Two top mobile carriers SK Telecom and KT Corp. said they will release Apple’s iPad 2 in the local market Friday, according to companies’ officials Thursday.

KT, which was the first telecom to service Apple’s iPhone in November 2009, said it will release two different models ― one that operates only on the Wi-Fi network and another which runs on Wi-Fi and 3G networks ― beginning at 10 a.m. at its online store (www.olleh.com), its company officials said.

Prices differ depending on the monthly installment plan and the total data memory space.

As an exemplary case, the 16 gigabyte iPad 2 model, which works on Wi-Fi and 3G networks, is provided at 390,000 won under a two-year contract that costs 27,500 every month.

Apple’s iPad 2, a tablet PC which was long-awaited by many consumers, is 33 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than the previous iPad. It also has a 9.7 inch LED back-lit LCD screen.

SK Telecom, the country’s No. 1 mobile carrier, also said it will start selling the iPad 2 at its online T-Smart shop (www.tsmartshop.co.kr) from 9 a.m. Friday but that it will only sell one model running on both Wi-Fi and 3G networks.

The same 16 gigabyte model will be offered at 389,400 won if the consumer chooses to stick to a two-year contract that costs 29,000 per month.

SKT will give additional discounts ― from 50,000 won to 100,000 won ― to those who are subscribed to a smartphone monthly payment plan of 35,000 won and above, company officials said.

The firm also plans on providing the navigation service and its mapping service called “T map” for free to its iPad 2 subscribers.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)