An interesting rumor struck the Internet not too long ago with claims that Apple is planning to charge its tablet consumers for the long anticipated iPad iOS 4 update. Sources at Stuff.tv have gone on record to reveal that a small group of trusted iPad app developers have gotten word of the company’s secret plans, and are quietly whispering to one another about its potential effects on the software update’s adoption rates.

A small, undisclosed fee may blockade the privilege of receiving multitasking functionality on the world’s favorite superficial tablet device, as the story goes. There are no details regarding how much Apple will charge iPad owners exactly, but regardless of its financial decisions with the software update, we find this spreading rumor a bit hard to believe. For one, the recently launched iAds mobile advertising platform requires iOS 4 to appear in the App Store software. By charging iPad owners to upgrade to the latest mobile OS version, Apple could ironically limit the number of viewers in its mobile advertising audience to only those willing to pony up the cash for the new update.

Back in July 2008, the company decided to slap a $10 update fee on iPhone OS 2.0 for iPod touch users while giving iPhone and iPhone 3G owners free access to the download. As many recall, iOS 2.0 was the first major update in the company’s mobile operating system to introduce the App Store, support for MobileMe, multiple calendars, and that all too familiar calculator that switches from standard to scientific when the device is rotated in landscape mode.

Keep watching this space to see further development on this news.

[via stuff.tv]