Verizon Including Mobile Hotspot in iPad Data Plans at No Additional Charge
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Huracan
macrumors 6502
I'm not planning to buy a "new iPad". I'm still quite happy with the iPad 2. However, if I were to change my mind and buy one I think there is no color, I would go with Verizon at this point. Way better 4G coverage, hotspot, etc. I am with AT&T for my iPhone and iPad 2. Which is ok at this point. However, for a new iPad I would definitely not consider AT&T at this point. Plain and simple.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
But it was stated at the event yesterday that it's a dormant feature that the carrier must enable. So if ATT doesn't want to support it it doesn't have to. It's just like the tethering feature on the iPhone. The carrier has complete control over who can use it and who can't. That's why I'm confused ATT says it is talking with Apple.
From Apple's website:
Nocommitment data plans from AT&T or Verizon
In the U.S., you can choose from data plans with no long-term contract.
About to buy
Couple questions for all of you before I buy:
1.) Who has the better 4G network? Att or vzw?
2.) I know my house won't get 4G reception, so if there is no 4G service, does it change over to 3G? If so, who has the better 3G network?
3.) My iPhones are on ATT because it's unlimited and the talk and surf. But does that even matter on the new iPad since there is no phone aspect?
4.) What carrier would you sign up with? I need to know before I order...I'm getting antsy!
thanks
Couple questions for all of you before I buy:
1.) Who has the better 4G network? Att or vzw?
2.) I know my house won't get 4G reception, so if there is no 4G service, does it change over to 3G? If so, who has the better 3G network?
3.) My iPhones are on ATT because it's unlimited and the talk and surf. But does that even matter on the new iPad since there is no phone aspect?
4.) What carrier would you sign up with? I need to know before I order...I'm getting antsy!
thanks
TroyBoy30
macrumors 68030
Verizon's is larger.....for now att's is faster
Att's 3G is much faster always has been. Who cares if it's choked to death if it's still faster lol
Mark Booth
macrumors 68000
I have an AT&T iPhone. I live in San Diego and have no issues whatsoever with AT&T's service and coverage area. I get 5-7 mbit/sec download on my iPhone with AT&T. Regularly.
Likewise, when we travel the country by car (which has been a fair bit the last few years), I find AT&T's service to be completely acceptable. It's not as fast in many cities but I don't have issues with dropped calls, etc.
That said...
With 4G LTE it's a different game as far as I'm concerned. AT&T's LTE network is in its infancy compared to Verizon. Yes, AT&T's LTE is a bit faster. But both of them can get well over 20 mbit/s. Sorry, but once my data is flowing that fast I couldn't care less if it's 22 mbit/s or 26 mbit/s.
Since Verizon's "slower" LTE network is still above 20 mbit/s, it make sense to me to choose Verizon for LTE service because they have a substantially bigger LTE network.
My Verizon LTE iPad was ordered yesterday. This news today about using it as a free mobile hotspot is icing on the cake! Now I can legally tether my MacBook Pro when we travel!! Yeah!
Mark
Likewise, when we travel the country by car (which has been a fair bit the last few years), I find AT&T's service to be completely acceptable. It's not as fast in many cities but I don't have issues with dropped calls, etc.
That said...
With 4G LTE it's a different game as far as I'm concerned. AT&T's LTE network is in its infancy compared to Verizon. Yes, AT&T's LTE is a bit faster. But both of them can get well over 20 mbit/s. Sorry, but once my data is flowing that fast I couldn't care less if it's 22 mbit/s or 26 mbit/s.
Since Verizon's "slower" LTE network is still above 20 mbit/s, it make sense to me to choose Verizon for LTE service because they have a substantially bigger LTE network.
My Verizon LTE iPad was ordered yesterday. This news today about using it as a free mobile hotspot is icing on the cake! Now I can legally tether my MacBook Pro when we travel!! Yeah!
Mark
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I understand your situation and argument and I dont disagree there is a space for them. My issue is with the average consumer who already has a smartphone plan they pay $30 per month for who will also sign up for the monthly iPad data plan.
It isn't logical especially when you add in the $49 per month most people are paying for broadband at home. You are talking $100-$110 per month in fees just to have Internet access. Most people cannot afford that yet so many are doing it and it does not make economic sense.
