reliability of Verizon.”

I’m a big fan of the Novatel MiFi and use one on the Sprint network with my various WiFi devices, including my WiFi-inly iPad. There are several advantages of buying a MiFi instead of an iPad with built-in 3G. Verizon generally scores top marks when it comes to nationwide 3G coverage. Your mileage will vary depending on your exact location, but we hear far fewer complaints about Verizon 3G than AT&T’s service. The WiFi only iPad is also significantly cheaper than the 3G enabled version. The biggest advantage of going the MiFi route is that you’ll be able to use your Verizon 3G service with any WiFi device instead of having a 3G contract dedicated to your iPad.