iPad Micro SIM in iPhone 4 for data only?

[JohnSFO]

I am working over in Australia for a couple of months and got the iPhone 4 on release in the UK on the 24 of June, the only micro sim available in Oz is for the iPad, so bought one with a view of using it for data purposes onlt on the Testra 3G network .... no joy, just keeps coming up with Invalid SIm, but previously was getting a signal, be it slight .... believe it has something to do with the network settings and configuration ..... can anyone help, achieved what I'm after or know for a fact its a lost cause???

Not sure if this will work, but the guys over at Hijinks have some crafty solutions for using an iPad SIM. This article is titled "Activating an iPad 3G Micro SIM Without an iPad":

http://hijinksinc.com/2010/07/08/activating-an-ipad-3g-micro-sim-without-an-ipad/

And then there's the original article titled "Using a Micro SIM in an iPhone 3G" [and 3GS]:

http://hijinksinc.com/2010/05/14/using-a-micro-sim-in-an-iphone-3g/

Hope this helps.

 

[slavetonone]

iPad sim in an iPhone 4

Yes. You will have to change the APN. No jailbreaking

I keep reading people talk about changing the APN but how do you do this? If I want to use my iPad 3G SIM (unlimited plan) in my iPhone 4, what do I need to do exactly? Just put the sim in the iPhone and change the APN in the iPhone 4? If so, what do I need to change the iPhone 4 APN to and how/where etc?

Thank you in advance for all your help!

 

[aneftp]

I keep reading people talk about changing the APN but how do you do this? If I want to use my iPad 3G SIM (unlimited plan) in my iPhone 4, what do I need to do exactly? Just put the sim in the iPhone and change the APN in the iPhone 4? If so, what do I need to change the iPhone 4 APN to and how/where etc?

Thank you in advance for all your help!

In order to change the APN, you need to either have a factory unlocked iPhone 4 or jailbreak ur currently locked iPhone 4. So far no jailbreak has been released for iPhone 4.

Once you jailbreak changing the APN is easy. Just change your iPhone 4 APN setting from "phone" to "broadband" which is the reverse of what you would do if you would put your iPhone 4 microSIm into your iPad.

 

[CarboysDesire]

I received a Google Alert about this topic with tbis link:

http://www.differentdistrict.com/more.php?id=3843_0_25_0_C


It says:

"So you have bought both. The iPad 3G and the new iPhone 4. I understand what your thinking. I do not want to pay for internet twice. Theirs a simple fix, that does not include jail breaking. Simply take your iPhone Micro Sim and put it in your iPad. More instructions after break.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Now go into settings, go to cellular data and change the APN settings to the following.

APN - wap.cingular
Username - WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password - CINGULAR1

Isn't this great? Free 3G for you're iPad

Thanks, Tuaw for the awesome tip."

 

[JohnSFO]

I keep reading people talk about changing the APN but how do you do this? If I want to use my iPad 3G SIM (unlimited plan) in my iPhone 4, what do I need to do exactly? Just put the sim in the iPhone and change the APN in the iPhone 4? If so, what do I need to change the iPhone 4 APN to and how/where etc?

Thank you in advance for all your help!

There's a step by step guide (with pictures!) on how to change the APN on this website:

http://hijinksinc.com/2010/05/14/usi...-an-iphone-3g/

Technically it's for an iPhone 3G/3GS and that's why most of the post is about adapting the iPad SIM to fit the older phones. But if you scroll down you'll get to the APN changes, which I suspect would be the same on the iPhone 4. No guarantees, but it might be worth a try. Luckily your SIM card is the same size.

Oh, BTW, you do not have to jailbreak or unlock the phone to make this work.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[ellsworth]

Everyone here knows that a micro-sim 3FF is electronically the same as a standard size SIM card. Sooooo unless AT&T is checking the serial number of the micro-sim against the terminal, an iPad sim should work in the new iPhone 4.

I believe this will be correct once the iPhone 4 is successfully jailbroken which it has been this morning. : Yippy!

P.S.

Has anyone tried using the hijinksinc.com hack to run their iPad MicroSim with in their iPhone 4 yet? All i will need is data on the iPhone 4 and if this works, I'm all in.
At&t and apple will soon allow people to purchase iPhones without a contract for an arm and a let. Awesome

 

[HiFiGuy528]

No need to jailbreak or unlock the iPhone. All you have to do is got to this site from your iPhone 4/ iPhone 3G/3GS and change the APN the broadband. Leave all other settings blank. hit create and you are done. BTW, you MUST be on wifi to do this. After that, turn off wifi and test your 3G service. Trust me, it works. I am using it on ju iPhone 4.

http://unlockit.co.nz/#_Home

 

[ellsworth]

No need to jailbreak or unlock the iPhone. All you have to do is got to this site from your iPhone 4/ iPhone 3G/3GS and change the APN the broadband. Leave all other settings blank. hit create and you are done. BTW, you MUST be on wifi to do this. After that, turn off wifi and test your 3G service. Trust me, it works. I am using it on ju iPhone 4.

http://unlockit.co.nz/#_Home

Beautiful. Can't wait to get my microSIM and activate it.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

I posted this in another thread. Here it is again.

