Apple Details iPad 3G Service Sign-Up and Management

[kensteele]

Ugh.

And I'd think that if it WAS a feature they'd be bragging about it. So I'm thinking it's not possible either.


I mean, I can probably find free McDonalds Wifi somewhere if I'm on the road, but still, that's really something they should work on. The entire REASON I'd probably buy 3G data is because I showed up at some flea-bag motel in the middle of nowhere and discovered they don't have internet (or want to charge $10 or something).

EDIT:


Is it written down somewhere? I'm looking for proof. Was it in the introduction keynote?

No, I'm almost positive (read 99%) you can use the existing 3G network in your remote area to activate your new 3G account. No wi-fi connection needed.

For those asking about the "phone number", the 10-digit number is properly referred to as the MSIN. So your iPad with sim-card will always talk to the GSM network (unless it is disabled; wonder how that works for battery life). You won't be able to complete the connection and transfer data unless your MSIN or IMSI is activate. But I'm pretty sure it can connect to 911 right out of the box. But it won't do GPS on a deactivated account.

 

[reckless2k2]

Activation Fee?

Has anyone looked into whether AT&T is going to charge an activation fee?

I mean this other stuff is real sharp but I'd be concerned if AT&T is going to sock you with a $25 activation fee each time you want to re-activate it. I'd be surprised if activation is waived.

If they waive activation fees and you can just jump on and off month to month then I'm getting a 3G. Hahaha.

 

[kensteele]

OLED screens perform less well in bright light than other types, and a 10" one is far from basic - at least in terms of cost.

Super AMOLED

 

[Mcgargle]

…an OLED screen so I could see it in the bright desert sunlight…

The iPad uses the same screen technology as the iPhone, right? I've literally used my iPhone in the "bright desert sunlight," and it was great. Just last summer we did a shoot at Vasquez Rocks near Santa Clarita. We were out there from before sunrise to just after sunset, and I used my iPhone pretty much constantly that day. Visibility in sunlight is not a problem for the iPhone, so I'd be really amazed if it were a problem for the iPad.

 

[Small White Car]

If they waive activation fees and you can just jump on and off month to month then I'm getting a 3G. Hahaha.

That's sure how they made it SOUND like it will work.

Now, clearly, they could be hiding the truth but IF your guess is right that revelation would be an even bigger deal than the first iPhone price drop.

It would be PR suicide.

I really, really can't imagine them surprising everyone with that at the last minute. I just don't see it happening.

 

[jouster]

Hmmm...maybe this 250MB limit will be more challenging than I had thought! I reset my iPhone usage stats to see how long it took me to get there, took a wlak around my office floor - 2 or 3 mins maybe - checked again and I had DL'd 9kb of data! On what? I got no e-mail or IMs..... LOL, this could be tough!

 

[Lepton]

Why waste the money for a 3g version and a 3g plan? Myfi + iPad = surf all day and all night for the price of unlimited data you're already paying for.

That's mainly what I'll be doing. But if I find myself in a spot where I want connectivity and have no WiFi, I just zing! Turn it on for a month.

Plus, the thing I really wanted was the GPS chip. I use maps a lot, and I think navigation apps on the iPad are going to be absolutely spectacular. I have some apps on the store now that feature maps (Myallo HotList which locates your friends, and TrackinU which maps tweets) and I'm writing free updates to universal versions that work on iPad. The big maps on these things look super, you see a wide area in great detail. Location does work on WiFi-only devices, but not so much while driving etc. where you get spotty/no WiFi.

 

[raybo]

Why I appreciate the fact they are two different items, does anyone else find it annoying that if I have an iPhone with unlimited data and purchase a 3G iPad and want this same feature I am paying another premium amount? No discount for iPhone users. No combinations. If I'm doing a bunch of data work on the iPad it's doubtful I'm doing a bunch of data work on the iPhone at the same time. Again, I appreciate they are stand alone but I also don't pay 2x my bill for the second tv in my house.

So if I have an iPhone and get an iPad for the kid, then two users have a data plan. Under your plan, everyone would double up. What provider would allow this? You are asking for freebies. $15/$30 ARE DISCOUNT PRICES!!!!!

Ray

 

[NomadicTy]

This may be a stupid question, but is the SIM card replaceable? I can't find it anywhere in the Tech Specs. When I travel, I usually get a local SIM for my phone, and it would be great to be able to get a local SIM for the iPad as well to use the local 3G data sources. For example, I was just in the Philippines, where free wifi was hard to get, but they have cheap 3G data plans. It would be great to be able to use a Globe 3G data SIM on the iPad.

 

[aerospace]

Why I appreciate the fact they are two different items, does anyone else find it annoying that if I have an iPhone with unlimited data and purchase a 3G iPad and want this same feature I am paying another premium amount? No discount for iPhone users. No combinations. If I'm doing a bunch of data work on the iPad it's doubtful I'm doing a bunch of data work on the iPhone at the same time. Again, I appreciate they are stand alone but I also don't pay 2x my bill for the second tv in my house.

If you jailbrake your iphone it can act as an open wifi hotspot(though the guy next to you at starbucks may hop on your connection too)

 

[room237]

250MB is NOTHING. Who'd want to pay $15 a month and use the iPad to do nothing but read emails and never download an attachment?

 

[Small White Car]

250MB is NOTHING. Who'd want to pay $15 a month and use the iPad to do nothing but read emails and never download an attachment?

You just described a typical business trip.

I'll often spend $5 - $20 on Wifi for my laptop over the course of a 3 day business trip.