If people didn't spend so freely on the awful options that cell phone companies have given us for data plans, then maybe we would have better options. Until the consumer votes with their wallet it won't happen.
Now the idea of an iPad as your mobile data hub is intriguing if the tethering free.
Do you think the average user needs to be THAT connected? It's different if you need it for business. I need e-mail on my phone for work, if I didn't I would probably get rid of my smartphone. Now kids have these things - so a family of 4 with 4 smart phones is paying a ton of money for data. Imagine a family of 4 with 4 smartphones and 4 IPads with monthly service. It's crazy.
I'm not saying that is the norm but I'm sure it's happening, and we wonder why the economy tanked when people couldn't make their mortgage payments (I know it's not that simple but you get my point).
rumoria said:
I understand your situation and argument and I dont disagree there is a space for them. My issue is with the average consumer who already has a smartphone plan they pay $30 per month for who will also sign up for the monthly iPad data plan.
It isn't logical especially when you add in the $49 per month most people are paying for broadband at home. You are talking $100-$110 per month in fees just to have Internet access. Most people cannot afford that yet so many are doing it and it does not make economic sense.
If people didn't spend so freely on the awful options that cell phone companies have given us for data plans, then maybe we would have better options. Until the consumer votes with their wallet it won't happen.
Now the idea of an iPad as your mobile data hub is intriguing if the tethering free.
Do you think the average user needs to be THAT connected? It's different if you need it for business. I need e-mail on my phone for work, if I didn't I would probably get rid of my smartphone. Now kids have these things - so a family of 4 with 4 smart phones is paying a ton of money for data. Imagine a family of 4 with 4 smartphones and 4 IPads with monthly service. It's crazy.
I'm not saying that is the norm but I'm sure it's happening, and we wonder why the economy tanked when people couldn't make their mortgage payments (I know it's not that simple but you get my point).
Specifically to your point, most people don't need to be that connected or "internet" connected at all. Do you remember even just 2-3 years ago when smartphones were the minority device pushed by carriers, feature phones with QWERTY keyboards with e-mail functionality were available. Where are the feature phones with the $10/mo email/mobile web dataplans now...they are almost extinct. Couple the push by the carriers to move upmarket for increased margins along with the social stigma of having an "old" or "dumb" phone and people are spending way more than they probably should.
In the future, once things like NFC are common and the need for smartphones is truly legitimate for almost everyone, I'd hope that the amount of money we have to spend on these devices and the network usage is more reasonable. As we both agree, paying for multiple independent dataplans is just flat out ridiculous and the carriers are just milking it until either US consumers or FCC/Congress steps in and forces reasonable rates and datasharing plans.
jbkalla
macrumors newbie
I thought this sounded awesome! Finally! But then I realized, if I have the iPad with me, I probably won't need to get out my laptop for much. Maybe it would be nice to share the connection with others, but the stupid cap is so small that you'd really only want to do that for emergencies.
This is about 10 years too late, and should have happened on the phones. Still, I guess it's a start. However, it's not nearly enough to convince me that I shouldn't dump wireless altogether and just keep my iPhone 4S for emergencies (in a couple years). I'm sick of monthly charges sucking my bank account dry. We have too many monthly charges in our lives. I've already dumped my cable TV, and only use Comcast for the internet connection. I have an Ooma phone, and it's really probably enough for me. If I get rid of Verizon, I'll have an extra $80/mo I can not spend. Don't get me wrong, I think Verizon is the best of the bunch, and I've ordered the Verizon iPad, but I'm sick of new and increasing monthly charges. I spend most of my life at home and at work, and work won't let us have mobile phones, so it really isn't super-useful for me.
Anybody want to join me in (admittedly slowly!) cutting the cords..? I'm paying $100/mo for internet access, and would like that to eventually be my only monthly charge, besides small dollar music services.
