Using Ipad in the US?

[cassandra44]

I am about to buy an ipad and debating which model to get. We go down to Florida for a month each year and I'm wondering whether I should get the 3G model and whether I will be able to get a plan down there for just 1 month?
We have a router at home here in Canada and for most of the year the wifi model would be just fine for us.
The other issue is that we have sympatico email and I'm not sure how easy it is to access sympatico email via the ipad.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Capt T]

You will need to get an AT&T sim card for use in the US.

Here is the pricing:

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/ipad.jsp

Data per month Price per month
250 MB $14.99
2 GB $25.00


Here is the link for the sim card:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/accessory-details/?q_sku=sku4530230


it is $15

The way it works is you sign up for it and then you will need to remember to cancel it at the end of the month.

Also there is a thread somewhere on this site about using a foreign credit card with AT&T service.

Edit: Here is a link to one of them

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/960076/

 

[iPad242]

Easy. Get just the WiFi version and use VirginMobiles MiFi. It's only 149 for the device (pay once) and then $40 a month UNLIMITED data when you need it. The best thing is, you can pay as you need it. No credit check. Noo contract. And other people can use it since it acts as an Access Point.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/mifi-2200.html

 

[nixiemaiden]

The AT&T coverage in florida is pretty decent.

I suggest getting the 3G over the mifi though because you would be able to use it In Canada or in other countries. While the mifi is awesome, I think it only works in us.

I use the mifi and I used it to stream pandora for an entire 2 hour drive during which I only hit 1 deadspot and it was for less than a minute.

Also, I live in florida so the coverage for both is pretty good.

 

[sushi]

Here is the link for the sim card:

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/accessory-details/?q_sku=sku4530230

it is $15

The way it works is you sign up for it and then you will need to remember to cancel it at the end of the month.

I live in Japan and purchased a Japanese iPad 3G and signed up for Softbank's 2 year data plan. In Japan, 3G is locked to Softbank.

Recently, I traveled to the US for a couple of weeks and tried AT&T. It worked great. The local shop in Seattle and gave me the micro-SIM card. I expect to pay something, but it was free since it was not a replacement.

I suggest getting the 3G over the mifi

Agree with this -- unless you have a laptop or other WiFi devices that you want to connect.

With the 3G, you get much better battery life than the Virgin MiFi or Verizon MiFi. Plus you only need to carry your iPad 3G and not an additional device.

FWIW, traveling with my iPad 3G without any other devices was wonderful. Worked great everywhere I went in the US. No need to look for a open WiFi spot. Plus with the 3G model, you get GPS which was wonderful for navigation.

 

[Cartaphilus]

Another option which I have used in circumstances very similar to yours is to take advantage of the Comcast cable connection in the place I rented. For a reasonable amount (I wish I could recall the precise amount) Comcast will provide 30-day Internet cable modem service as well as the use of their modem. I connected it to an Airport Express (great to have when AirPlay for the iPad comes out in a couple of months in any case) and I had high speed wifi for all our devices.

We had the cooperation of the landlord/account holder, but we paid cash up front at the Comcast office so no net charge affected his bill.

 

[foiden]

Easy. Get just the WiFi version and use VirginMobiles MiFi. It's only 149 for the device (pay once) and then $40 a month UNLIMITED data when you need it. The best thing is, you can pay as you need it. No credit check. Noo contract. And other people can use it since it acts as an Access Point.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/mifi-2200.html

A very nice deal. Not necessarily cheaper than if you already had the 3G one. But a great deal if you just have Wi-fi. It's about time the Mifi stuff starts to be competitive. Now, of course, it does have it's quirks and issues. The main one being battery-life. If there's one thing VirginMobile can do, to make this device totally irresistable for the price, is to nearly double that battery life on it.

3 hours tops seems kind of too short. Especially when using something like an iPad. A device known for it's battery life. Being used to typical iPad usage, the Mifi battery would seem to run out before you know it.

But seriously. The short battery life is precisely the part that made me hesitate on the deal. But I definitely have to say that it has the most competitive pricing points of the Mi-Fi devices. A good way to make competition bring costs down.

 

[cassandra44]

Thanks

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!
I just need to find out now whether we can easily access our email...