AT&T CEO sees iPad mostly used on Wi-Fi

Typing is demonstrated on the new Apple ''iPad'' during the launch of the tablet computing device in San Francisco, California, January 27, 2010.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc expects users of Apple Inc's iPad to mostly connect to the Internet using sort-range Wi-Fi networks rather than AT&T's cellular network, the Chief Executive of AT&T said on Tuesday.

While AT&T has agreed to prove wireless connections to the

iPad tablet computer, Randall Stephenson said he doesn't expect the device to result in many new service subscriptions for AT&T as consumers will instead use Wi-Fi or prepaid services, where they do not subscribe to a service contract.

"My expectation is that there's not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription," he said during a webcast of an investor conference, adding that the device would be a mainly "Wi-Fi driven product."

Many consumers have their own Wi-Fi networks at home or go to coffee shops where they can avail of free Wi-Fi.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew)