Questions about iPad 3G use in Canada

[flynz4]

I have a daughter moving from the US to Vancouver BC to attend graduate school at UBC. I decided to downgrade her iPhone to a basic voice phone... but I bought her an iPad 3G for data. This decision is largely motivated by the iPad being unlocked, and the need to use it on both sides of the border. This raises a number of questions about activating her iPad for 3G use in Canada.

1) I believe that the two current iPad providers in Canada are Rogers and Bell. Is there an advantage to one over the other in Vancouver?

2) Will she need a Canadian credit card to activate 3G, or can her current US credit card work?

3) I read that upon 3G activation, you need to connect to iTunes. Is this true, or is this simply for initial iPad activation?

4) We all use the same iTunes account on our various Macs, and all of our devices (including my daughter's iPad) have already set up against that account. Will her living in Vancouver cause any problems? We want to keep the iTunes account as a US account.

5) We plan to visit her occasionally. Can I get a 2nd sim card for my iPad and use it while I am visiting in Canada?

6) Anything else?

Thanks in advance.

/Jim

 

[kdesign7]

I have a daughter moving from the US to Vancouver BC to attend graduate school at UBC. I decided to downgrade her iPhone to a basic voice phone... but I bought her an iPad 3G for data. This decision is largely motivated by the iPad being unlocked, and the need to use it on both sides of the border. This raises a number of questions about activating her iPad for 3G use in Canada.

1) I believe that the two current providers iPad providers in Canada are Rogers and Bell. Is there an advantage to one over the other in Vancouver?

There is also TELUS Mobility, offering plans for the iPad, and out West, TELUS is a good market. But, their plans are pretty crappy ******. As for BELL or TELUS, all I can say for certain, that in the eastCoast of Canada, Rogers is ****, and Bell is amazing, in all places, including rural areas. Bell is offering their BELLMOBILETV App with their data plans, until the end of August. It's NOT the best, but it's not bad either. I like a few of the channels on the app, and it works well. (its live streaming btw)



2) Will she need a Canadian credit card to activate 3G, or can her current US credit card work?

Im not sure, but I have a feeling that it might not matter. I know in the US, AT&T was kinda picky about this. They were only taking purchases from people with a US bound credit card. Im not entirely sure, but the easiest way to find out would be calling either BELL or ROGERS.


Rogers -
1-866-931-3282
Bell -
1 800 667-0123
Mon. to Fri., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET)
Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET)


3) I read that upon 3G activation, you need to connect to iTunes. Is this true, or is this simply for initial iPad activation?

You need to Sync your iPad on a computer in order to use the device, yes, this is true. You can't buy an iPad right out of the box that runs on startup.

Also... yes.. the iPad does need an initial sync with the computer to update vital MircoSIM 'drivers, if you will', and for some weird reason, it HAS to start off by using iTunes. After this, I pressure you can get updates for the MicroSIM on the device itself. I haven't experienced anything yet, but... ya.. you gotta use iTunes just to activate the SIM card, in a sense.


4) We all use the same iTunes account on our various Macs, and all of our iPads (including my daughter) have already set up our iPads against that account. Will her living in Vancouver cause any problems? We want to keep the iTunes account as a US account.

Nop, this shouldn't be an issue either. But, if she does download/purchase any Apps, on the US AppStore on the device, that is meant for US folks only, such as, ABC Player, NetFlix, NBC websites, Hulu, etc..etc.. they won't work for her. Simply her IP is Canadian, and these apps know this.. and say NOP, I dont think so.. no service for you.

All in all, she'll be able to use the AppStore no problemo, and everything else will be fine.


5) We plan to visit her occasionally. Can I get a 2nd sim card for my iPad and use it while I am visiting in Canada?

- But of course you can.. remember, there is no contracts.

6) Anything else?

The iPad rocks my life. Just saying.
Anything else... lol what do u wanna know.
Thanks in advance.

/Jim

 

[jsh]

I'm from e US but I go to grad school in Waterloo. just a few things to add to flynz's post:

2) No experience with this, as I've been here long enough to have a Canadian CC. I don't think it would matter, as I bought my iPhone with a US cc when arrived and Rogers didn't care. I just had to show a canadian ID (student card or visa) but I don't think this applies to the iPad as there is no contract. I didn't have to do this to get my microSIM.

3) this is just an update for the carrier settings. To be on the safe side, I'd assume this is required.

4) Technically, this is a violation if the iTunes agreement and Apple has the right to disable the account, but I have not had issues. I use only my US iTunes account here and didn't bother with a Canadian one.

5) Yup.

6) AT&T will require you to get a new microsim if the account has been inactive for 6 consecutive months. So, be careful about this, or else you'll find yourself buying another microSIM. Not sure about the Canadian carriers.

 

[headphonesonly]

I would say go with Rogers. That's what I have now and will continue with when I move to BC next week. Rogers has great reception in Vancouver and has good plans. Bell has good coverage too and the plans are the same but service is probably less reliable, and Bell has terrible customer service. Telus plans are just terrible.