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CEO Confirms All iPads on T-Mobile Receive 200MB Free Data Each Month
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I just wanted to add my experience on this as well. My previous iPad was Wifi, but when I read about the free data on T-Mobile I decided to buy one of the cellular models instead.
I picked it up at the Apple store with in-store pickup option. I brought it home, and went to the cellular settings on the device. I tapped the sign-up button, filled out a form with name, address, phone, e-mail, etc. Never got asked for a credit card number at all. So in the end, I never had to directly deal with anyone at T-Mobile to set it up.
After finishing the sign up process, I got a confirmation e-mail and data worked just fine.
The only strange thing is the e-mail that I got:
I'm not sure if this means the free data was only for the first month, or if the post implies that it is ongoing.
The other thing that was unusual is that the terms of service you have to agree to is not adapted for this type of device. The majority of it was regarding stuff like service contracts and there was some stuff about 911 service, much was not applicable. There was nothing in the terms that made it sound like the deal was only for the first month, until I got the e-mail quoted above. So that part is still a bit confusing.
I picked it up at the Apple store with in-store pickup option. I brought it home, and went to the cellular settings on the device. I tapped the sign-up button, filled out a form with name, address, phone, e-mail, etc. Never got asked for a credit card number at all. So in the end, I never had to directly deal with anyone at T-Mobile to set it up.
After finishing the sign up process, I got a confirmation e-mail and data worked just fine.
The only strange thing is the e-mail that I got:
(Real device number removed for obvious reasons)
I'm not sure if this means the free data was only for the first month, or if the post implies that it is ongoing.
The other thing that was unusual is that the terms of service you have to agree to is not adapted for this type of device. The majority of it was regarding stuff like service contracts and there was some stuff about 911 service, much was not applicable. There was nothing in the terms that made it sound like the deal was only for the first month, until I got the e-mail quoted above. So that part is still a bit confusing.
I'm gonna have to pick up a T-mobile retina Mini now. Can't pass up that free data! I'll probably never use it, but it's nice insurance if I do need it.
T-mobile cellular
I also thought Apple's wording only was confusing. "Choose a network carrier.
Your iPad will work only with the carrier you choose." I was seriously close to buying a 32gb iPad with cellular until I read that, and then I decided to reconsider. If it is just a sim card swap, they need to make that clear. A $130 investment is quite a lot to be tethered to only one carrier.
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It probably gives you a service end date because your plan is month-to-month. Either that, or they want you to visit t-mobile.com at some point in the next 30 days to enter more info.
I also thought Apple's wording only was confusing. "Choose a network carrier.
Your iPad will work only with the carrier you choose." I was seriously close to buying a 32gb iPad with cellular until I read that, and then I decided to reconsider. If it is just a sim card swap, they need to make that clear. A $130 investment is quite a lot to be tethered to only one carrier.
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It probably gives you a service end date because your plan is month-to-month. Either that, or they want you to visit t-mobile.com at some point in the next 30 days to enter more info.
I have two iPhones on m grandfathered ATT plan.
Look's like I'll get my iPad Air for T-mobile. This is a good plan compared to AT&T's.
Look's like I'll get my iPad Air for T-mobile. This is a good plan compared to AT&T's.
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Early this AM I was able to active a new SIM on my iPad 3 without any issue and get the free 200mb/month. However today when I picked up my 128gb iPad Air I have had problems. It keeps alternating with "you are out of data" and "you do not have an active cellular plan" dialogs when I try to set it up by going to Safari. Sometimes I just get the dialog right away, other times I get the first page and then get and error when I click "Register/Activate". So seems like they still have some things to work out.
Make it 200GB and I'm in - otherwise, uh . . . I burn through 200MB every few minutes on my iPhone using LTE, so . . . .
It's like those sites that offer 20GB "free" disk space in the cloud - not very helpful, as I have several terabytes of data I'd need to back up to be of any use.
It's like those sites that offer 20GB "free" disk space in the cloud - not very helpful, as I have several terabytes of data I'd need to back up to be of any use.
Tried to get this honored an hour ago at a T-Mobile location. They reiterated that I can only get the free 200mb post paid, meaning I'd have to pay the full price. I want to get this along with the 24 month finance plan and avoid that $10 fee...good idea to wait a few days?
Drove 5 mins to the Apple store and picked them up.
Jealous. I think I am going to do that now as well. I might have to wait for the check from selling my iPad 3. I was originally planning on putting down $200 & do the monthly payments through T-Mobile. Been a rough month on the wallet buying a iPhone 5s at full retail & now the iPad. Lol.
If you buy T-Mobile products at the Apple store do they do the 24 month financing or is that only if you buy directly from T-Mobile?
damn i must admit this makes me want to buy ipad air on tmobile.. what a deal
ahhh! what to do
would love clarification on whether these ipads are locked to tmobile
ahhh! what to do
would love clarification on whether these ipads are locked to tmobile
Thank you Mr. T-Mobile.
As a show of support for your leadership, I will get a cellular iPad Mini Retina, make sure there's a t-mobile sim in there, and then proceed to blow through the 200MB access for the sole purpose of letting you charge me for additional access and make your numbers look good.
As a show of support for your leadership, I will get a cellular iPad Mini Retina, make sure there's a t-mobile sim in there, and then proceed to blow through the 200MB access for the sole purpose of letting you charge me for additional access and make your numbers look good.
From a technical standpoint, probably. If you look at the technical specifications for iPad Air, they don't list all the carrier models separately like they used to (sort of like they're doing for the iPhone 5s now).
However, the other issue to consider is whether the carrier can handle devices with unknown-to-it IMEIs. This thread has some information about that (particularly from the third page on). One person had luck using the Verizon iPad Air on all networks tested except Sprint, which was not tested (I imagine going to Sprint or Verizon is more difficult than going away from them). Someone else got the T-Mobile iPad and tried to move it to Verizon, but Verizon wouldn't give them a SIM since Verizon didn't recognize the IMEI. Other posters seem to think that simply buying a nano SIM yourself would work (though it appears no one has tested that yet). Who knows what other combinations may be possible--it appears all should be technically possible, with it being just a matter of what the carriers actually allow (officially or unofficially).
Yes, wait a few for it to get sorted out. It's officially free!
For those whining about 200MB not being enough, it's free!
Casual surfing (not including watching a lot of Youtube) doesn't really use much data. My average cell phone data use is 100-200 MB per month. Obviously I'm not a power user.
Wish I'd ordered the cellular iPad now.
Same thing happened to me when I purchased mine this morning. Decided to call customer service about 30 min ago and they said the same thing. Because I don't have a voice account I will be charged $10/mth for 200MB of data.
I was told I couldn't buy it without signing up for a $30 plan. The guy at tmobile told me that they don't have contracts, but he would not sell it to me without a $30 "plan." When I said I could just buy it at apple without a plan, he said you should. Lol, an employee like this really should be terminated, just refusing business and being rude.
Tmobile has been doing everything the right way lately to grow their customer base. I will be buying the mini retina with them.