iPad EU News (Abandon all hope, ye who enter here..) ("Are you nuts?!" - Steve)

[zen]

I carry O2, Three, T-Mobile and Vodafone cards for my unlocked MiFi.

O2 came with a dongle - I don't use it. I don't use the Three SIM either that came with the MiFi.

T-Mobile do £2/day, £4/three days, £7/week access and Vodafone do 1GB/£15 no expiry (but you can get these SIMs pre-loaded on eBay for £10).

You can't do any of those offers with a stock MiFi that is locked to three.

As for £10/1GB on Three - you know that the 1GB expires after 30 days? That means you will be spending around £120/year on a rather limited MiFi data tariff.

I'm not sure the Three data allowance has an expiry. I know the initial data allowance that you get on the PAYG + 3GB pack has an expiry of 3 months, but I can't find any info on the top-ups have a 30 day expiry.

I don't quite understand how unlocking works - if I had a Three MiFi and unlocked it, and used a SIM from somewhere else, do I still use the Three 3G network? But now I'm not paying Three to use it, I'm paying the other company? Sorry, I've never used 3G before so am not sure how it works.

Edit: Actually, found it on the Three website - "There is no expiry date for top-ups."

 

[zed2]

I'm not sure the Three data allowance has an expiry. I know the initial data allowance that you get on the PAYG + 3GB pack has an expiry of 3 months, but I can't find any info on the top-ups have a 30 day expiry.

I don't quite understand how unlocking works - if I had a Three MiFi and unlocked it, and used a SIM from somewhere else, do I still use the Three 3G network? But now I'm not paying Three to use it, I'm paying the other company? Sorry, I've never used 3G before so am not sure how it works.

Edit: Actually, found it on the Three website - "There is no expiry date for top-ups."

If you unlock the MiFi and put someone elses SIM in then it's all about the other company... there is nothing Three does or indeed knows about the fact you have it switched on let alone accessing the internet with it.

 

[Riviera122]

Don't know whether anyone has seen this yet... click

Says that Apple will release prices for the iPad on the same day that pre-orders start.

The 16GB Wi-Fi iPad costs $499 in the States which would see an equivalent UK price of around £399, with the 20% mark up taken into consideration. However, Apple has said it will not reveal the official price until May 10, when orders open.

 

[Nipz]

I'm not sure the Three data allowance has an expiry. I know the initial data allowance that you get on the PAYG + 3GB pack has an expiry of 3 months, but I can't find any info on the top-ups have a 30 day expiry.

I don't quite understand how unlocking works - if I had a Three MiFi and unlocked it, and used a SIM from somewhere else, do I still use the Three 3G network? But now I'm not paying Three to use it, I'm paying the other company? Sorry, I've never used 3G before so am not sure how it works.

Edit: Actually, found it on the Three website - "There is no expiry date for top-ups."

When I went in to ask about a Mifi the lady told me the best one for me would be to get the pay and go one for £50 (one off fee for the dongle) and then the £5 a month 1 month rolling contract (meaning I can stop it whenever I want). Didn't really ask about the top ups really!

Regarding the unlocking. The mifi is just a wireless route from a company that three has branded themselves to sell with their sims. Once unlocked it will pick up signles from other sims to use as normal.

Edit: I thought I read somewhere that the top ups only lasted 30 days.

 

[LaNex]

Edit: Actually, found it on the Three website - "There is no expiry date for top-ups."

Coud you provide a link ? Last time I looked data top ups expired in 30 days.

 

[zed2]

Coud you provide a link ? Last time I looked data top ups expired in 30 days.

yes link please... It would be cool if true tho.

 

[LaNex]

Solution.

Purchase a Vodafone PAYG 1GB SIM card from eBay (they're about £10). That will give you 1G that doesn't expire.

Cut the card to fit and insert into your 3G iPad and voila, you now have data on the go - as long as you're careful about usage.

Nice idea, ta - I have fyed out a few on ebay that would be likely candidates. But as for the cutting it up - such fine work has not been my speciality for many years. Not sure I know anyone who would be happy to try it for me either but, there will probably be some little template / cutter doobry available at some point.
I'm gonna get one and stick it in my first gen iphone - which happens to be unlocked and jailbroken - to see how it works. I'd be happy to use that as a wifi hotspot for the times I'd need 3g to be honest.

 

[zed2]

Nice idea, ta - I have fyed out a few on ebay that would be likely candidates. But as for the cutting it up - such fine work has not been my speciality for many years. Not sure I know anyone who would be happy to try it for me either but, there will probably be some little template / cutter doobry available at some point.
I'm gonna get one and stick it in my first gen iphone - which happens to be unlocked and jailbroken - to see how it works. I'd be happy to use that as a wifi hotspot for the times I'd need 3g to be honest.

