Apple’s new mobile broadband wundertablet is set to launch in the UK at the end of the week after selling like a beautifully designed, touchscreen hotcake over in the US and with high levels of demand actually forcing its international release to be delayed until now.

The iPad is noteworthy because it will be available with an on-board mobile broadband modem for completely wireless internet access wherever you roam. The base model will lack the 3G feature, sticking with a Wi-Fi connection, but those who spend a little more will have a travel companion that should meet just about any portable internet needs.

The iPad is going to be supported by most of the UK’s mobile broadband providers, with O2, Orange and Vodafone announcing price plans. However, 3 has stepped into the fray with its own wireless broadband prices which undercut most of its rivals and could make it the most desirable network partner for iPad owners here in the UK come Friday.

For £15 a month 3 will give you a data allowance of 10GB, which compares favourably to similarly priced deals from its rivals that only include 5GB or even 3GB of data allowance. 3 has said that it will not be tying its customers into any fixed term contracts with the iPad price plans, as its mobile broadband deals will operate on a rolling 30 day contract which you can opt out of at any time.

People looking for a mobile broadband package to suit their intermittent iPad roaming needs might consider Orange or O2’s daily deals, which will cost you £2 for any day on which you choose to use your mobile broadband connection on your iPad, with data limits of 200MB and 500MB respectively. It should be interesting to see how the iPad’s arrival impacts upon the mobile broadband market and wireless broadband prices.