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Which data plan will you choose 250MB or Unlimited on the 3G?

Which data plan will you buy when you get your iPad 3G?

  • I want to go all out & get the Unlimited Plan for $30.00.

    Votes: 38 29.7%

  • I don't think I will need the unlimited plan I choose 250MB for $14.95.

    Votes: 16 12.5%

  • I will start with the Unlimited Plan then downgrade if needed.

    Votes: 22 17.2%

  • I will start with the 250MB plan and upgrade if needed.

    Votes: 57 44.5%
  • Total voters
    128
WizardHunt

WizardHunt

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 11, 2007
1,695
38
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
I am curious on which plan most of you will choose when you first get the iPad 3G? Will you go for the Unlimited plan right from the start for $30 or try the 250 MB option for $14.95 first then if you go over then upgrade to the full Unlimited service? Keep in mind though you would have to pay a full $30.00 over what you paid in the first place of $14.95 if you upgrade is my understanding.

Take my poll and lets look how it turns out.
 
I will be trying the 250MB first to see if that will be sufficient for my needs. If I need more I will be switching to unlimited.
 
I'm thinking I will get rid of my iPhone's data plan and just pay for the unlimited plan on the iPad.

I can always use WiFi for the iPhone for interweb stuff, but the iPad is faster all in all so I'm thinking I will benefit more from that $30/month going to the iPad rather than the iPhone.

FOLLOW UP
Can't get rid of the unlimited data plan for the iPhone and just use the cellular signal
 
Soldout said:
I'm thinking I will get rid of my iPhone's data plan and just pay for the unlimited plan on the iPad.

I can always use WiFi for the iPhone for interweb stuff, but the iPad is faster all in all so I'm thinking I will benefit more from that $30/month going to the iPad rather than the iPhone.
Click to expand...

While I agree that the iPad would be a much better compensator for the $30 unlimited plan, unfortunately the AT&T data plan for iPhone is required, so you can not simply get rid of it.

To stay on topic, I will be getting unlimited.
 
Soldout said:
I'm thinking I will get rid of my iPhone's data plan and just pay for the unlimited plan on the iPad.

I can always use WiFi for the iPhone for interweb stuff, but the iPad is faster all in all so I'm thinking I will benefit more from that $30/month going to the iPad rather than the iPhone.
Click to expand...

If you have AT&T - you can't do that.

A data plan is required with the iPhone. Period.

As for what i'm getting - it will actually come down to.... did the preauthorization for an order i cancelled fall off my debit card. It completely mucked up my access to funds - and I need the extra $15 for gas. And the 2 expense checks i'm waiting on to show up.

I was planning on going to go with 1 month of unlimited just to see what I can manage to use when i don't care (and i'm assuming that Netflix is going to stream over 3G). My Mini doesn't appear to really LIKE doing on the fly conversions in Air Video - i need to play with that some more and see if it is doable.

All in all, i think in the end the $15/250 is all i will need for regular use....
 
I would offer this advice to everyone. You should start out with the unlimited plan & track your use before trying to go cheap. In this way you can see if you really need to go unlimited and save having to upgrade later as 250 MB can go pretty quick and it’s measured in upload and download data transfer. There is one nice thing about the 250 MB plan though, there are no overages, which means service will just be disconnected when you reach your 250 MB cap.

If you take the 250 MB plan the plan will notify you when you get to 20% and 10% as a warning. If you come to this amount fast, then you will know that you will need the unlimited service providing your usage habits do not change.

I expect the usage may be higher than normal for the first month as people will be trying out things more since it is a new service.

If you take the unlimited service plan you can always check your usage status at anytime by going to Settings>Cellular Data on your iPad.
 
You'll be really shocked at how fast you can use up that 250mb. I personally would just go with the unlimited right away. I use a Verizon wireless for when I travel and I'm surprised when I hit 500mb and only use it a few days while traveling one weekend just checking email and a bit of forum surfing before bed.
 