I would suggest a drimel would be the way to go in cutting it down.

 

[Elise]

Just over a week to go now until pre orders open! I think I will stick with the 3G option now as long as the deals are not too dumb.

 

[AAPLaday]

If i was to get one id get the wifi version personally. I wouldn't use it on the road, only at my and my mates houses.

 

[-Ryan-]

I guess not so many of you are that interested anymore regarding the non-delivery of iPAD, however I am still no better off now than I was a week ago.

17-04-2010 22:55 Delivery Agent - CHICAGO Left origin country
17-04-2010 22:54 Delivery Agent - CHICAGO Arrived at Outward OE
15-04-2010 11:40 Delivery Agent - UNITED STATES AMERICA

This is what is on my screen on the PF website and much the same on the USPS site. Do I take it that this parcel is lost? Looks like many of you who had stuff sent from Chicago have now received or will be receiving their iPADs shortly, I sadly am not one of the lucky ones

Any suggestions? More patience?

Definitely more patience. Mine took about the same length of time as that to come from Chicago. I don't think I'll be using USPS again. In saying that though, PF were good once it was out of customs in the UK.

 

[Boblister]

I've been searching the vodafone website and was not able to find this at any price. All the PAYG SIMs expire after 30days and then need topping up again. Can you provide the link on their website?

I ordered one of these yesterday which seemed a good deal http://bit.ly/blU7vr

 

[Boblister]

I'm not sure the Three data allowance has an expiry. I know the initial data allowance that you get on the PAYG + 3GB pack has an expiry of 3 months, but I can't find any info on the top-ups have a 30 day expiry.

I don't quite understand how unlocking works - if I had a Three MiFi and unlocked it, and used a SIM from somewhere else, do I still use the Three 3G network? But now I'm not paying Three to use it, I'm paying the other company? Sorry, I've never used 3G before so am not sure how it works.

Edit: Actually, found it on the Three website - "There is no expiry date for top-ups."

Yes three's do have a 30 day expiry. The initial 3 month, 3GB starts first time you use the sim. And it's not 1GB per month you can use the whole 3GB in the first week of the 3 month if you want. When it says no expiry date for topups what that must mean is if you buy a topup it doesn't expire until a month after you start using it.

 

[Boblister]

When I went in to ask about a Mifi the lady told me the best one for me would be to get the pay and go one for £50 (one off fee for the dongle) and then the £5 a month 1 month rolling contract (meaning I can stop it whenever I want). Didn't really ask about the top ups really!

Regarding the unlocking. The mifi is just a wireless route from a company that three has branded themselves to sell with their sims. Once unlocked it will pick up signles from other sims to use as normal.

Edit: I thought I read somewhere that the top ups only lasted 30 days.

I did think of the rolling contract idea. What bothered me is if I go a month here or there without using it then I would still be paying for it.

I did hear Virgin do a very good rolling contract. One thing to check. Some data contracts will only let you use it in the phone you got it with and a dingle or MIFI is definite no no.

 

[flipshot]

I've been searching the vodafone website and was not able to find this at any price. All the PAYG SIMs expire after 30days and then need topping up again. Can you provide the link on their website?

They don't offer the tariff anymore, they stopped at the end of last year. So you won't find it on there website.

If you find somewhere selling the dongles or SIMs which are on that price plan then they still honour it. They are just not selling SIMs on that price plan themselves anymore.

 

[zen]

Regarding the Three expiry time on data - actually I think I was looking at the mobile top-up page, which said no expiry. There is no information under the mobile broadband top-up, but the FAQ says that data allowance cannot be rolled over to the next month with PAYG, do that does imply a one-month expiry.

I have to say, Three's website is not particularly informative!

Regarding the cost of the UK iPad being 20% more than the US, well, no kidding - you have to add 17.5% VAT, then 2.5% shipping/distribution to Europe.

 

[Boblister]

Regarding the Three expiry time on data - actually I think I was looking at the mobile top-up page, which said no expiry. There is no information under the mobile broadband top-up, but the FAQ says that data allowance cannot be rolled over to the next month with PAYG, do that does imply a one-month expiry.

I have to say, Three's website is not particularly informative!

Regarding the cost of the UK iPad being 20% more than the US, well, no kidding - you have to add 17.5% VAT, then 2.5% shipping/distribution to Europe.

Don't hope for much support on the phone either. Thats one of their main failings. 99% of the time it's a call centre in Mumbai.

 

[LaNex]

I would suggest a drimel would be the way to go in cutting it down.

