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Do I need 3G for iPad?

A

anirudh0802

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 5, 2010
19
0
Hi all,

Just registered so I can have my question answered. I have a blackberry with AT&T and was planning to buy the 3G version of the ipad. Do you all think its wasteful? Is there any way I can tether my blackberry to the ipad? I am a business user, so it's not just for home use.

So 3g or no 3g?
 
Most of us would say yes. Pretend the iPhone didn't have 3G access and how much fun that would be.
 
I'd say 3G no doubt.

If this was a contract service, it'd be different. If you don't like, just don't use it. But at least the option will always be accessible to you. $130 is worth that alone to me.

But for me, I'll be away from WiFi quite a bit and 3G just makes a lot more sense, and the plans are phenomenal. It gives me insurance and allows me to have a lot more confidence in the iPad. I can rely on it more as internet everywhere opens a lot more doors compared to being tied to WiFi.

And tethering from a jailbroken iPhone or any other tetherable phone is always an option, but that's not at all ideal for me. Always have to have my iPhone with me. Always wasting iPhone's battery for if I need it later. If I just want to check Twitter I have to set up the tethering and enable it yet again, when on the 3G iPad it's always there even if I just need it for two seconds. GPS too.

I know what I'm getting.
 
anirudh0802 said:
Hi all,

Just registered so I can have my question answered. I have a blackberry with AT&T and was planning to buy the 3G version of the ipad. Do you all think its wasteful? Is there any way I can tether my blackberry to the ipad? I am a business user, so it's not just for home use.

So 3g or no 3g?
Click to expand...

Depends. Where do you plan to use it?

Wifi for me is fine. I use mine at home and work. Both have wifi. And those two places are where I'm at 5 days a week. The iPad won't go out with me on a weeknight. And weekends I'm not going to lug this thing around either. So my iPhone will take care of my needs in those cases.
 
regarding 3g

the thing is that I have a business plan with AT&T, so I have an unlimited data plan already. So wifi would be the best way to go?

It would be nice in the future (and I think this is the future) to have a single data plan for all of these 'connected' devices. That way you just link your data account with whatever device you're buying and you're done.

Maybe I should get a phone that works as a Wifi hotspot. It will save you having to buy a data plan for every little device you own. Several non-fruit phones have this function, you just have to shop around. Besides once you have an iPad you don't need an iPhone anymore, right?

But is there a phone like that for AT&T?
 
Go 3g iPad.. I think a bunch of us are secretly if not openly wishing we'd gotten the 3g.. Why? More flexible- ALWAYS an internet connection available (if you paid AT&T their $30 that is!!) and real GPS... I always intended to get the 3g, but wanted one on release day..
 
"Need"? No, you don't really need an iPad at all, much less any particular feature.

That said:

If you tether:

1 - you may violate TOS
2 - you'll be limited by both your blackberry battery and your iPad battery
3 - you'll need to sit and plug stuff up and click some buttons to get online every time you want to get online
4 - I'm assuming the blackberry is 3g ... if it's edge, you'll be limited by its speed

If those caveats don't bother you too much, then by all means, tether.

If you want things to be nice and easy and you are not super cost-sensitive, get the 3g version.
 
Why would you not need an iPhone anymore? The iPhone is still a terrific (and in my opinion, still the best) phone. I still want my elegant UI and invested apps with me on my phone...

And the iPhone can act as a WiFi hotspot. Jailbreak, download MyWi for $10 and you're off to the races. Only other US phone that does this without any customization is the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon. Now it's free, though, so you may want to check it out.
 
For me the iPad will replace my laptop so 3G.

My phone is a Nextel i355 which is just a pure phone with nextel radio.

So 3G is a must. Not everyone needs it but it is nice Apple is offering this option.
 
So I like the ability to cancel anytime with the 3g. But what if I am going out of country to...lets say India.

"So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month you'll be traveling and cancel when you get back. You don't need to visit a store to get 3G service. You can sign up, check your data usage, manage your account, or cancel your service -- all from your iPad."

So if I get the 250 mb plan, I will only get billed $15 for that month right? Because with my blackberry, I get billed a lot if I check my email, hence buying the local calling card.
 
Going out of the country isn't a problem in theory since the iPad 3g comes with a universal micro sim card.. You are however limited by the service provider that you're using since not ever company supports the micro sim. And yes it's a flat one time $15 fee.. 250mb is not a lot either, esp. if you watch a lot of videos or download apps etc...
anirudh0802 said:
So I like the ability to cancel anytime with the 3g. But what if I am going out of country to...lets say India.