250 MB if fine for 3 days. I'd pay for it.

 

[alywa]

250MB is NOTHING. Who'd want to pay $15 a month and use the iPad to do nothing but read emails and never download an attachment?

250mb is a huge amount of data for what MOST people do (reading emails, surfing the web, using maps, downloading and reading books or magazines, etc) on a business trip. People who routinely do more (ie download porn or other movies, constantly up and download photos, etc) are going to opt for the unlimited plan, or much more likely, use their laptops with a wifi connection or 3G card.

I don't think you really understand the point of this device.

 

[paulyras]

Like I am going to spend an extra $30/month.

Let me fix that for you...

I am going to spend an extra $30/month.

 

[fishcove]

Non-American users?

What are the chances that this deal is restricted to Americans?

It would be great if I could sign up for a month when traveling in the States, but would that require a US credit card/address?

 

[Le Big Mac]

Could one take the SIM associated with these data plans and install them in an unlocked (or even locked, since it's still AT&T) iPhone? Will AT&T be able to "lock out" certain devices?

This does seem like a nice set up for iPads--fair pricing and fair terms for the user, without hidden gotcha penalties.

 

[garysturn]

Wow, something you normally don't see from cell company's. They automatically have the option to bump you to unlimited plan once you cap the 250Mb plan. Why wouldn't you do the 250 and try to save some money each month and if you go over you just pay for unlimited.

I will surely be getting the 3g model now.

It also allows you to add another 250MB of data and 30 more days when your data runs out. This may even be a better option than bumping to unlimited. If you have used more than 250MB in the first 15 days bump it to unlimited, if it took you 25 days to use the 250MB just start the 30 day clock over with a new 250MB, which ever is cheaper, great plan. 250MB every 20 days is cheaper than unlimited every 30 days. It even sounds like you can set it in advance to auto expire when your data or time runs out or to auto renew.

 

[pjgeer]

What are the chances that this deal is restricted to Americans?

It would be great if I could sign up for a month when traveling in the States, but would that require a US credit card/address?

I know that Canada may not know what 3G plans are on offer for iPad until maybe June, at least that is what the rumors are.

Pj

 

[oliverb]

International Plan - how much? same terms?

I guess we all saw the "Add International Plan" - presumably for international roaming. On the iPhone that is managed via ATT contract and then "data roaming" setting. Any idea here, what the deal is? I travel regularly, and if I can do data on the iPad at a regular rate, it might be interesting...

 

[manneca]

Removable SIM

This may be a stupid question, but is the SIM card replaceable? I can't find it anywhere in the Tech Specs. When I travel, I usually get a local SIM for my phone, and it would be great to be able to get a local SIM for the iPad as well to use the local 3G data sources. For example, I was just in the Philippines, where free wifi was hard to get, but they have cheap 3G data plans. It would be great to be able to use a Globe 3G data SIM on the iPad.

I'd certainly like the same capability. I'm planning a round the world trip and I'd love to be able to buy a SIM card in, say, Malaysia to use for a month there and then another one for another country. Since it's tied to ATT in the US, I would doubt there is a way to do this. Otherwise, one could just swap out the SIM for a Verizon SIM. Does this thinking make sense?

 

[AlphaBob]

The entire REASON I'd probably buy 3G data is because I showed up at some flea-bag motel in the middle of nowhere and discovered they don't have internet (or want to charge $10 or something).

Your characterization of "flea-bag" hotel is entirely wrong, my friend. Most inexpensive hotels, even in the middle of nowhere, offer Free Internet, Free Local Calls, etc. It is the EXPENSIVE hotels that have the nerve to charge you $14.95 for 24 hours of internet service (and $1 to make a local call).

So surf away for free at Motel 6 in Beatty, NV, but expect to pay big time at the Venetian in Vegas.

But I understand your point.

 

[oliverb]

I'd certainly like the same capability. I'm planning a round the world trip and I'd love to be able to buy a SIM card in, say, Malaysia to use for a month there and then another one for another country. Since it's tied to ATT in the US, I would doubt there is a way to do this. Otherwise, one could just swap out the SIM for a Verizon SIM. Does this thinking make sense?

Good question. In the keynote, SJ said something about probably most SIMs would just work, when discussing international users. Implies that the user can swap them...

 

[Zorrow]

This may be a stupid question, but is the SIM card replaceable? I can't find it anywhere in the Tech Specs. When I travel, I usually get a local SIM for my phone, and it would be great to be able to get a local SIM for the iPad as well to use the local 3G data sources. For example, I was just in the Philippines, where free wifi was hard to get, but they have cheap 3G data plans. It would be great to be able to use a Globe 3G data SIM on the iPad.

I would think the card is removable, as stated on the site :

What's in the box:
iPad
Dock Connector to USB Cable
10W USB Power Adapter
SIM eject tool (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
Documentation

Remember that they uses MICRO-Sims (from website)
Micro SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

not sure what International carrier uses...

 

[John.B]

I wish the data plan for the iPhone worked the same way...

 

[reckless2k2]

That's sure how they made it SOUND like it will work.

Now, clearly, they could be hiding the truth but IF your guess is right that revelation would be an even bigger deal than the first iPhone price drop.

It would be PR suicide.

I really, really can't imagine them surprising everyone with that at the last minute. I just don't see it happening.

This is all just the Apple side of things. We haven't heard from AT&T and the activation fee is always in the small print. I think last time around I was charged $18 for activation of a phone.

I'll be surprised if AT&T doesn't charge an activation and you can just activate or re-activate whenever you feel like. That would be a surprising model to me.