I'm sure it would work for you - however I've been registered blind for the last ten years so as I said, fine work not my speciality. Which is an understatement. If you can sort it by hitting it with a big hammer I'm good to go - otherwise, not a good idea.

I found a seller on ebay who does vodafone payg data sims - they state they have no expiry for the data. I have emailed him / her and asked a couple of other questions (like, could the sim be used in an iphone as data only and do subsequent top ups also have no expiry), but no reply as yet. If anyone is interested, if the reply is positive I'll provide a link.

 

[zed2]

I'm sure it would work for you - however I've been registered blind for the last ten years so as I said, fine work not my speciality. Which is an understatement. If you can sort it by hitting it with a big hammer I'm good to go - otherwise, not a good idea.

In that case it's a good job the ipad virtual keyboard has drawn the dimples on the home keys!!

 

[LaNex]

In that case it's a good job the ipad virtual keyboard has drawn the dimples on the home keys!!

LOL, yus, without them I'd be shafted.

It's the touches like that that make me think Apple are either slaves to detail or just bonkers. Heh.

 

[MikeWilson]

I ordered one of these yesterday which seemed a good deal http://bit.ly/blU7vr

+1

That's the same person I bought my Voda SIM from and it's working out well so far. I only use it intermittently to provide some access on the road for my MBP (and iPhone when O2's signal dies as it so often does).

Regarding the Three expiry time on data - actually I think I was looking at the mobile top-up page, which said no expiry. There is no information under the mobile broadband top-up, but the FAQ says that data allowance cannot be rolled over to the next month with PAYG, do that does imply a one-month expiry.

My understanding is that the Three top-up expires after 30 days. If it does not, it's a great deal. If it does expire, it's simply an average deal.

I found a seller on ebay who does vodafone payg data sims - they state they have no expiry for the data. I have emailed him / her and asked a couple of other questions (like, could the sim be used in an iphone as data only and do subsequent top ups also have no expiry), but no reply as yet. If anyone is interested, if the reply is positive I'll provide a link.

Answers:

1. Yes you can use the Vodafone PAYG data SIMs in your iPhone as long as;

a) your iphone is sim unlocked
and
b) you have set the correct APN settings in your iPhone's settings menu

2. Subsequent top-ups for Vodafone Mobile Broadband PAYG have no expiry.

I find this Vodafone PAYG mobile broadband offering to be among the most expensive data rates - BUT - in the long term if you're just looking for light use it's actually cheaper as ALL of the other mobile networks (AFAIK) expire your unused data allowance after 30 days from the date of topping up.

 

[iWannaBeAdored]

I guess not so many of you are that interested anymore regarding the non-delivery of iPAD, however I am still no better off now than I was a week ago.

17-04-2010 22:55 Delivery Agent - CHICAGO Left origin country
17-04-2010 22:54 Delivery Agent - CHICAGO Arrived at Outward OE
15-04-2010 11:40 Delivery Agent - UNITED STATES AMERICA

This is what is on my screen on the PF website and much the same on the USPS site. Do I take it that this parcel is lost? Looks like many of you who had stuff sent from Chicago have now received or will be receiving their iPADs shortly, I sadly am not one of the lucky ones

Any suggestions? More patience?

Yay, I can help you here ...

My iPad was sent on the 15th via USPS priority mail international and parcelforce 48 when it reaches the UK.

It was delayed because of the UK air closure (thanks Iceland ). Mine was left at 'Left Origin Country' for a while. Around 2 weeks later it arrived in the UK! It is currently in the Perth Depot where I can pay customs and pick it up on Tuesday.

Don't worry. Your item isn't lost. USPS tracking is very slow and inaccurate so I would just use Parcelforce tracking as it is very accurate and updates instantly. Your iPad will arrive in the UK in a few days (well, it should).

This is how my tracking with Parcelforce looks:

Hope I helped.

 

[stanmoor]

How much does it cost to send with Parcelforce? Just that a friend of mine sent mine on Friday with Fedex for $40 and it's already in the UK set to be delivered for Tuesday..just seems more worthwhile using Fedex!

 

[MikeWilson]

How much does it cost to send with Parcelforce? Just that a friend of mine sent mine on Friday with Fedex for $40 and it's already in the UK set to be delivered for Tuesday..just seems more worthwhile using Fedex!

How much does it cost to send what with Parcelforce? From where and to where? For pricing info, take a look at www.parcelforce.co.uk

I'd be surprised if sending an international parcel from the UK using FedEx would be cheaper than ParcelForce but you'd get better tracking for your money at the very least...

 

[iWannaBeAdored]

Priority international mail with USPS (parcelforce 48 included) was only $40 for my iPad. Customs is only £18 for me since the seller sent it as a gift under $50 (god bless him ).