iPad mini Ipad mini - hotspot question

It works over Bluetooth, USB or Wi-Fi. As for on the iPad, you'll need to use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

It's just as reliable as an LTE iPad would be. If your phone isn't getting a cellular signal, your iPad wouldn't be either. (If they are using the same carrier.)

If you are using AT&T, the 5 GB plan is $50 a month.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html#fbid=TB8bfY0YkDN

I've tethered my old iPad a lot from my iPhone 4 just fine. Usually over BT rather than Wifi. I've been on AT&Ts network but with other suppliers like RedPocket and annoyed that they turned off tethering so I jail broke my phone and installed tetherme to re-enable it. Daft to have a 2GB plan and no tethering but I needed to be on a short term deal rather than a contract. Ironically, here in NZ I just bought a cellular iPad mini and Vodafone NZ gave me a free SIM since I'm on a smartphone plan and bumped my deal by $10 a month to allow me to run both my phone and iPad on the same contract but gave me $10 more data too so not unhappy. Tethering was OK at a pinch, but I love the independence of having a cellular iPad now.