LTE sign up not available on New iPad?

[number84]

in addition to what you said above:
PLUS I believe you have to give 30 days notice to cancel a monthly wireless service even though there's no contract, at least in Rogers case.

also, aside from waiving the $35 activation fee (for now), there's that scammy $1.93/mo GRRF fee that Rogers is presently waiving, but I'm certain they'll tack it back on after the current 2 month promo.

One of the reasons I went with Telus instead of Rogers. Plus Rogers doesn't support DC-HSPA and I'm mostly in a non LTE area.

^ Ok, updated.

I actually want to give Rogers my money even though I can tether with my iPhone for free. I'd be willing to pay the $11 for sharing my iPhone plan but Rogers wants me to give up my 6GB grandfathered plan to do so. Well, they can suck it. I'm just going to tether the iPad to my iPhone.

Can't you switch to one of their newer 6Gb plans that offer sharing? Or do those not exist?

 

[Night Spring]

2) You must sign up for the $5 flex plan for tablets to get LTE/3G, this is NOT a contract but just a month to month service that can be cancelled without penalty. You must go through a credit check to have this done. You will have to recreate your account and pass another credit check if you cancel and wish to reactivate your service, so it's better to just turn off Cellular Data when your not using it and pay the $5 a month fee for using less than 10mb of data instead of cancelling your account.

Oh, dear. That just sounds like a made-up requirement to scam users out of $5 a month for something they aren't using. Is there any valid reasons for this, or shouldn't someone be calling in government regulators to take a look into this?

 

[b.c.]

I work for one of the big 3 so even though I didn't read much of this thread I'd like to clear some things up.
...
3) I hate to say it but USA travellers are pretty much screwed if they come to Canada with a 3rd Gen iPad hoping for data. Sorry USA, we love when you visit Canada but our Wireless cell companies are greedy.
4)There is no Apple restriction on Canada that prevents the use of prepaid data, it's pure greed from the Big 3.
...

@Saberon thanks for confirming the above, as well as the other points. we all knew as much was true

@ipedro I have the old grandfathered 6GB plan on my iPhone as well, but it's a business phone and my iPad is for personal use so ideally I keep the plans separate. But I thought that plan WOULD allow the addition of the data sharing add-on?

but regardless I don't want to pay an extra $11 every month for occasional 3G/4G data on the iPad. my use iPad pattern is mostly WiFi at home, but a few times a year when I travel I want cellular data. So with my iPad 1 the Rogers prepaid on-device activation worked nicely for travel in Canada, then I have an AT&T SIM for US travel and can buy local SIM for travel overseas.

But Rogers is arbitrarily disallowing the old style and VERY convenient prepaid plans with the new iPad. Boo Rogers!

 

[aristotle]

Ok, you hate Rogers then why go with them? There are several choices to choose from. Don't be lazy and do some research first.

If you are worried about a credit check then what the heck are you doing buying an iPad in the first place? Shouldn't you be working on fixing your credit rating before spending money that you cannot afford to spend?

The residency requirement is really not that unusual. In Japan, you cannot get cellular service either except through either roaming (expensive) or a "rental" sim.

The lack of prepaid is not an iPad specific issue but rather a result of carriers not being ready to offer prepaid for LTE since it is a brand new network. There will eventually be prepaid for LTE but not in time for the iPad launch.

 

[wallman]

Hmm, weird. The Canada Apple Store page for the new iPad says:

"A range of data plans are available and most don’t require a contract."

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select_ipad

As for the iPad 2, it says:

"A range of data plans are available and most don’t require a contract."
"Some plans can even be started right on the iPad."

http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select_ipad2

So I guess the omission of "plans can even be started right on the iPad" sentence for the new iPad sums up that inability, but I guess it depends on your carrier as to if you can get a contract-free plan.

This situation has been bothering me since the launch. I really want to be able to activate my data plan from my iPad.



http://www.apple.com/ca/ipad/4g/

No-contract data service.
To enable cellular data service on your iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G, you need a micro-SIM card and a data plan. A number of carriers offer no-contract data plans for iPad, and you can activate service anytime after installing the micro-SIM card; some plans can even be activated right on the iPad. Micro-SIM cards are available from the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores and directly from carriers; contact your carrier for details.

I have added the emphasis. So what I have been reading, this is not possible with any of the Canadian carriers. Therefore this statement is a lie. Unless somebody can point out a carrier that allows on device data activation, either that phrase has to come off the advertising or we Canadian's get on device data activation.

And as somebody else pointed out, travelers to Canada will be screwed.

I am glad to hear I can take my new iPad down to the US, pop in a LTE sim and purchase data. Just like I could with my iPad 2.

Now if AT&T would just clarify the hotspot feature for the new iPad.

 

[ipedro]

Can't you switch to one of their newer 6Gb plans that offer sharing? Or do those not exist?

the closest to the $30 6GB plan that I have grandfathered is a $35 5GB. With my iPhone alone, I routinely hit close to 5GB. Add an LTE iPad and I need more than 6GB, not less.

 

[Eulacia]

2) You must sign up for the $5 flex plan for tablets to get LTE/3G, this is NOT a contract but just a month to month service that can be cancelled without penalty.

Hi Saberon,

I need to visit the US from time to time so I figured that my best bet was to subscribe to a US/Canada one rate flex plan. However, can I change this plan to a regular flex at 5$ on the months I don't need to travel?

I trust you know if there a trick in there.

Thanks again for you precious insight

 

[kocoman]

What are the speeds on LTE vs HSPA for the big 3 ?

 

[b.c.]

Ok, you hate Rogers then why go with them? There are several choices to choose from. Don't be lazy and do some research first.

None of Rogers, Telus, and Bell here in Canada offer on-device activated prepaid data plans on the new iPad. You can only get those on the iPad 1 and iPad 2. there appears to be no other reason than greed to do that (as kindly confirmed by @Saberon).

The lack of prepaid is not an iPad specific issue but rather a result of carriers not being ready to offer prepaid for LTE since it is a brand new network. There will eventually be prepaid for LTE but not in time for the iPad launch.

Not true. Note: AFAIK the Canadian carriers will not even let you get 3G prepaid data for the new iPad. It has absolutely nothing to do with LTE. although I'm sure they'll gladly use LTE as an excuse. meanwhile the new iPad works fine with other carriers' prepaid 3G microSIM cards, I verified this on a recent overseas trip.