Carrier Data plans.... why is this so hard?

[CPTmom2wp]

[QUOTE="Boyd01, post: 26099130, member: 671153"

But I'm not quite sure what you mean by "add a new phone line". Would the iPad have its own phone number? I don't want telephone service on my iPad, just LTE data.[/QUOTE]

They do assign a phone number to your iPad, but I have no idea what mine is. I guess it's just for billing purposes (amount of data used) as I see it on the bill.

 

[rui no onna]

Definitely, no argument there. But I'm in a rural area 20 miles from the store and am not going back for a second time the same day. And that brings me back to the title of the thread.. "why is this so hard?" Really - I have a bunch of other expensive computers, pro video and audio gear, etc. I had no problem finding out what they would cost by looking at a few websites. But I have to physically go into a store to buy an iPad? Seems ridiculous - especially since no store actually stocks the 128gb model and they will have to ship it to me anyway.

I expect the expensive pro gear is equipment only, no subscription services. If buying iPad only (even LTE models), the cost is easy - $559 for 128GB LTE.

It's the various cellular plan options that are tricky. That said, it's not like the complexity is something new. I remember creating spreadsheets comparing minute-based plans vs shared data plans and 2-year contract vs NEXT (across carriers, too). Heck, there are websites dedicated to comparing various cellular plan costs (with or without device).

Mind, I've bought/upgraded iPads online through AT&T website (Mobile Share 10/20GB with 4 phone lines). All transactions went through smoothly. Maybe the website glitch will get fixed soon. If you don't have another device on your line though, I really do think you might be on a single line plan that's not iPad-compatible (although why AT&T still called those plans Mobile Share escapes me). From memory, 3-4GB was the minimum offered for multi-line shared data plans.

 

[Boyd01]

Maybe the website glitch will get fixed soon. If you don't have another device on your line though, I really do think you might be on a single line plan that's not iPad-compatible (although why AT&T still called those plans Mobile Share escapes me).

A lot of ground has been covered here, but just to review.... AT&T's website did not offer me the option of adding the iPad to my MobileShare plan. In an online chat, the rep sent me a link which gave me the choice of adding the iPad for $10/month. But clicking that link said my plan was no longer available and I couldn't proceed. The rep said this was a website problem they were aware of and assured (their word) me it was available for $10. But they said to make the purchase and choose a new data plan, then call AT&T after it arrived and they would fix this. They transferred me to a supervisor who told me the exact same thing.

Will mull this over for awhile and if I really want an iPad will go to an AT&T store in person. Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[Beelzbub]

I would call a head to the AT&T store and make an appointment. That is what I do so I do not have to wait in line. Show up a few minutes early and they fit you right in.

 

[Mockenrue]

My experience has been positive overall. We had a cellular iPad on our AT&T shared data plan, which was about $7.50 ($10 - $5 discount + fees). We switched the iPad to unlimited, but kept the shared plan for our phones. iPad is now $17.51 ($20 - $5 discount + fees). That may explain why you heard conflicting $10 vs. $20 quotes... It's my understanding that it's $10 per tablet when using shared data, and $20 for unlimited. Not sure where my $5 discount comes from. The transition was surprisingly easy. Our shared data plan stayed exactly the same except that the iPad spun off into a separate sub-account. Still just one bill, one account number, but now I have two usage meters: one against our data cap for the phones, and one showing XX GB used of Unlimited for the iPad.

 

[Reaper0bot0]

If you're an AT&T customer and you want AT&T to provide cellular service on your iPad (or an iPad you intend to purchase) why in the HECK would you spend so much time talking with people who don't work for AT&T to have them explain to you what AT&T would charge you for AT&T to provide you with their LTE?

With respect, your approach to researching this is nuts. I work for another carrier. If they're anything like us, it'll probably be $10/month for the line. Yes, it'll be assigned a phone number but that's purely for billing identification purposes. Even the prepaid setups do that, you just have little reason to check or to note that number.

You're overcomplicating the heck out of this. Please just set aside the time it'll take to go to an actual AT&T store and they'll sort it out. They'll also be decently paid for connecting an iPad so I expect they'll be happy to see you.

 

[macfacts]

LOL, that's what the person at Best Buy said. Yeah, I know I can do that, but I want an iPad with cellular connectivity and internal GPS chip that will work anywhere all by itself.

Like I said.... why is this so hard?

It isn't hard, you're making it hard. From your story, you said the best buy person told you it was $20/month and you didn't want to pay it.

.... It isn't hard but is confusing because they do that on purpose so you can't compare prices with other carriers.

 

[Mockenrue]

In fairness to the thread starter, the options aren't always clearly communicated. The $20 unlimited option that I mentioned above was (is?) undocumented on AT&T's site. I only found out about it by reading a discussion forum topic just like this.

 

[Boyd01]

It isn't hard, you're making it hard. From your story, you said the best buy person told you it was $20/month and you didn't want to pay it.

You haven't really read everything I posted. The AT&T rep told me it was $10/month in an online chat on their website and sent me a link to sign up. But that link didn't work and they said this was a problem with their website that they were already aware of. So they said to just choose another plan, and after I receive the iPad they would set me up with $10/month data if I give them a call. Their supervisor told me the exact same thing. In other words... "trust me".

