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Apr 12, 2001
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GottaBeMobile reports that Verizon has officially announced that its data plans for the new iPad Wi-Fi + 4G will include mobile hotspot functionality at no additional charge. The feature allows users to share the device's cellular connection, broadcasting it as Wi-Fi signal that can be used to provide data connectivity for notebook computers and other devices.
What I didn't see when I went looking for [details] is how much extra mobile hotspot costs. On Verizon, adding this feature on phones adds an extra $20/month but also an extra 2GB of data, meaning you can get up to 12GB in a month if you're willing to pay $100.

However, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson informed me that for tablets (including the new iPad), the mobile hotspot feature is included in the data plan's price. iPad owners won't have to pay extra to activate mobile hotspot, even with the 1GB plan.
att_verizon_4g_data_plans_ipad.png

AT&T has yet to announce specific plans for mobile hotspot functionality on the new iPad, as a statement provided to 9to5Mac indicates that the carrier is "working with Apple" on the issue, but isn't offering this capability at all at the moment.

Article Link: Verizon Including Mobile Hotspot in iPad Data Plans at No Additional Charge
 

unlimitedx

macrumors 6502a
Jun 15, 2010
635
0
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Wish hot spot was free with iPhone data plan instead of the ipad
 

reckless2k2

macrumors 6502a
Jul 10, 2008
525
0
LTE speed tests

I'm holding out for Verizon LTE speed tests before I get too warm and fuzzy.
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Wish hot spot was free with iPhone data plan instead of the ipad

Me too. It would make my Wifi iPad a little more flexible.
 

IBradMac

macrumors 68000
Jun 27, 2008
1,799
2
Ohio
In other words AT&T is still trying to figure out the best way to milk their customer for the most money.
 

kmac12

macrumors member
May 27, 2009
40
5
DFW
It seems like it would be GOOD for ATT to include it. Since it eats data quicker and they could charge more for the next amount of data.
 

derek1984

macrumors 6502a
Nov 5, 2008
720
58
Now come up with data plans that joins the iPad and iPhone together and I'll go all in on Verizon.

$50 for 5GB plan makes sense with todays prices.
 

barkomatic

macrumors 601
Aug 8, 2008
4,518
2,821
Manhattan
How could AT&T not include it now? Otherwise, anyone who wants to use their iPad as a hotspot will naturally get a Verizon iPad if they dare to add an additional fee. Then again, carriers aren't always logical.
 

cxny

macrumors 6502
Jan 13, 2004
335
0
New York
At&$ vs Veri$on

Should have been figured out before launch, 5-10 million people deserve to be fully informed before preorder.
 

pmz

macrumors 68000
Nov 18, 2009
1,949
0
NJ
I don't understand how they could possibly be "still working"

They're charging the same $50 for 5 GB, as they do for iPhone plan w/tethering.

How is this difficult, or a stretch for them to just enable/include Hotspot?

Probably because AT&T thinks they can add a meaningless $20 charge for tethering, on the same 5 GB plan, and Apple is telling them you're out your minds.
 

akm3

macrumors 68020
Nov 15, 2007
2,252
279
It seems like it would be GOOD for ATT to include it. Since it eats data quicker and they could charge more for the next amount of data.

The carriers don't want people to actually USE data, they want them to PAY for more data than they need.

If you pay for 5GB and USE 5GB you are a problem for AT&T.

If you pay for 3GB and use 500mb you are a golden goose. They want to encourage the second model anyway they can.
 

akm3

macrumors 68020
Nov 15, 2007
2,252
279
Should have been figured out before launch, 5-10 million people deserve to be fully informed before preorder.

I suspect there will be some gotchas and that's why it's not very transparent. I predict purchasers of both AT&T and Verizon iPads will have some crap pulled that will upset them.

kjacks52 said:
Really wish I would have known this before ordering an AT&T model.
Like this, for example.
 

magiic

macrumors regular
Jun 17, 2008
244
14
San Jose
I didn't even know the iPad could do hotspot. That will be cool. I have a 6GB data plan shared between my iPhone/iPad and tethering is enabled on the 6GB plan. It would be cool to tether with both.
 

diane143

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2008
718
66
Wait a minute! Did Verizon just add a 1gb/$20 plan? That wasn't in the charts posted yesterday and earlier today.

So happy if they did!
 

CrAkD

macrumors 68040
Feb 15, 2010
3,180
255
Boston, MA
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Feeling better about my Verizon preorder!
 

Amazing Iceman

macrumors 603
Nov 8, 2008
5,241
3,985
Florida, U.S.A.
Doubt it. If they do include it, will only be on $50 plan.

What AT&T wants is to have Apple disable Tethering unless the user has the 5GB Plan.
Basically, AT&T wants to force the user to buy the 5GB Plan for $50.00 to be able to tether. That's just pure greed on their part.
If their charges translate at $10 per GB once you break the 250MB barrier, why not allow every plan to tether?

Also, that 250MB for $15.00 Plan is an insult as much as a joke.
They should make it at least 1 GB for $15.00 to make sense. They will still be making a ton of money on Data Plans, and many people may stop hating them.
 

dashiel

macrumors 6502a
Nov 12, 2003
876
0
Well, well, well. Verizon finally making me consider switching. If they allow this in the iPhone 5, I’m jumping ship.
 
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