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iPad Headed to AT&T and Verizon Retail Stores on October 28th
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After reading David Pogue's review (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/technology/personaltech/02pogue.html?_r=1&ref=technology), I picked up the Virgin Mobile version of the mifi two weeks ago and have been using it off and on in the Los Angeles area. So far, I am impressed. The connection speeds are quite good, better than ATT 3G (I have the 3g iPad) in most places and I love being able to share the connection.
My complaints are pretty minor:
1. Setting up the mifi is a bit complicated. There are multiple passwords, a PIN, and a telephone number. Keeping everything straight is a little difficult even if you are accustomed to doing such things.
2. Virgin took almost a week to register my credit card even though the card was showing up as registered on the website.
3. On one occasion, Virgin was having problems with their website and it was showing that my account (tel. number of the mifi ) did not exist This was not correct and I received an email stating that the website was having problems and I should try later. Worked an hour later.
It's a good deal. I initially tried the 100 MB $10/10 days and now I am on the unlimited $40/month plan. Also, it is a very light weight device. You hardly notice that it is in your bag or pocket.
My complaints are pretty minor:
1. Setting up the mifi is a bit complicated. There are multiple passwords, a PIN, and a telephone number. Keeping everything straight is a little difficult even if you are accustomed to doing such things.
2. Virgin took almost a week to register my credit card even though the card was showing up as registered on the website.
3. On one occasion, Virgin was having problems with their website and it was showing that my account (tel. number of the mifi ) did not exist This was not correct and I received an email stating that the website was having problems and I should try later. Worked an hour later.
It's a good deal. I initially tried the 100 MB $10/10 days and now I am on the unlimited $40/month plan. Also, it is a very light weight device. You hardly notice that it is in your bag or pocket.
Folks, I think this confirms it. Apple is entering into a relationship with Verizon and a CDMA iPhone is sure to follow fairly soon (and probably a CDMA iPad also). To all you VZW haters out there, it was nice knowing you but there is no point in putting up a fight anymore. There is no way VZW would enter into this kind of agreement with Apple if they weren't going to get a CDMA iPhone/iPad at some point in the near future. Verizon is not selling the iPad just so they can sell a couple of MiFis, they're doing it for the big dog, the iPhone.
Close, the Verizon iPhone and iPad will not run off of CDMA, they will run on FIOS. There are some concerns that people dragging around miles of fiber everywhere they go will cause some issues. According to Verizon, the total number of fatalities will be trivial.
Maybe this is the begining of a relationship with Verizon. The next step might be iPad Version 2 could have built-in cell for Verizon's network. Test the waters to see if an iPhone would be next.
Not sure everyone agrees. One can look it at this way: Since Apple will never support CDMA, this was the only 'solution' Verizon can think of to sell ANYTHING with an Apple name on it. Show's desperation. For over 3 years, AT&T stores showcased the iPhone. Verizon had nothing. When was the last time Verizon had a line of customers outside their stores? Ever?
Don't get me wrong, the more carriers the better. However, if a CDMA iPad was just around the corner, why even offer this now?
I see it as a ramp-up of a partnership with Verizon (I like your comment of "earning it.") First, they start with this. Then, they can launch a CDMA and GSM iPad refresh in Spring and finally culminate with the CDMA iPhone next summer. No regular launch schedule is perturbed.
And for those who see this as a simple partnership of opportunity, that's not the case. Verizon is doing a special bundle for the iPad in that all previous MiFis were contract only and data plans started much more expensive. They tailored it specifically for the iPad.
yeah. VERIZON will sell the iPhone starting in January. been sleeping? its been posted here several times and NYT WSJ etc
Its beyond OFFICIAL- its a done deal.
watch a huge explosion in demand for it
"Windows is an antiquated OS"-WSJ Sept 2009
I don't know why people keep bringing this up. I have a wi fi only model and all the apps I have the use GPS to find your location work great. I have never had an app not find my location GPS chip or not.