Unlimited initially, because I assume my other gadgets will get cob webs while I'm in my OMG-I-Have-an-iPad zone for a week. After the novelty wears off, IF ever, I will then likely downgrade.

I only use 3G when I'm out and about, and the iPhone is sufficient for that if it comes down to $15 extra going to another bill. Plus, I'm not yet comfortable with the thought of using the iPad that much in public -- uh, NYC public.

Then again, I don't care to micro-manage minutes, which is why I usually opt for unlimited plans. We shall see. :D
 
Just for the heck of it , I checked my iPhone Cellular Data Usage. Now keep in mind on that the iPad would most likely be higher than your iPhone if you have one, so it is a way to compare how much you may use on your new iPad.

Mine is covering a period of 5 days and 23 hours, and during that time on my iPhone I used the following data:

Sent 90.1 MB
Received 565.0 MB

So that means just in a weeks period I used more than the 250 MB data. So for me I will be doing the Unlimited plan without a doubt.
 
Since I have wifi just about everywhere, I'll try out the 250 MB. If, for some reason, my home wifi were to be disconnected, I would then upgrade to unlimited. That's the great thing about the 3G. You have options.
 
WizardHunt said:
Just for the heck of it , I checked my iPhone Cellular Data Usage. Now keep in mind on that the iPad would most likely be higher than your iPhone if you have one, so it is a way to compare how much you may use on your new iPad.

Mine is covering a period of 5 days and 23 hours, and during that time on my iPhone I used the following data:

Sent 90.1 MB
Received 565.0 MB

So that means just in a weeks period I used more than the 250 MB data. So for me I will be doing the Unlimited plan without a doubt.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the data that is shown in settings is for the lifetime of the phone

A better stat would be your att summary
 
dukebound85 said:
IIRC, the data that is shown in settings is for the lifetime of the phone

A better stat would be your att summary
Click to expand...

If I go to my summary in my AT&T online bill it states for the last months bill,
that I have used 125 MB for the month and I really don't use the iphone to surf that much, and for the iPad I will use more for sure, so I would easily go over the 250 MB limit so I am going with the unlimited and if I find I am not using that much then I will cut back to the 250 MB plan.

I found the data on my previous message when you go to settings/ General / Usage / scroll down to Cellular Data.
 
250

I voted the 250 and go up if needed however I don't plan to use it much. I will only sign on for one month to see if there is any noticeable difference using the built in 3G VS. Using my iPhone to tether.

If I was going to use the 3G long term I would go with unlimited for sure. According to my ATT app with 28 of my 30 day cyle used I am at 2914.4 MB used:eek:
 
The only thing I plan to use the 3G for is texting, email, maps and other info lookup while on the go. Downloading apps, watching YouTube videos and other data intensive stuff can wait until I get to a wifi hotspot. Plus, I have WiFi at home and at work, so the only times I'll use 3G is a few hours each day, during my commute and while I'm out with friends after work. So I don't expect to go over 250 MB. But we'll see!
 
Night Spring said:
The only thing I plan to use the 3G for is texting, email, maps and other info lookup while on the go. Downloading apps, watching YouTube videos and other data intensive stuff can wait until I get to a wifi hotspot. Plus, I have WiFi at home and at work, so the only times I'll use 3G is a few hours each day, during my commute and while I'm out with friends after work. So I don't expect to go over 250 MB. But we'll see!
Click to expand...

+1 ^
 
I'm starting off with no data plan. I'm getting the 3G just in case I need it, but for now, i don't.
 
mcdj said:
I think Apple should subsidize App Store downloads over 3G.
Click to expand...

Interesting idea. Kind of like Kindle's purchasing of books wirelessly is free.

What they should really do is allow you to buy apps without downloading them. Then your iTunes account would "own" them and you could sync later. It's frustrating when you want to buy multiple apps, and the App Store always bounces you out, to download the app.
 
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