- Install iPad Mico SIM in iPhone 4

- Turn on WiFi on iPhone

- From iPhone 4, go to this site. http://unlockit.co.nz

- Tap Custom APN, then enter Broadband in the APN field.

- Leaving the remaining fields blank, tap Create Profile, then tap Install, followed by Install Now on the popup.

- Tap Done, disable your WiFi and bask in the glory of $30 a month unlimited 3G.

- Reboot and enjoy.

Mike

 

[PCClone]

I want to use my tmobile sim in my iPad and have my company pay for all my data use.

 

[MacVault]

Ok, I'm itching to go buy my first ever iPhone today or tomorrow IF I can make it data only as is mentioned above. So, here are my questions:

1) Does this work on on iPhone 4 with iOS 4.1? How about 4.2?
2) Does the IMEI have to be changed so the ATT's network thinks it really is an iPad? If so, how do I do this? Is there any other way they could detect it and disable my data service?
3) Is there any way I can get on the $30/mo unlimited plan?
4) Do VOIP apps really work well enough over 3G so that I wouldn't miss the ATT voice service? (I don't use voice much anyway.)

Thanks!

 

[ellsworth]

1) Does this work on on iPhone 4 with iOS 4.1? How about 4.2?
I'm running iOS 4.1 on my iphone and everything is running smooth. I don't know about iOS 4.2 so I'm not sure if the trick above works or not on it.
2) Does the IMEI have to be changed so the ATT's network thinks it really is an iPad? If so, how do I do this? Is there any other way they could detect it and disable my data service?
The micro sim card needs to be activated on an iPad or a device that has an IMEI that the AT&T system recognizes as an iPad. This is only needed to activate the micro sim card. AT&T Needs to recognize the sim card as an iPad simcard in order to give you the option to use the sim card as an iPad data plan
3) Is there any way I can get on the $30/mo unlimited plan?
The Only way to get the $30/mo unlimited plan is to be grandfathered into it. Actually, now that I think about it, there is no grandfather status for the iPad unless you had the unlimited iPad data plan prior to AT&T cutting the cord.
4) Do VOIP apps really work well enough over 3G so that I wouldn't miss the AT&T voice service? (I don't use voice much anyway.)
Don't have any experience with this.
Thanks!

Hope this helps out.
I would honestly suggest only having a data plan if you have another source of making phone calls until the whole VOIP things becomes more stable.

 

[MacVault]

Hope this helps out.
I would honestly suggest only having a data plan if you have another source of making phone calls until the whole VOIP things becomes more stable.

1) Are you using iPhone 4?
2) Bummer because I don't have an iPad Is there anyway to modify the IMEI so ATT thinks it's an iPad activating the SIM?
3) Is it the SIM which is grandfathered into unlimited data so maybe I could buy such a SIM on ebay??? Or is it tied to the customer's account?

Damn! Why as we head into the future do data plans go from unlimited to caped / metered while data requirements are going the other direction???

 

[ellsworth]

1) Are you using iPhone 4?
2) Bummer because I don't have an iPad Is there anyway to modify the IMEI so ATT thinks it's an iPad activating the SIM?
3) Is it the SIM which is grandfathered into unlimited data so maybe I could buy such a SIM on ebay??? Or is it tied to the customer's account?

Damn! Why as we head into the future do data plans go from unlimited to caped / metered while data requirements are going the other direction???

1) Yes
2) Do a quick search on these here forums or on google. There are a couple clever ways to do it without having an iPad. It's actually very easy with a little time and patience. I'm not on my computer so I can't point you where I need to right now.
3) The account would need to have the unlimited plan. I mentioned "Grandfathered in" at first because with iPhones, if a family member or someone you know who currently has the unlimited plan can easily add you into their plan giving you access to an unlimited data plan. It doesn't work this way as each iPad plan is an individual data plan and not a family plan like phones do it.

Why as we head into the future do data plans go from unlimited to caped / metered while data requirements are going the other direction???

Money $$$
Do you remember back in the day, Wireless networks were crying for people to invest in their SMS plans. Hell, Sprint once charges only 5 cents per text message if you didn't have an unlimited. Now it's like 25 cents per text. Same with Data Plans. All networks once offered unlimited plans and everyone had one because it was the most logically thing to do. Now that technology is advancing and so many devices demand constant wireless data, Wireless companies are feeding off of this ideology like it's digital oil. It's going to take another wireless company to come forward and offer an unlimited wireless data plans and profit from it for others to follow the leader and do the same.
First AT&T dropped their unlimited data plan and Verizon dropped it months later. It's sad.

