Three and Vodafone have joined Orange and T-Mobile - though these two are now essentially one and the same - to sign up to sell the iPad 2 when it arrives in the UK.

Whenever that may be.

Apple is sticking to the previously announced 25 March release date, but the widespread failure of many queueing Mac fans to leave US Apple Stores with second-generation fondleslabs makes us wonder how realistic an international release on that date really is.

Last year, Apple delayed the iPad's UK introduction to ensure its US fans got first dibs.

Perhaps aware of this, Vodafone would simply say it will offer the iPad 2 3G "in the coming weeks".

So did Three.

In fact, both cellcos used the same - Apple supplied? - boilerplate:

"Three UK today announced it will offer iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G and also dedicated data plans for iPad 2 in the coming weeks. iPad 2 is the next generation of Apple’s magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. The amazing new iPad 2 improves on the original iPad by being thinner, lighter and faster, all while maintaining the same incredible 10 hours of battery life."

Cut and paste 'Vodafone' for 'Three' and you have that carrier's announcement:

"Vodafone UK today announced it will offer iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G and also dedicated data plans for iPad 2 in the coming weeks. iPad 2 is the next generation of Apple’s magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. The amazing new iPad 2 improves on the original iPad by being thinner, lighter and faster, all while maintaining the same incredible 10 hours of battery life."

You can do the same for 'Orange' and 'T-Mobile'. ®

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