"So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month you'll be traveling and cancel when you get back. You don't need to visit a store to get 3G service. You can sign up, check your data usage, manage your account, or cancel your service -- all from your iPad."

So if I get the 250 mb plan, I will only get billed $15 for that month right? Because with my blackberry, I get billed a lot if I check my email, hence buying the local calling card.
Click to expand...
 
If it's like the iPhone, you would turn off the 3G connectivity in the set-up utility when you are overseas, and turn off push for mail and check it manually. And you would be wise to purchase an International Plan when traveling abroad. I have done this a couple of times when I was gone for up to 10 days and it is not crazy expensive. I bought an International Data plan that gave me 250mb and that was fine. I also found free-wifi spots and used those a lot.
 
anirudh0802 said:
So then I wont get billed like crazy (eg. phone oversees)?
Click to expand...
Nope! Unlike phones the iPad 3G is completely unlocked. As long as the carrier in the country has a useable microSIM card you can just use that and access the internet et al. Just take out the AT&T SIM and put it back in when you leave (canceling the other plan too).

I assume, like the iPhone, there's a place to pop the SIM in, like at the top?
 
Ask yourself, could you manage using data on an iPod Touch....or would you need an iPhone to enjoy data use? You'll have your answer.
 
anirudh0802 said:
So then I wont get billed like crazy (eg. phone oversees)?
Click to expand...

You WILL get billed like crazy, if you use AT&T roaming. What you need to do is get a local data plan in your host country. I, for one, know that Korean Telecom will carry the iPad later this year, so I will see what their costs are when they become available.

What I don't know about is this "universal" micro sim. I had assumed I would need to get one from the foreign company. Either way, I think it is manageable.
 
Doju said:
Nope! Unlike phones the iPad 3G is completely unlocked. As long as the carrier in the country has a useable microSIM card you can just use that and access the internet et al. Just take out the AT&T SIM and put it back in when you leave (canceling the other plan too).

I assume, like the iPhone, there's a place to pop the SIM in, like at the top?
Click to expand...

So then what's the point in getting the 250 mb AT&T plan before you go oversees? India doesn't have many free wifi spots...so I should just get a microsim in india and skip the AT&T plan alltogether?

Carriers make it so complicated!
 
FlashHead said:
You WILL get billed like crazy, if you use AT&T roaming. What you need to do is get a local data plan in your host country. I, for one, know that Korean Telecom will carry the iPad later this year, so I will see what their costs are when they become available.

What I don't know about is this "universal" micro sim. I had assumed I would need to get one from the foreign company. Either way, I think it is manageable.
Click to expand...

Ohh, so the 250 mb plan is only for INSIDE of the U.S. As soon as you leave the country, you get billed like a iphone? This is ridiculous.
 
anirudh0802 said:
Ohh, so the 250 mb plan is only for INSIDE of the U.S. As soon as you leave the country, you get billed like a iphone? This is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Which is why it's all about where you plan to use it.

Since I also have an iPhone, it doesn't matter if the iPad doesn't have 3G. Whether it's an email, or Facebook, if I'm in an area without wifi, I'm covered.
 
If you tether by phone, you'll need wifi tethering.

AFAIK, there is no app to do wifi tethering on the BlackBerry. USB or Bluetooth is it I think.

My rooted Android phone, OTOH, has a wifi tether app. :)
Using it now.
 
One thing that came up was that can I just slip in my blackberry sim into the ipad? I mean, I think that would be the best option and it will keep it simple. Is there any other phone for AT&T that uses micro sim?
 
anirudh0802 said:
One thing that came up was that can I just slip in my blackberry sim into the ipad? I mean, I think that would be the best option and it will keep it simple. Is there any other phone for AT&T that uses micro sim?
Click to expand...

I'm sure it will become the standard, but for now there isn't any other phones in the US. I'm guessing that is how ATT was ok with the fact it wasn't locked.
 
Probably don't...

I opted to go for the regular WiFi and spend the extra cash to get a larger capacity model (64gb).

I guess I couldn't think of a situation when I would have access to 3G but not WiFi when I would want to do something my phone couldn't.

I suppose you could save on hotel or airport WiFi hotspot charges if you travel a moderate to high amount. Also, while it does enough in a pinch, I don't think that 3g is going to be fast enough to have a really satisfying experience with the iPad in most cases.

Might be wrong - I may end up with 3g gadget envy in a few weeks, but we'll see...
 
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