 

[eq2675]

How about this - using an AT&T micro-SIM from an iPhone 4 with unlimited data on an iPad 3G without an active data plan.

Physically I know it'll work (micro-SIM is a micro-SIM), but I wonder if AT&T will be able to easily detect it.

I tried this exact test on AT&T USA Unlimited iPhone 4 plan and when I put the mico simm in the iPad it wanted me to sign up a a $15 or 25$ plan.

BTW, I have the regular micro simm in the iPad 3G and subscribe to the 2 GB $25 plan on a monthly basis.

 

[ellsworth]

I tried this exact test on AT&T USA Unlimited iPhone 4 plan and when I put the mico simm in the iPad it wanted me to sign up a a $15 or 25$ plan.

BTW, I have the regular micro simm in the iPad 3G and subscribe to the 2 GB $25 plan on a monthly basis.

Try this:

Verified it works. Took the iPhone 4 SIM and placed it into the iPad 3G tray, changed APN to wap.cingular. Works like a charm. It's annoying that both SIM trays don't work with each other which would make the swap a little less annoying.

Here's how to do it with an AT&T micro-sim from the iPhone 4:

1. Place the iPhone 4 sim card in the iPad.
2. Go to Settings>>Cellular Data, and change the word "broadband" to "phone."
3. 3G on your iPad.

Confirmed! It works 100%

 

[eq2675]

Try this:

Thanks, it worked!

 

[bwrairen]

Nevermind!

 

[nbrunskill]

Battery Drain

Has anyone else experienced significant battery drain using the iPad sim for data only? (I'd say 6-8 hours with idle/minimal usage)

Seems like a number of folks get this when changing the APN or using a fake APN. I assume when I use the data only iPhone SIM in my iPhone 3GS (which works well otherwise), its continually attempting to contact the voice part of the cellular network? I'm hoping to go data only and use VoIP on my iPhone, but not sure if I can handle the battery drain.

 

[gwerfr]

So to be sure...

"2) Does the IMEI have to be changed so the ATT's network thinks it really is an iPad? If so, how do I do this? Is there any other way they could detect it and disable my data service?
The micro sim card needs to be activated on an iPad or a device that has an IMEI that the AT&T system recognizes as an iPad. This is only needed to activate the micro sim card. AT&T Needs to recognize the sim card as an iPad simcard in order to give you the option to use the sim card as an iPad data plan"

With this said, I should be able to buy an iPhone 4 from Apple, take the sim out of the iPhone, activate it with my iPad, then put it back in my iphone 4 and have 3g data only, without having to jailbreak either one? Also, at the end of the 30 days, will one have to do the process over, or will the auto renew kick in? Thanks

 

[hohohong]

1) Yes
2) Do a quick search on these here forums or on google. There are a couple clever ways to do it without having an iPad. It's actually very easy with a little time and patience. I'm not on my computer so I can't point you where I need to right now.

I have an unactivated ATT iPad micro sim (I don’t have iPad). I plan to go down to US for a few days trip and use that iPad micro sim in my factory unlocked iPhone 4. Anyone know I can do this without iPad?

 

[ellsworth]

I have an unactivated ATT iPad micro sim (I don’t have iPad). I plan to go down to US for a few days trip and use that iPad micro sim in my factory unlocked iPhone 4. Anyone know I can do this without iPad?

The way that I know and the way I did is to download the iphone/iPad simulator in Apple's App Building bundle.

The simulator works exactly like a real iPad. Consider it a virtual iPad. The only drawback with this is it doesn't have an IMEI that is needed to access the account purchasing screen.

 

[Synapple]

Thanks everyone for this helpful thread.

One more noob question: I'm planning to buy a factory unlocked iPhone and use my iPad sim for 3G use.

Do I still need to have a different sim when first connecting the iPhone to iTunes in order to activate it or will I be able to play this trick without activation?

Sorry if it's a silly question but I'm not really sure what the activation process really entails.

thanks

 

[gngan]

It all depends on the carriers.

Here in HK, there are three main companies (3, Vodafone, 123) that offer data plan.

3 gives you two micro sim card when you purchase an iphone through them. One of iPad and one for iPhone 4 without additional charges.

123 will give you 1 micro sim card which, allow you to put your sim card into iPhone 4 and ipad without addition charge.

Vodafone stated in the terms and condition saying that you will need to purchase another data plan for iPad. Not sure if it will work if you just swap your iPhone 4's micro sim card though. I believe that even if it works; they will find out and charge you.

Conclusion: It all depends on the carrier.

 

[Synapple]

Thanks, I see what you mean: I plan on getting a factory unlocked iPhone so, according to the tip posted in this thread, I think I should be able to use the iPad sim in the iPhone for data only.

What I would like to know is whether the iPhone will effectively let me go to the website posted here over wifi so that I can change the apn even if it has never been activated before with a proper voice + data sim. I wouldn't want to end up with a brick!

Thanks