iPad Choosing the right iPad and wireless plan

[rpearlberg]

I was about to go buy the AT&T iPad this morning, but now after I read this I'm thinking about Verizon...

I was going to go AT&T because they offer 3GB for $30 as opposed to 2GB with Verizon.

Now what to do....

 

[JackieInCo]

I was about to go buy the AT&T iPad this morning, but now after I read this I'm thinking about Verizon...

I was going to go AT&T because they offer 3GB for $30 as opposed to 2GB with Verizon.

Now what to do....

Remember that the Verizon iPad won't get you LTE on AT&T.

 

[Sparticu$]

All ipads are SIM unlocked. They can be used on any gsm carrier.

 

[rpearlberg]

Ok, I need to decide today or tomorrow before I go on vacation...

I was going to get Verizon because it's usable on other networks with a different SIM and it can be used as a hotspot (right?). On the other hand I should go with AT&T because that is where my iPhone is and we have U-Verse, and they have the 3GB for $30, instead of 2GB for Verizon...

What to do....

 

[Plutonius]

Ok, I need to decide today or tomorrow before I go on vacation...

I was going to get Verizon because it's usable on other networks with a different SIM and it can be used as a hotspot (right?). On the other hand I should go with AT&T because that is where my iPhone is and we have U-Verse, and they have the 3GB for $30, instead of 2GB for Verizon...

What to do....

I thought people were saying that the AT&T could also be used on other networks ? I thought the only thing you were losing by choosing AT&T over Verizon was the hotspot ?

 

[sixstrings03]

So is there any model of iPad which gets you LTE on all the US carriers? Is there any model which gives broadest high-speed network coverage outside of the US?

Seems tough to find a chart to compare them this way

 

[JackieInCo]

So is there any model of iPad which gets you LTE on all the US carriers? Is there any model which gives broadest high-speed network coverage outside of the US?

Seems tough to find a chart to compare them this way

I get LTE on AT&T and T-Mobile using my AT&T iPad Mini. I think the iPad 4 would be the same.

The Verizon iPad will not give you LTE on AT&T, not sure about T-Mobile.

 

[CausticPuppy]

I'm trying to decide between a wifi and a cellular model.
This is what I found out from AT&T, I haven't gotten info from Verizon yet...
The cheapest option is to add the hotspot/tethering to my iPhone, but not sure if that's the best way to go...Thoughts?

Prepaid
No activation or termination fees
turn off and on as needed
$14.99 for the 250mb
$30 for the 3gb
$50 for the 5gb

iPad data plan:
$30 for 3GB, plus 17% discount
plus 2 year contract

Hotspot:
upgrade iPhone to 5GB plan (from 2GB) to use as hotspot:
$25 more ($50 total)
includes tethering and hotspot

If you have a Verizon iPhone (and one of the Share Everything plans, which is all they offer now) then tethering is already built-in to the plan.

So if tethering is available at no additional cost then it makes sense, aside from the hassle of enabling the hotspot and connecting to it (with impact to your iPhone battery life).

 

[KeepCalmPeople]

So is there any model of iPad which gets you LTE on all the US carriers? Is there any model which gives broadest high-speed network coverage outside of the US?

Seems tough to find a chart to compare them this way

Currently none of the iPad models offer LTE on all the major US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile). It is possible that the soon-to-be-announced updated iPads will include chips that cover LTE on all the US carriers I suppose.

You are asking a question with a complex answer, as carriers around the world are constantly changing their networks, buying and selling frequency spectrum and turning on services in different locations.

 

[Giuly]

The one that has reception in your area, the fastest download speed, the highest cap and costs the least.