Moving data plan from iPhone to 3g iPad

[p-rice]

Since owning the iPad, I RARELY make use of my 3g internet on my iPhone. In fact I rarely use my iPhone for anything other than calling now.

So my question is, will it be possible to move/transfer my current ATT data plan from my iPhone to the iPad? I don't want to pay two data plans and I really want to avoid tethering my 3g data to the iPad due to serious battery drainage on the iPhone. I would much rather tether the connection from my iPad to my iPhone if need be.

I still own a wifi-only iPad btw, but will be getting a 3g one next week if such thing is possible.

I know it's still too early to tell with the 3g iPad's unavailable but maybe some of you guys work at ATT and have some sort of insight on this.

If this is a repost, please delete.

 

[Zimmy68]

Nope, different devices, different setups.

Forget the iPad, I'm pretty sure you can't get an iPhone without 3G/data plan as it is.
AT&T could care less that you have an iPad.
They made a special deal with Apple to have a no contract system.
The iPad is written specifically for this no contract system.
You can't bring your contract over and staple it on.

 

[indy1979]

If your contract is up, they can't force you to keep the data plan on the iPhone. If you do decide to remove the data plan you can (and will) be charged on a pay-per-use (usually per kB) basis unless you put a wix block on that line.

You will loose MMS, Visual Voicemail, Maps (unless on wifi), and anything that may use the data with a wix block.

 

[nj-mac-user]

The ipad is prepaid, the iphone is postpaid. It's like trying to add an at&t go phone to your account. Can't happen.

 

[sakanagai]

Since owning the iPad, I RARELY make use of my 3g internet on my iPhone. In fact I rarely use my iPhone for anything other than calling now.

So my question is, will it be possible to move/transfer my current ATT data plan from my iPhone to the iPad? I don't want to pay two data plans and I really want to avoid tethering my 3g data to the iPad due to serious battery drainage on the iPhone. I would much rather tether the connection from my iPad to my iPhone if need be.

I still own a wifi-only iPad btw, but will be getting a 3g one next week if such thing is possible.

I know it's still too early to tell with the 3g iPad's unavailable but maybe some of you guys work at ATT and have some sort of insight on this.

If this is a repost, please delete.

No. The data plan for the iPhone is associated with the voice/text plan and tied to your iPhone's SIM card. If you are on contract, you must have a data plan with your iPhone to use it on the AT&T network. The iPad uses microSIM which is not compatible with regular SIM cards. Data plans for the iPad are pre-paid, contract-free, meaning they do not show up in your regular billing statement. There are currently no contract options for the iPad as the iPad is not offered through AT&T. The only way you can "transfer" is to terminate your AT&T service, paying any associated termination fees, try the phone on a voice-only service (which may not even be possible - check with Apple and your service provider for full details), and continue renewing the unlimited iPad plan which costs the same as the standard iPhone data package. Remember that this is not an actual transfer of service, rather a cancellation-substitution pair.

Other options are device tethering or portable 3G/4G hotspots. Or you can save yourself the hassle and pay two data plans. If you can't afford both and you really don't use your iPhone data plan, replace your phone with something more basic. Note that you pay by the month and there is no obligation to buy service.

Out of curiosity, why even buy the 3G version? I'd imagine that if you don't use your iPhone data, you probably won't have much use for iPad data.

 

[3goldens]

Just jailbreak your iPhone and tether ma man!

 

[p-rice]

Alright thanks for the quick input guys.

Out of curiosity, why even buy the 3G version? I'd imagine that if you don't use your iPhone data, you probably won't have much use for iPad data.

Before the iPad, I did use my data plan extensively. Just think it would benefit much more on the iPad.

Just jailbreak your iPhone and tether ma man!

I have been doing that but tethering can drain the iPhone's battery way too fast. Guess I'll just get me one of those secondary battery cases or wait for the 4th gen iPhones with user removable batteries.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

No. The data plan for the iPhone is associated with the voice/text plan and tied to your iPhone's SIM card. If you are on contract, you must have a data plan with your iPhone to use it on the AT&T network.

