The small Irish company MAXroam who currently employs only 16 people has beaten all the larger telecommunication companies to be the first to sell the new micro SIM for iPad.

The company specialises in selling SIMs for phone owners roaming outside their home country – providing one consistent price no matter where calls are made and avoiding the phenomenon of bill-shock, where customers using the internet abroad are hit with massive charges.

The iPad 3G version is due for launch towards the end of April with the 24th being banded around as the most likely date. MAXroam has said it will make its SIMs and data plans available globally once the 3G iPad goes on sale.

The company is not yet ready to reveal pricing but did go on to say:

“The iPad is the Holy Grail of computers but no carrier has yet announced plans to sell the micro-SIM”