Demonstrating its status as something between a big iPod touch and a big iPhone, Apple has posted the terms of the iPad firmware licensing agreement.

Unlike the iPhone, which as a connected mobile phone device gets unlimited free OS updates, iPad owners are guaranteed OS software updates "up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free".

Hence, launch iPad owners will get 3.x and 4.x updates although Apple also points out that "such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models".

This could point to additional hardware features in later released iPads such as the rumoured camera.

In contrast, iPod touch owners have to pay for each new major OS release; something that caused developers who wanted to make use of iPhone OS 3.0's features such as in-app purchases some concerns in the later half of 2009.

[source: AppleInsider]