As we creep closer to the PS Vita’s US launch date, we can expect more details to be revealed about the device. We already know that on February 22nd, the PS Vita will launch with a $249 Wi-Fi and $299 Wi-Fi + 3G variant from AT&T with a host of games like Uncharted: Golden Abyssand wipEout 2048. What’s been a mystery till now has been the pricing of the 3G data plans from AT&T. Many pondered if the 3G enabled handheld would gain some kind of special pricing from AT&T, seeing how it’s a different type of machine versus the iPhone or iPad. Now, we have the answer to that and it’s a big no.

In what should now be no surprise, AT&T is offering their traditional data plans for the PS Vita 3G model with two options:

• 250MB of data – $14.99/month
• 2GB of data – $25/month

Like the 3G data plan on the iPad, AT&T requires no monthly contracts and users can activate the 3G for a month period at their time of choosing from the machine (we believe since you can on the iPad). With PS Vita games coming on a flash card and or being downloaded via Wi-Fi (there is currently a 20MB download cap via 3G), it’s unclear how much data will be utilized to play games online with the Vita. Rumors have also circulated around AT&T offering a combined data plan, allowing you to share your data between machines (say iPad and Vita) but that’s something that’s entirely up to AT&T and out of Sony’s hands.

The PS Vita 3G also has other features like “Near Me” which shows you what those around you are playing and their scores. With a built in GPS, users can also play location based games and use maps.

[Via GameZone]