Visitors to USA using AT&T Sim Card

I'm sure this has been said before by plenty of others, but it bears repeating.

How - exactly - does this fit with Steve's promise that we can simply buy a SIM in the country we travel to? I am going to be on holiday in the US in December/January and if I want to pick up a SIM card I certainly don't intend to start using false addresses and loading pre-paid Visa cards.

The situation will, presumably, improve before then

I sent him an email, hopefully he'll reply! lol

You can actually go in and cancel the recurring charge right away if you want.

Check the fees on the gift cards, some are higher than others. They are a set balance so you don't have to load them. Some might require you to register them on a website and will use the address you put in.

And, if you are using the addy of your hotel - don't consider that lying! You living there at that moment

As an American I'm sorry that AT&T is a pita about this. It doesn't jive at all with what was said and it sucks. Period.

But, I thank you for your tourist dollars, especially if you come to central Florida!!

macmedal said:

It goes against what Steve Jobs said and Apple actually still proclaim on their website.
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No, none of this actually goes against what Jobs said at the iPad presentation or any information that is proclaimed on their website (exception being the actual terms of the ATT packages on unlimited data).

At the keynote, Jobs stated: "How do you turn this on and manage it? Activate it right on the iPad itself and there's no contract... Cancel at anytime you want."

This is demonstrably true. iPads with 3G purchased in the United States include an ATT microsim. Users are able to manage all of this on the iPad without going into a store or calling ATT. There was no mention of Apple Stores carrying ATT microsim cards for international users arriving in the United States. There was no mention during the keynote nor on the current website that says ATT waives information that they normally require for service from international iPad users in the United States that are trying to use domestic microsim cards.

During the keynote he stated: "What about international? All iPad 3G models are unlocked and they use the new GSM microsim, so internationally if some of the carriers offer microsims there is a high likelihood they will just work."

Again, this is demonstrably true. All iPad 3G models are unlocked. International users are able to contact local carriers and gain access to microsim cards under the terms of service that the carriers have.

I personally think that it should be easier for foreign nationals to obtain prepaid microsim cards in foreign countries, but at least there are work arounds in the United States.

Apple has clout, but not enough to really push around the telcoms internationally. Selling iPads unlocked is as good as Apple can do in this regard.

Finally, the "spirit" of the website and the presentation on this matter was geared towards people using the iPad in their home country - not towards those of us who constantly go back and forth between continents.

Anyone had any experience taking a UK iPad to France?

I'm going in the summer, and would love to get a sim card while there.

My French is not so good. I don't go hungry when I'm there, but setting up a sim card in-store could prove tricky

carpets said:

Anyone had any experience taking a UK iPad to France?

I'm going in the summer, and would love to get a sim card while there.

My French is not so good. I don't go hungry when I'm there, but setting up a sim card in-store could prove tricky

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We're discussing that in this thread. I have a SFR SIM in my possession and I'm off to France in a fortnight so at the latest I'll have an answer by then...

macmedal said:

This question is raised a lot and having just visited the US from the UK and successfully activating an AT&T sim I can confirm it can be done. <snip>

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Thanks for the info.

jb1280 said:

At the keynote, Jobs stated: "How do you turn this on and manage it? Activate it right on the iPad itself and there's no contract... Cancel at anytime you want."

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Not in Japan.

jb1280 said:

All iPad 3G models are unlocked.

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Again, not in Japan.

Japan is loosening up over time, but still so many things are Japan centric. Even American Express cards! An American Express card will work anywhere for charges. However, for cash advances and other features, you must have a Japanese issued card. Internally the cards are different.

My first experience with Japan's closed system was at a Mobile Oil gas station. I had a US issued Mobile Oil credit card that I used for business gas charges. Well I tried to use it at a local Mobile Oil station here in Japan and the attendant tried to explain that it wouldn't work. I was very naive at the time. So I held up the card and pointed to it and the station sign and said they were the same. The attendant gave the usual teeth sucking, smiled, apologized and bowed. I ended up paying with cash. I drove away amazed.

Visitors to USA using AT&T Sim Card

You little bloody rat Macmedal with you rotten stupid stories creating unnecessary problems for a pleasant holidays

Don’t believe this Dom super zombie just go every where to AT&T and get a sim card for 20 US$ in cash easy

Don’t believe this piece of shirt

holy thread necromancy batman!

The strange necromancer is wrong.

Th OP lists the correct way for foreign visitors to enable an AT&T 3G plan while visiting the US.
The only thing where the OP is wrong is that you need a microsim card, not sim card.

Visitors to USA using AT&T Sim Car

Again just go to the AT&T shop and buy a sim pay as you like i paid cash
The service is great they put the sim in etc. etc.
I have bought one for Ipone 3 one for Iphone 4, 10 cents a miniute calls
Don't let you holiday be spoiled by some idiots, wankers
Wifi every where and calling home and you love ones use skype

Sidewinder2 said:

Again just go to the AT&T shop and buy a sim pay as you like i paid cash
The service is great they put the sim in etc. etc.
I have bought one for Ipone 3 one for Iphone 4, 10 cents a miniute calls
Don't let you holiday be spoiled by some idiots, wankers
Wifi every where and calling home and you love ones use skype

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Do you realize this thread is about activating an iPad AT&T microsim card plan, while you are talking about an iPhone sim card?