If you have a 3G iPad, you will also be able to
connect to the cellular data network – the same network you connect to
with an iPhone or other mobile phone. Things to consider about Cellular
Data Connections:
Wider availability than a
Wi-Fi connection—you can connect to 3G in a car or away from a city,
whereas Wi-Fi is not typically be available in these locations.
Extra monthly service fees for access to the Cellular Data network.
In the US, AT&T charges about $15 for 250MB per month and about $30 for unlimited data.
NOTE
Orange UK, Vodafone UK, O2, and Rogers Canada will all be announcing pricing in late May when the iPad ships internationally.
1. Setting Up Your 3G Connection
Before you can connect to the
3G cellular network, you have to purchase a cellular data plan from your
wireless carrier. For the iPad in the US, this is currently AT&T.
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You might be able to save yourself some money with cellular data plan charges by doing the following:
Always use Wi-Fi when possible Start with the lower cost cellular data plan ($14.99 for 250MB) Monitor your cellular data usage throughout the month to make sure you are not going to exceed the lower cost data plan.
You may find that you can live with the lower cost plan if you use Wi-Fi for most of your data needs.
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To do this:
Tap the Settings icon on your iPad.
Tap Cellular Data in the left column.
Set the switch next to Cellular Data to On. (See Figure. 1.)
The first time you do this, you will see a pop-up window asking you to setup your account.
Enter
your personal information, username and password that is specific to
this new Cellular Data plan. This account is not connected your email
account, cell phone plan or any other account so you could enter the
same information or make it different.
NOTE
As of publishing
time, the wireless carrier in the US (AT&T) only offered recurring
billing plans. What this means is that you set up the plan once, and you
are billed every month until you cancel the plan.
Scroll down to see the rest of the screen and select your data plan by tapping the screen.
Enter your credit card information.
Tap the Next button.
On this next screen, you will need to swipe to the bottom of the agreement and tap Agree to continue. (Assuming you agree.)
If you are traveling with your iPad, then tap Add International Data and follow the steps in the next section.
If you do not want to add the international plan at this time (you can always add it later), then tap Submit to finish.
After taping Submit, you will see a window similar to this one. Tap Ok to close the window.
Finally, when your new cellular data plan is setup, you will see a pop-up message similar to this one.
2. Adding an International Data Plan
If you plan on taking a trip,
you may want to add an International Data plan to your iPad. It is easy
to do by following these steps:
Tap Cellular Data in the left column.
Tap View Account in the right column.
Login to the account by entering your Cellular Data username and password you used when you created this account.
Tap Add International Plan (see Figure 2).
On the International Data Plan window
Select your One-Time International Plan.
Adjust your plan Start Date to match your travel needs.
Tap the View Full List of Countries link at the bottom to verify the plan will support the countries you need.
You may need to confirm your selection on the following screen.
3. Monitoring Your Cellular Data Usage and Changing Your Plan
If you purchase the limited use
data plan (the $15 plan for 250MB/month), you will want to check
periodically to see how much data you are using on a daily basis.
To do this, follow these steps:
Tap Cellular Data in the left column.
Tap View Account in the right column.
Login to the account by entering your Cellular Data username and password you used when you created this account.
Look at your data plan, status and billing period listed in the Account Overview
section at the top. You will only see actual data usage in megabytes
(MB) if you have selected a plan that limits the amount of data you have
purchased (e.g. 250 MB).
If you want to change you plan or add data, then tap Add Data or Change Plan and follow the steps to adjust your plan.
NOTE
The iPad will notify you when
you have 20%, 10%, and 0 left on your 250MB plan and you'll have the
option of renewing that plan for another $14.99 or upgrading to the $30
unlimited plan.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL—HOW TO AVOID LARGE CELLULAR (3G) DATA ROAMING BILLS (FOR 3G IPAD MODELS ONLY)
We've heard of people who
traveled to another country being surprised with $300 or $400 monthly
roaming charges after their trip. You can avoid these by taking a few
easy steps before and during your trip.
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Try to use your Wi-Fi connection at free Wi-Fi networks overseas to keep your Cellular data roaming charges to a minimum.
Sign up for a one-time International Data plan as shown above in the "Adding An International Data Plan"
section. In most cases, activating the international data plan allows
you to save some money over the standard data roaming charges. Learn
about any Data Roaming Charges. Check with your cellular data supplier
about any data roaming charges. You can try searching on your phone
company's web site, but usually you'll have to call the help desk and
specifically ask what the iPad data roaming charges are for the country
or countries you'll be visiting. If you plan to use e-mail, mapping, web
browsing, or any other data services, you should specifically ask about
whether any of these services are charged separately. Explore buying and using a foreign SIM Card (MicroSIM format).
Your iPad cellular data
supplier may not offer special deals on international data roaming plans
or may have rates that are unreasonably high. In such cases, you can
insert a SIM card that you'll purchase in the foreign country.
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The iPad uses a MicroSIM
and almost all other phones use a MiniSIM. This may make it hard to find
an international carrier with a SIM card that will fit.
Often, inserting a SIM
card for the country you're in will eliminate or greatly reduce data
roaming charges. However, do carefully check the cost of data on that
foreign SIM card. Using a foreign SIM card may save you hundreds of
dollars, but it's best to do some Web research or try to talk to someone
who recently traveled to the same country to make sure. |