Verizon has no need for a "desperation" tactic by doing this iPad/Mifi thing. How many Mifis do you think they are going to sell anyways through this deal? Not many. I'd say it's more of a good will effort by Verizon to help Apple push some units until Apple can release a CDMA iPhone/iPad in the coming months. Verizon is doing plenty fine with their line of Android products so there's no need for them to lower themselves just to kiss Apple's feet. Verizon is not going to be making much money of this iPad/Mifi arrangement.
And for 3 years, Verizon has weathered the annual iPhone storm and came out fine. Sure, they would have loved to have carried the iPhone during those years but they did fine without it.
Apple is probably worried about the impending release of Android tablets and doesn't want to give them free reign on the Verizon market like they allowed with the Android phones. The only reason Android is doing well right now is because of a complete lack of competition in the Verizon smartphone market. Apple is probably going to wait until the iPad 2 to release a CDMA version since it will probably come out early 2011 anyways. No point in releasing a CDMA iPad 1 right now and then release a CDMA iPad 2 in just 3 months.
If they copied the AT&T rules, you wouldn't be able to download an iTunes movie over 3G.
But I get your point - even if you were just streaming Netflix video and surfing the web, you could top 1GB easy.
MIFI pairing sucks. Another device to charge and worry about.
Took the words right out of my mouth!
EXACTLY! It's a done deal. I'm now 100% convinced iPhone is coming to Verizon in January 2011. I'm sure they wouldn't talk iPad only without touching on the iPhone. Personally I'm an AT&T guy, but I'm sure them Verizon peeps waiting for the iPhone might start off the new year with a new phone......
EXACTLY! It's a done deal. I'm now 100% convinced iPhone is coming to Verizon in January 2011. I'm sure they wouldn't talk iPad only without touching on the iPhone. Personally I'm an AT&T guy, but I'm sure them Verizon peeps waiting for the iPhone might start off the new year with a new phone......
The iPad finds your location on the wifi version of the iPad by the location of your network. I think some of it may be based off of the Google vans that drive around mapping wifi locations. They may also use your IP address.
On one of my trips to NYC, the Google van drove by as I was downloading some files. For sometime after that, the map location thought I was in Central Park every time I connected using my MiFi.
If you connect by wifi using a network that has been not been mapped or has been moved, your location will not be where you want it.
Apple is just getting friendlier w/ their bottom line. Besides Verizon, Ipads are going to be offered in Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Sam's Club stores starting this month.
3 questions that are left open by the Verizon iPad FAQ (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/ipad_faq.jsp) and haven't been covered by this thread:
1. Can the Verizon MiFi Plan bundled with the iPad be used with other devices?
2. Can I stop and go with the month-to-month plan and move up and down the bandwidth limit every month like the AT&T iPad plan?
3. I already have an iPad WiFi+3G, but I'm not a Verizon customer. Can I purchase JUST the MiFi and get the same month-to-month iPad plan?
1. Can the Verizon MiFi Plan bundled with the iPad be used with other devices?
2. Can I stop and go with the month-to-month plan and move up and down the bandwidth limit every month like the AT&T iPad plan?
3. I already have an iPad WiFi+3G, but I'm not a Verizon customer. Can I purchase JUST the MiFi and get the same month-to-month iPad plan?
Let me ask you this, for the same price (AT&T 3G+wifi versus the Verizon Wifi+Mifi) do you want an iPad with a GPS or without? Cell Phone triangulation is accurate within 'miles'. I know....I also have the wifi model. I should have waited for the 3G version.
Many if not most location based apps will also grab wifi location data or cell tower triangulation location data to determine location if GPS is not available. So location based apps could still work if the Mifi unit passes that information along to the iDevice. Yes I would prefer GPS myself.
You misunderstood my post. I'm responding to those who thought Apple would *never* deal with VZW.
Where are those folks now?
Again, iPhone on VZW may not be true for 2011, but it will happen eventually.
w00master
No credit....I actually sent this story to you
I like how they only have the WiFi model...the only way you connect to Verizon is through there MiFi...what a inconvenience...thanks I'll keep my AT&T model...good luck with that
What..you don't get it? You can connect up to four devices anywhere you go. So what's inconvenient about that? It's your own hot spot..