Anyway... whatever, I have decided not to get the iPad for now, it's something I don't really need. If the pricing had been a little less opaque, I probably would have bought it on impulse. But this whole process has given me time to reconsider.

 

[Boyd01]

Just to close the circle here.... I ended up buying a 128gb LTE 2018 iPad outright at Best Buy for $560. Could have gotten it from B&H Photo for $10 less, but I had a $5 Best Buy rewards certificate so it was basically the same and I was able to get it right away at the store (I am in NJ so I would have to pay sales tax at B&H).

After a lot of thought, I just didn't want to commit to any monthly data plan and didn't want to pay the $25 AT&T activation fee. I got a pre-paid AT&T DataConnect 2gb/90 day plan and will see how that goes. That works out to about $8/month. I think it will be enough to cover my cellular usage, but will see how it goes.

 

[mk313]

Just to close the circle here.... I ended up buying a 128gb LTE 2018 iPad outright at Best Buy for $560. Could have gotten it from B&H Photo for $10 less, but I had a $5 Best Buy rewards certificate so it was basically the same and I was able to get it right away at the store (I am in NJ so I would have to pay sales tax at B&H).

After a lot of thought, I just didn't want to commit to any monthly data plan and didn't want to pay the $25 AT&T activation fee. I got a pre-paid AT&T DataConnect 2gb/90 day plan and will see how that goes. That works out to about $8/month. I think it will be enough to cover my cellular usage, but will see how it goes.

If you ended up on prepaid and t mobile coverage is good in your area, they offer a promotional 5 gigs over 150 days plan for $10. I put it in my iPad and have been able to renew it several times. (Originally the plan wording made it sound like a 1 time offer) It works great, but obviously that depends on t mo coverage in your specific area.

 

[sparksd]

If you ended up on prepaid and t mobile coverage is good in your area, they offer a promotional 5 gigs over 150 days plan for $10. I put it in my iPad and have been able to renew it several times. (Originally the plan wording made it sound like a 1 time offer) It works great, but obviously that depends on t mo coverage in your specific area.

Yeah, I've been using this on my 10.5 LTE. A very good choice if you're not a real heavy user of LTE data.

 

[Boyd01]

If you ended up on prepaid and t mobile coverage is good in your area, they offer a promotional 5 gigs over 150 days plan for $10.

I did see an ad for that plan on T-Mobile’s site but didn’t look very closely. Looked like a promotional rate that would end after the first 5 months, but it’s interesting that you have been able to renew it. I assume you need to create an account at T-Mobile to get that?

I’ve been on AT&T for almost 10 years now and they have been fine, with good coverage in my sparsely populated rural area, so I’m happy.

 

[sparksd]

I did see an ad for that plan on T-Mobile’s site but didn’t look very closely. Looked like a promotional rate that would end after the first 5 months, but it’s interesting that you have been able to renew it. I assume you need to create an account at T-Mobile to get that?

I’ve been on AT&T for almost 10 years now and they have been fine, with good coverage in my sparsely populated rural area, so I’m happy.

I simply signed up for it under available T-Mobile plans under Cellular Data Options on my iPP. I've renewed it a couple of times (actually, just bought it again - "renew" is not an option). It's not a promotional rate - it's been a general option for some time now.

 

[pika2000]

I will not use the iPad with cellular data very often and rarely go over 500MB on my 2gb AT&T Mobileshare plan. So I just want an inexpensive way to have the option to use cell data when needed. Is there another carrier or another way to do this? Am on the fence about buying an iPad in the first place (I have an iPhone, two Apple TVs and three Macs) and this seems much too difficult.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can simply subscribe to prepaid data plans straight from the iPad as needed. At least that's what I do on my LTE mini 2 when I need cellular data. I just inserted the carrier SIM, and then iOS allows me to pick a prepaid non-subscription plan when needed. I've done this with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon SIM. I would think it will be easier now with Apple SIM. Nonetheless, I remembered I had to pay for T-Mobile SIM at T-Mobile store while AT&T gave the data SIM to me for free (at AT&T store). The Verizon SIM was included with my mini2 since I specified Verizon when I purchased it.

 

[Boyd01]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can simply subscribe to prepaid data plans straight from the iPad as needed.

You're not wrong, and in fact that's exactly what I did, as I posted here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/data-plans-why-is-this-so-hard.2120597/page-2#post-26163740

I bought an unlocked iPad so it was not necessary to get a carrier SIM. The Apple SIM works with any carrier, however if you choose an AT&T plan (as I did), the Apple SIM is converted to an AT&T SIM and I would have to replace it if I want to switch to a different carrier.

 

[rui no onna]

You're not wrong, and in fact that's exactly what I did, as I posted here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/data-plans-why-is-this-so-hard.2120597/page-2#post-26163740

I bought an unlocked iPad so it was not necessary to get a carrier SIM. The Apple SIM works with any carrier, however if you choose an AT&T plan (as I did), the Apple SIM is converted to an AT&T SIM and I would have to replace it if I want to switch to a different carrier.

Correction, the Apple SIM works with select carriers. For example, it doesn't work with Verizon in the US.