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250MB/month question
- Thread starter ks-man
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Wifi is faster than 3g, no ifs ands or buts. However, your friend might have been referring to the freedom of 3g (or maybe you misunderstood and she was comparing 3g to edge or something).
I am wondering the same as the original poster re: 250MB. It's really only for situations when you're not covered by wifi. In my case, I want to know I can use it wherever I am. But I think that will most likely happen fewer than 10 times a month, and I doubt I'll be using tons of data in those situations. So I might start out with the 250MB plan and see how I do. If I hit the limit, I'm no worse off than if I had a wifi-only iPad, and I can go to the other plan for the following month.
My only reason to go with "unlimited" (actually a few GB, per someone who posted here yesterday) is that I don't like worrying about stuff like this and checking meters before I watch a video on youtube or whatever, that takes a lot of fun out of it.
I am wondering the same as the original poster re: 250MB. It's really only for situations when you're not covered by wifi. In my case, I want to know I can use it wherever I am. But I think that will most likely happen fewer than 10 times a month, and I doubt I'll be using tons of data in those situations. So I might start out with the 250MB plan and see how I do. If I hit the limit, I'm no worse off than if I had a wifi-only iPad, and I can go to the other plan for the following month.
My only reason to go with "unlimited" (actually a few GB, per someone who posted here yesterday) is that I don't like worrying about stuff like this and checking meters before I watch a video on youtube or whatever, that takes a lot of fun out of it.
Since June 30, 2009, I've downloaded 1.1 gb of data on my iPhone via the cellular network. So my usage seems to be way less than 250 mb/month.
Since the Apple page linked above states that if you take the cheaper 250mb/month plan, you'll get a warning when you're close to 250 mb so you can choose to upgrade to the unlimited plan, I don't see how it ever makes sense to select the unlimited option at the start of the month.
I really hope carriers in other countries provide data plans as reasonable as what we're getting from AT&T.
Since the Apple page linked above states that if you take the cheaper 250mb/month plan, you'll get a warning when you're close to 250 mb so you can choose to upgrade to the unlimited plan, I don't see how it ever makes sense to select the unlimited option at the start of the month.
I really hope carriers in other countries provide data plans as reasonable as what we're getting from AT&T.
I checked my last four months of iPhone usage and each month I was under 200MB, except for 1 in which I was just under 250MB. I use my Iphone for internet, youtube, & e-mail somewhat regularly away from my home's Wifi so I think that measure is pretty good. I think the $15 will be ideal for me, but I am very happy to be able to "toggle" between the $15/250 and the $30/Unlimited plans each month. I think it's going to be sweet.
From the Apple site linked above:
Sign up on your iPad.
You can sign up for 3G data service with AT&T at any time right on your iPad. Theres no need to visit a store or call customer service. Just tap Settings and choose Cellular Data. Then type in your user information, select a plan, and enter your credit card information.
Monitor your data usage.
You can check your data usage in Settings on your iPad anytime. iPad will even let you know when youre about to reach your 250MB data limit. Youll get three alerts at 20 percent, 10 percent, and zero. With each alert, you can choose to add more data or wait and do it later. Tap Now and iPad opens the Cellular Data Plan window so you can update your data plan.
Manage your data plan.
iPad makes it easy to choose the data plan that works best for you. When you need more data, you can add another 250MB or upgrade to the Unlimited Data plan. Because you sign up for a data plan in monthly increments, you can cancel your plan at any time and then sign up again whenever you need 3G service.
So basically, your choices each month are $0, $15, or $30. If you forget to sign up for the unlimited plan if you go over 250MB then you'll pay more, but I don't know how you would forget since they'll alert you THREE TIMES at 20%, 10% and 0%. You'd have to be a moron.
Sign up on your iPad.
You can sign up for 3G data service with AT&T at any time right on your iPad. Theres no need to visit a store or call customer service. Just tap Settings and choose Cellular Data. Then type in your user information, select a plan, and enter your credit card information.
Monitor your data usage.
You can check your data usage in Settings on your iPad anytime. iPad will even let you know when youre about to reach your 250MB data limit. Youll get three alerts at 20 percent, 10 percent, and zero. With each alert, you can choose to add more data or wait and do it later. Tap Now and iPad opens the Cellular Data Plan window so you can update your data plan.
Manage your data plan.
iPad makes it easy to choose the data plan that works best for you. When you need more data, you can add another 250MB or upgrade to the Unlimited Data plan. Because you sign up for a data plan in monthly increments, you can cancel your plan at any time and then sign up again whenever you need 3G service.
So basically, your choices each month are $0, $15, or $30. If you forget to sign up for the unlimited plan if you go over 250MB then you'll pay more, but I don't know how you would forget since they'll alert you THREE TIMES at 20%, 10% and 0%. You'd have to be a moron.
According to AT&T, I'm currently at 6.36GB and I'm about 3/4 done with my cycle. I don't think I'd be able to deal with only 250MB 
I'd like to know how that works too. It appears if you run out then that's a cutoff. You are warned several times about getting low. I looked at the apple page and it leaves some things still unclear.
It says you can "add 250mb of data per month for $14.99". what if it is the 20th and you are out but need to use the internet, is that 250 mb added till the end of the month or for a separate 30 period and if that is so when the 30th comes around is your new 250mb added to what you purchased on the 25th?
And do minutes purchased roll over if not used?
It says you can "add 250mb of data per month for $14.99". what if it is the 20th and you are out but need to use the internet, is that 250 mb added till the end of the month or for a separate 30 period and if that is so when the 30th comes around is your new 250mb added to what you purchased on the 25th?
And do minutes purchased roll over if not used?
I don't know how some of you guys are using GBs on iPhones, I guess you're tethering and doing heavy-duty stuff on computers.
However, I also don't think standard iPhone usage necessarily is a great indicator of iPad usage, since the larger screen lends itself to higher-res images and photos and to more Web use.
Thanks for doing the obvious and posting the info about the data plan specifics - I guess if you sign up for 250MB and find it's not enough, you can upgrade on the spot within the month. That's great flexibility.
Are there any limits with what you can do on 3g vs wifi? As an example of what I mean, my Nexus One won't let me upload videos to youtube through the built-in youtube interface via 3g. I have to be on wifi. (Though I can tether to my laptop and circumvent that limit.)
However, I also don't think standard iPhone usage necessarily is a great indicator of iPad usage, since the larger screen lends itself to higher-res images and photos and to more Web use.
Thanks for doing the obvious and posting the info about the data plan specifics - I guess if you sign up for 250MB and find it's not enough, you can upgrade on the spot within the month. That's great flexibility.
Are there any limits with what you can do on 3g vs wifi? As an example of what I mean, my Nexus One won't let me upload videos to youtube through the built-in youtube interface via 3g. I have to be on wifi. (Though I can tether to my laptop and circumvent that limit.)