Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The free sims work in iPads. Lots of people are using them, including myself in two different iPads. However, once a sim is used, it cannot be switched to another type of device. For example, an activated phone sim won't work in an ipad, and vice versa. I've tried.
 
I wasn't so lucky, I guess. I asked two different salespeople at my local Apple Store this weekend and both claimed that the store didn't have any SIMs. I guess that means I'll have to wait for UPS to deliver the one I ordered directly from T-Mobile!

Wow, I'm really surprised at that. The Apple rep I dealt with had a small stack of each carrier in his pocket when I asked.
 
Out of curiosity, is it possible to use more than one T-mobile sim card in a single iPad? IOW, would it be possible to sign up for multiple free 200MB accounts on a single iPad?
 
Does it matter if we get data only sim or regular sim? I picked up 2 regular sims.
 
So I was able to activate a free TMO phone sim in my Verizon rMini through Settings --> Cellular --> View Account. But when my second free TMO phone sim arrived yesterday and I tried to activate it in my wife's verizon mini (first gen), running ios 6, I couldn't. The "View Account" button was missing (despite the fact it was there before I popped out the verizon sim) and the mim.tmobile.com activation site kept giving me errors.

Any ideas? Might this have to do with the fact that her mini is still running ios 6 (she refuses to let me update it) or have other people had success with first gen minis on ios 6?
 
So I was able to activate a free TMO phone sim in my Verizon rMini through Settings --> Cellular --> View Account. But when my second free TMO phone sim arrived yesterday and I tried to activate it in my wife's verizon mini (first gen), running ios 6, I couldn't. The "View Account" button was missing (despite the fact it was there before I popped out the verizon sim) and the mim.tmobile.com activation site kept giving me errors.

Any ideas? Might this have to do with the fact that her mini is still running ios 6 (she refuses to let me update it) or have other people had success with first gen minis on ios 6?

You have to power off when switching sims. Also, turn off wireless. When I registered my ipad 3, I powered off, restarted, turned off wireless, then went to registration, but it didn't work like my ipad air. Instead, I opened up Safari and was presented with a web page based registration instead of one in settings. I believe this is due to earlier iPads not being designed to work with tmobile out of the box.
 
When I registered my ipad 3, I powered off, restarted, turned off wireless, then went to registration, but it didn't work like my ipad air. Instead, I opened up Safari and was presented with a web page based registration instead of one in settings.

I also vaguely remember it not working initially on my ipad3, but after a few minutes I received a message about carrier settings updated after which I was able to register via a webpage.

I'd say if it isn't working at first (and I agree about needing to power off/on) try letting the ipad3 sit for a little while with wifi off and cellular on then try again.
 
With or without paid account?

When I talked to two T-Mobile customer service people this morning, they both said that in order to use the 200MB free for life plan, you had to also have a voice or mobile data plan you were paying for for the same or some other device. I did not think that was right so I hunted down this Q & A question from this press release on 11/5/2013:

http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251624&p=irol-newsarticle&ID=1872166

Q. If I buy a tablet device outright, do I need a service payment relationship with T-Mobile?
A. No. Bring it in to us or buy it in full from us and we'll get you on the network where you'll get 200MB of free data (plus SIM card purchase), every month, for as long as you own your device.

When I pointed this out to the second customer support rep, she backed off and said I did not need another voice or data plan.
 
When I talked to two T-Mobile customer service people this morning, they both said that in order to use the 200MB free for life plan, you had to also have a voice or mobile data plan you were paying for for the same or some other device. I did not think that was right so I hunted down this Q & A question from this press release on 11/5/2013:

http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251624&p=irol-newsarticle&ID=1872166

Q. If I buy a tablet device outright, do I need a service payment relationship with T-Mobile?
A. No. Bring it in to us or buy it in full from us and we'll get you on the network where you'll get 200MB of free data (plus SIM card purchase), every month, for as long as you own your device.

When I pointed this out to the second customer support rep, she backed off and said I did not need another voice or data plan.

You only need an account if you want to finance the mini through T-Mobile.

Cheers,
 
Sim

Just activated the T Mobile sim. Do I need to do anything at the end of the 30 days or will it automatically renew the 200mb?
 
You have to power off when switching sims. Also, turn off wireless. When I registered my ipad 3, I powered off, restarted, turned off wireless, then went to registration, but it didn't work like my ipad air. Instead, I opened up Safari and was presented with a web page based registration instead of one in settings. I believe this is due to earlier iPads not being designed to work with tmobile out of the box.

Yep, did all that (power off, turn wifi off, etc.), but the "View Account" button under cellular settings was still missing. I'll try again tonight to see if maybe TMO's activation website is working better...
 
Yep, did all that (power off, turn wifi off, etc.), but the "View Account" button under cellular settings was still missing.

I don't believe you'll see a View Account button on your wife's Mini.

Not sure if it's iOS7 or that the Mini doesn't know about T-Mobile, but I don't have that on my ipad3 on iOS7 while I do have it on my rMini.
 
Ok, they're not technically free, but I did notice on tmo's prepaid website this afternoon that sims are $0.01 using the promo code "SIMDEAL". Just in case anyone's still looking...
 
I tried to order but it kept on saying there is something wrong with my credit card. I know my cc is fine. I have never ordered from them before.

Any suggestion?
I have the same problem, I was using Visa but it was a debit card and my bank had a limit on it that I wasn't aware of. I called the bank, had the limit raised after I've figured it out, and then there was no problem. You may have a similar situation with a limit cap on purchases.
 
Ok, they're not technically free, but I did notice on tmo's prepaid website this afternoon that sims are $0.01 using the promo code "SIMDEAL". Just in case anyone's still looking...

I just got my .01 cent SIMDEAL card in yesterday. Now, I've got to get another iPad. The paperwork that came with the card said that I'd have to activate it by November 2016.
I'm buying an Air2 when they come out so it looks like it's all good.
 
I am wondering if Sprint will allow these free plans to continue once they purchase TMobile?
 
Out of curiosity, is it possible to use more than one T-mobile sim card in a single iPad? IOW, would it be possible to sign up for multiple free 200MB accounts on a single iPad?

Im not sure but I would at least think they would be aware of the IMIE you're running and not allow this to happen. Still curious if anyone has tried though.

For everyone calling tmobile reps don't waste your time they're almost always clueless. Just wait for the sim, pop it in and select the 200mb plan and you're done.
 
<snip>
For everyone calling tmobile reps don't waste your time they're almost always clueless. Just wait for the sim, pop it in and select the 200mb plan and you're done.

Clueless and devious. I attempted to get help one time from a T-mo salesperson over the phone, they said that I must come to the store to get any info in the data plan.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.