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I have the 3G iPad with the grandfathered unlimited data plan. Does the unlimited plan apply only to my current iPad, or will it transfer over to a new iPad. I'm thinking that the plan is specific to the device rather than the customer.

If you choose to buy an new iPad and use your current plan, you'll need to give AT&T iPad Support your IMEI number and they can switch it over to the new iPad. They do this all the time when iPads get stolen and when people upgrade their iPhones. :)

This answer came from AT&T iPad Support.
 
I chimed in initially just to point out that nobody should automatically assume that the unlimited plan will follow to iPad 2.

Then I pointed out why.
What people aren't realizing is that moving from say, and iPhone 3G to an iPhone 4 doesn't lose you your unlimited plan because you are on a contract, but you aren't contracted with AT&T with the iPad plans, so I, unfortunately, can't see AT&T honoring the unlimited plan.
 
If you choose to buy an new iPad and use your current plan, you'll need to give AT&T iPad Support your IMEI number and they can switch it over to the new iPad. They do this all the time when iPads get stolen and when people upgrade their iPhones. :)

This answer came from AT&T iPad Support.
Okay, I guess im dumb :)
 
Okay, I guess im dumb :)

No, you aren't. LadyHoneyBee's info is with regards to replacement iPads of *the same generation* as the one that got stolen/broken/whatever. We don't know what AT&T will do with regards to people upgrading to iPad2 from iPad1.
 
I also have unlimited plan I'm looking into getting a 32 gig 3 g I have 16 g 3 g now. I happened to call AT&T and I asked them if I get a new iPad can I still have unlimited plan they said absolutely
 
I also have unlimited plan I'm looking into getting a 32 gig 3 g I have 16 g 3 g now. I happened to call AT&T and I asked them if I get a new iPad can I still have unlimited plan they said absolutely

Yes, but you're still not following the topic. Nobody's disputing the applicability of an unlimited plan to 1st gen devices. What nobody can tell you with certainty - AT&T included - is what will happen with the next generation.
 
Yes, but you're still not following the topic. Nobody's disputing the applicability of an unlimited plan to 1st gen devices. What nobody can tell you with certainty - AT&T included - is what will happen with the next generation.

Right. The question of whether or not ATT will continue to offer unlimited plans on the next version of the iPad is purely a business decision that ATT will have to make. Some of the considerations for ATT--competition from Verizon, offerings from cellular-to-wifi devices, etc.--have been astutely identified by other posters, but it is ultimately ATT's call to make based solely on what they think is in the best interest of ATT. The decision isn't so binary either--they can offer a range of price points and data transfer limits, including, say, a 10 or 20 GB/month plan for the same price as the current unlimited, an offering that many iPad owners might regard as virtually unlimited, but would nonetheless let the camel's nose inside the tent.

It's interesting to speculate on what business factors may influence, if not determine, ATT's iPad pricing decisions, but there is no decision that is mandated by any consumer contract or by past practices. I do wonder, though, how much input into pricing Apple may have. The demand for iPads generally, and certainly for those with cellular radios, must be meaningfully influenced by the perceived cost of cellular data, so Apple would have an interest in keeping that cost down. Maybe when ATT has exclusivity Apple can negotiate stronger influence for itself? At some point, when there are many cellular providers who can provide data to iPads, Apple can rely on competition to control pricing. I wonder whether the negotiators of the ATT/Apple contract for iPads anticipated the mobile hotspot technology as a competitor to ATT, and what real competitive effect it is having now. I wonder if Verizon offering an unlimited mifi contract would influence ATT to maintain its unlimited cellular offering, or if the weaknesses of mifi (another device to tote, battery limitations, etc.) leads ATT to dismiss it as a serious competitor.

The whole transition for ATT from exclusive provider to just one provider among many will be interesting to watch, and the effect on unlimited plan holders not the least of reasons why.
 
AT&T sux !!! Their unlimited plan was just a bait to attract people to buy the iPad. A dirty trick. By law they can't discontinue the plan for existing clients. We'll have to wait and see.
I've been with T-Mobile for many years and got a voice plan they later discontinued, but I was able to keep it through the years even when changing phones. There must be some legal issues that would prevent carriers from forcing a client out of an existing plan.
 
But in that case, both the old and new iPads are first gen. Who knows, AT&T might devise a way to tell when you swap the SIM into a second gen iPad, and take away your unlimited plan when they find that you are using second gen. I'm not saying they would do that, but we won't know until the second gen is out.

Look at the contract that you willed into when you signed up for the unlimited plan - in particular does it make any mention that AT&T is able to cancel the contract in any situation whereby the hardware used for said plan is updated? If so, then you're screwed. If not (which is what I would guess) then you are fine and stop freaking out. I have yet to hear of any situation whereby a carrier has altered its terms of service, or even terminated service, as a result of a hardware update. The only thing I have ever seen is a change to plan pricing along the normal "rising cost of operations" line.

You also need to remember that AT&T was just voted one of the worst carriers, and they will be having some serious discussions as to how they can undo that (guaranteed, unless the management at AT&T are trying to cheapen the brand for a takeover) so it is unlikely that they will piss over current customers.
 
Look at the contract that you willed into when you signed up for the unlimited plan - in particular does it make any mention that AT&T is able to cancel the contract in any situation whereby the hardware used for said plan is updated? If so, then you're screwed. If not (which is what I would guess) then you are fine and stop freaking out. I have yet to hear of any situation whereby a carrier has altered its terms of service, or even terminated service, as a result of a hardware update. The only thing I have ever seen is a change to plan pricing along the normal "rising cost of operations" line.