This is what really bothers me about AT&T. They seem to impose a smartphone data plan, especially for iPhone 3G and 3GS, even if you bought your smartphone outright and are just attaching it to your number. Even if you jailbreak your iPhone and shut off the APN settings so it can never connect to the data service, they will go so far as you send you a text message that they're automatically appending a data plan to your monthly bill.

It appears that they are doing this via IMEI lookup, so if they see an iPhone 3G/3GS or any recent smartphone, it will likely happen to you. For whatever reason, they don't seem to be going after the iPhone 2G crowd. I should know, as I have three iPhone 2Gs that are jailbroken and data-disabled, and none of them have any data plans imposed.

Unfortunately, iPhone 2Gs are hard to come by nowadays, and when they appear on eBay or CraigsList, they're still in the $175-250 mark and they're usually beat to hell, have cracked screens, etc. Three of the four iPhone 2Gs I bought had broken glass or worn batteries which are rather cheap but was a pain to replace. But, it's a small price to pay to avoid getting an iPhone 3G and then dealing with AT&T shoving a data plan down my throat.

This is why they either need to do tiered data plans, enable tethering once and for all, or simply give you option to shut off the data plan.

 

[Karnivore]

If your contract is up, they can't force you to keep the data plan on the iPhone. If you do decide to remove the data plan you can (and will) be charged on a pay-per-use (usually per kB) basis unless you put a wix block on that line.

You will loose MMS, Visual Voicemail, Maps (unless on wifi), and anything that may use the data with a wix block.

Actually you can cancel data at any time even while under contract. The only catch is you'll have to stop using iPhone.

 

[Pared]

or wait for the 4th gen iPhones with user removable batteries.

You'll be waiting a long time.

 

[Papajz]

no required data plan

My first 2g iphone was problematic since i bought it. After 6 months of playing around they finally said it was the phone. At&t wanted nothing to do with it. They said it was apples problem since it was an equipment problem and did not care what apple did. Apple didn't have any more new 2g's and since it was problems from day one i wasn't going to accept a refurb. Apple decided i was right, and did the only thing they could, and that was give me a new 3g. When i bought the 2g i had to sign a contract for 2 years with at&t even thou they didn't subsidize the purchase. It required 20 bucks a month data plan which included 150 text messages. AT&T told me if apple replaced my phone with 3g it wouldn't change my contract. Then after apple gave me the 3g att tried to jack my data to 30 bucks a month. Long story short they told me i wasn't required to have a data plan but my old one wasn't compatible with the 3g (bull crap unlimited data is unlimited data and if i broke the contract they would charge me) so magically i wasn't required to have a data plan but if i did want one it have to be 30 bucks. So the first 2g phones did require them now apparently not!

 

[billgatesceo]

You can have an iphone without a contract. I am using an old 2G right now without a data plan. Just call them and tell them to drop the plan and put a wix block on your account.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

You can have an iphone without a contract. I am using an old 2G right now without a data plan. Just call them and tell them to drop the plan and put a wix block on your account.

Note that this only works on the 2G. Try doing that with a 3G or 3GS and you'll hit a brick wall.

 

[nj-mac-user]

This is what really bothers me about AT&T. They seem to impose a smartphone data plan, especially for iPhone 3G and 3GS, even if you bought your smartphone outright and are just attaching it to your number. Even if you jailbreak your iPhone and shut off the APN settings so it can never connect to the data service, they will go so far as you send you a text message that they're automatically appending a data plan to your monthly bill.

All the major US carriers do this now if I'm not mistaken. AT&T was just the last to enforce it.

 

[billgatesceo]

I had it done on my 3GS for a few months before I sold it. My buddy that works at ATT did say that they might catch it, but never did I get a txt saying that I needed to get the plan. From the reports that I have seen, once you get it switched off, you will only get annoying txts telling you to add it.

In any event. What you can do to get it turned off at least temporarily, is to take an old non iphone sim capable phone. Call att and tell them you don't have your phone anymore. Have them pull the data plan off and tell them you want a wix block. You can then put that sim back in your iphone and it will work. I think they will send you txts but I dont believe that they can legally make you pay for the data plan.

Atleast I was never charged for one. YMMV