This is about 10 years too late, and should have happened on the phones. Still, I guess it's a start. However, it's not nearly enough to convince me that I shouldn't dump wireless altogether and just keep my iPhone 4S for emergencies (in a couple years). I'm sick of monthly charges sucking my bank account dry. We have too many monthly charges in our lives. I've already dumped my cable TV, and only use Comcast for the internet connection. I have an Ooma phone, and it's really probably enough for me. If I get rid of Verizon, I'll have an extra $80/mo I can not spend. Don't get me wrong, I think Verizon is the best of the bunch, and I've ordered the Verizon iPad, but I'm sick of new and increasing monthly charges. I spend most of my life at home and at work, and work won't let us have mobile phones, so it really isn't super-useful for me.
Anybody want to join me in (admittedly slowly!) cutting the cords..? I'm paying $100/mo for internet access, and would like that to eventually be my only monthly charge, besides small dollar music services.
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Everyone paying for cable & Internet should call their cable provider and tell them you're leaving for dish unless they give you a deal. We do it every 12 months or so and they quickly offer us the 12 mo deal they're giving new customers. If they don't, then switch. And then switch again after that deal is up. It's a buyers market.
We just got the cable&internet bumped to $70/mo instead of $110. Better yet, ditch the cable and watch HULU Plus and an antenna.
We are currently demoing the magic Jack Plus to replace $28/mo Vonage. MJ+ will save $300 or more a year. I need the fast Internet for home biz and wife won't let me ditch cable. Wish she would. Everything she watches is on Hulu or the net.
UncleDannie
macrumors member
Article Link: Verizon Including Mobile Hotspot in iPad Data Plans at No Additional Charge[/QUOTE]
Good thing I read this. Just called Apple and cancelled my new iPad with ATT and ordered one with Verizon. Didn't lose my place in delivery line, the Apple employee kept my deivery date at March 16. Neat!
Good thing I read this. Just called Apple and cancelled my new iPad with ATT and ordered one with Verizon. Didn't lose my place in delivery line, the Apple employee kept my deivery date at March 16. Neat!
Actually you can return engraved items now. Same policy as non-engraved. I spoke to CS today about this.
doelcm82
macrumors 68040
10 years too late for what? Very few phones could even get to the Internet ten years ago. For those that could, there were very few sites they could access, and those were mainly text menu sites. That was about all they could handle, and at GPRS speeds, about all you'd want them to handle.
Here's a link to a popular 2002 phone. Do you think it would make a good mobile hotspot?
http://www.mobiledia.com/phones/sonyericsson/t68i.html
ironpony
macrumors regular
Maybe they were correct in not letting AT&T purchase T-Mobile.
I will not be purchasing the new iPad until the data is figured out.
Could it be considered a monopoly when only two companies actually supply data for the new device because either of the two options seem very expensive.
Plans now are to sell my iPad 2 (AT&T) for the new iPad (Verizon).
I will not be purchasing the new iPad until the data is figured out.
Could it be considered a monopoly when only two companies actually supply data for the new device because either of the two options seem very expensive.
Plans now are to sell my iPad 2 (AT&T) for the new iPad (Verizon).
crisss1205
macrumors 6502a
Man those AT&T reps are stupid, those are smart phone data plans.
Nope, that is superscript (1). Superscript 1 only applies to smartphones. Superscript (3) is for tablets.
There is still time to change your order. Even if it says "prepared for shipment," give Apple a call. After I switched to the Verizon model, my mother did the same, but had to call since it was already "prepared for shipment." Do it quickly, though, since I am guessing they will get them out over the weekend or early next week so that they arrive by Friday.
dBeats
macrumors 6502a
I think a good lawyer can claim that it's not clear enough.
I interpret it as "for tablets you get a tethering plan at 5GB per month with a 2 year contract."
Maybe just to make a point of it I'll return my ATT new iPad when it arrives and get a Verizon instead.
The footnote you've underlined specifically applies to smartphones. (Further, that general chart may be for plans other than for iPhones/iPads since refers to 2-year contracts fir tablets.)
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I think a good lawyer can claim that it's not clear enough.
I interpret it as "for tablets you get a tethering plan at 5GB per month with a 2 year contract."
Maybe just to make a point of it I'll return my ATT new iPad when it arrives and get a Verizon instead.
Of course it's clear enough. And, why would anyone want a 2 year contract on an unsubsudized iPad when none is required?