You also need to remember that AT&T was just voted one of the worst carriers, and they will be having some serious discussions as to how they can undo that (guaranteed, unless the management at AT&T are trying to cheapen the brand for a takeover) so it is unlikely that they will piss over current customers.

There is no contract in the U.S. It's all prepaid.
 
There is no contract in the U.S. It's all prepaid.

Yup. No contract. There is a Term of Service agreement, which, shame on me, I didn't read. But I'm sure it's a pretty standard ToS, in which case it probably says that the service provider can change the terms at any time, provided they give notice to the customer. The customer can then accept or reject the revised terms, but they can't demand that the service provider not change the terms and continue providing service according to the initial agreement.
 
If you choose to buy an new iPad and use your current plan, you'll need to give AT&T iPad Support your IMEI number and they can switch it over to the new iPad. They do this all the time when iPads get stolen and when people upgrade their iPhones. :)

This answer came from AT&T iPad Support.

Really?

My launch 3G iPad loved to lock up playing video and Apple swapped it out for me for another unit. They swapped the SIM, and I was good to go. I never contacted AT&T about anything. The issue above is if your iPad is stolen, the SIM card usually goes along with it.
 
No one really knows. FWIW, I was an original iPhoen owner and was able to keep my unlimited plan when I moved to the iPhone 4.

Same here with the iPhone, but that was because AT&T changed the data plan very close to the time the new phone came out. That does not necessarily mean they will continue it for the next iPhone hardware upgrade. Doesn't mean they won't, either. I just don't think we can say in the case of the iPad.
 
Yup. No contract. There is a Term of Service agreement, which, shame on me, I didn't read. But I'm sure it's a pretty standard ToS, in which case it probably says that the service provider can change the terms at any time, provided they give notice to the customer. The customer can then accept or reject the revised terms, but they can't demand that the service provider not change the terms and continue providing service according to the initial agreement.

ToS is a form of contract between provider and consumer.
 
Wouldn't make a lot of business sense to piss off your current customers by changing the terms of unlimited data just b/c there is a new device (1st or 2nd generation).
 
ToS is a form of contract between provider and consumer.

True, but with a ToS, there are no time constraints. Either party may back out of the "contract" at any time. Usually, when we are talking about cell phones and other mobile data plans, the word "contract" is used to describe agreements where the parties have to stay in the contract for a predetermined time, and there are penalties for backing out before the time is out.

Wouldn't make a lot of business sense to piss off your current customers by changing the terms of unlimited data just b/c there is a new device (1st or 2nd generation).

AT&T already did that once, when they first offered the iPad with an unlimited data plan, then took away that plan. When people protested, they grandfathered in people who already had the unlimited plan, but you can't cancel and start up the unlimited plan again when you need it, which was part of the original offer. And they did that for no apparent reason. So if they have an excuse like the release of new device -- you betcha they can change plans on us.
 
No, you aren't. LadyHoneyBee's info is with regards to replacement iPads of *the same generation* as the one that got stolen/broken/whatever. We don't know what AT&T will do with regards to people upgrading to iPad2 from iPad1.

No. I specifically asked about the iPad 2 and the iPad support person said yes. He used the same generation as an example.

So, according to the AT&T iPad Support person I spoke with, he said yes, you can transfer your current unlimited plan to the new iPad 2. This answer may change when 4G comes out, but as long as it's still 3G, it will transfer to what ever 3G iPad you have.


Really?

My launch 3G iPad loved to lock up playing video and Apple swapped it out for me for another unit. They swapped the SIM, and I was good to go. I never contacted AT&T about anything. The issue above is if your iPad is stolen, the SIM card usually goes along with it.

Yes, your SIM goes with the stolen iPad, but they can still change it over based on the information they have in their computers. :)
 
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Yes, but you're still not following the topic. Nobody's disputing the applicability of an unlimited plan to 1st gen devices. What nobody can tell you with certainty - AT&T included - is what will happen with the next generation.

Yes, nothing is set in stone, but there is no reason to believe that unlimited plan will suddenly expire with 2nd-gen iPad. If AT&T wanted to retire the unlimited data plan - they would have done it by now for all iPad users. They didn't have to grandfather it after they introduced tiered plans (since iPad data plans were not contractual), but they did.

It would make zero sense for AT&T to retire unlimited plan on 2nd-gen iPads, but not on 1st-gen ones. Purely from technical perspective, there is no easy way to stop someone from moving their SIM from 1st-gen iPad to 2nd-gen. AT&T would basically either have to retire the plan for all grandfathered users.. OR continue grandfathering it on all iPads.
 
Yes, nothing is set in stone, but there is no reason to believe that unlimited plan will suddenly expire with 2nd-gen iPad. If AT&T wanted to retire the unlimited data plan - they would have done it by now for all iPad users. They didn't have to grandfather it after they introduced tiered plans (since iPad data plans were not contractual), but they did.

It would make zero sense for AT&T to retire unlimited plan on 2nd-gen iPads, but not on 1st-gen ones. Purely from technical perspective, there is no easy way to stop someone from moving their SIM from 1st-gen iPad to 2nd-gen. AT&T would basically either have to retire the plan for all grandfathered users.. OR continue grandfathering it on all iPads.

:D yep
 
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