How do you know when your mobile broadband credit expires on the iPad

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › How do you know when your mobile broadband credit expires on the iPad

mattwnz

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#87050 18-Jul-2011 17:22

Ok. Purchased a mobile broadband 500MB microsim for my ipad a few months ago for $29.95, with that included credit, and was told at the time that this credit doesn't expire, and the data that you use just gets deducted from your credit, with the rate being 10c / MB. I recommend this to a friend, but they have told me that this is particular plan is no longer avaliable, and the new plan deducts $25 each month off the card, so you have to top it up every month, whether you use that data or not. I have not been informed of this change, and as it is an ipad, it doesn't receive txts. Therefore I pressume it only applies to new signups.

However I have also notice that the online control panel that telecom provides on the ipad, and it doesn't make any mention of dates that the credit expires, so I pressume it doesn't expire. However there is mention that all credit expires after 6 months after topping up which looks new. But there is no mention anywhere in the control panel when that particular date would be for me, and when I need to top it up by to not lose my existing credit. Does anyone know the answer?

I have got to say that telecoms prepaid data pricing for the ipad is very confusing and ambiguous, compared to vodafones and 2 degrees.

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Biddle Corp

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#494911 18-Jul-2011 18:14

Using an iPad with Telecom can really be summed up with one acronym. PITA. There is nothing wrong with the network or plans, but merely the processes involved to deal with topups and account balances.

Not being able to even directly top up a device online is a pain, you can only send the voucher an SMS which of course is no good on an iPad. Even setting up an account requires access to another device so you can get the password to use the online account portal.

What Telecom need is a native iOS app - and the more people that contact them saying this means the better the chances of this happening!

corksta

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#494912 18-Jul-2011 18:17

You're dead right that the new plan only applies to new sign-ups, while everyone else remains on the 10c/MB plan.

I have also not been able to find anywhere that says when the credit expires. Either guesstimating yourself or ringing Telecom to find out when credit was last applied is probably about the only way.

billgates

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#494916 18-Jul-2011 18:25

Once you have an online account set up with Telecom, then on the ipad you can save a bookmark under safari for the following address.

http://sphone.telecom.co.nz/mobile/view/account-info-view

no need to log in with the above link. it displays your data usage, remaining data, plan details and you can even top up via the link using your credit card.

it's setup for a smartphone dize screen but looks and works fine on an ipad as well.

Do whatever you want to do man.

boby55

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#494917 18-Jul-2011 18:25

sbiddle: Using an iPad with Telecom can really be summed up with one acronym. PITA. There is nothing wrong with the network or plans, but merely the processes involved to deal with topups and account balances.

Not being able to even directly top up a device online is a pain, you can only send the voucher an SMS which of course is no good on an iPad. Even setting up an account requires access to another device so you can get the password to use the online account portal.

What Telecom need is a native iOS app - and the more people that contact them saying this means the better the chances of this happening!

Can you not use the 'Your Telecom" Page to topup via voucher or credit card?

I know I can on my iPhone

tdgeek

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#494944 18-Jul-2011 19:01

You can use the link BillGates gave or go to Your Telecom. What we now do with smartphones (and tablets), is we authenticate them via the data device that the network can see. You just need to access the link or Your Telecom via 3G, so if you are at home on wifi just turn that off, access via 3G and no login required. These sites are free data access.

sbiddle

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#494962 18-Jul-2011 19:39

boby55:
sbiddle: Using an iPad with Telecom can really be summed up with one acronym. PITA. There is nothing wrong with the network or plans, but merely the processes involved to deal with topups and account balances.

Not being able to even directly top up a device online is a pain, you can only send the voucher an SMS which of course is no good on an iPad. Even setting up an account requires access to another device so you can get the password to use the online account portal.

What Telecom need is a native iOS app - and the more people that contact them saying this means the better the chances of this happening!

Can you not use the 'Your Telecom" Page to topup via voucher or credit card?

I know I can on my iPhone

Unless somebody knows a magical way that I've yet to hear of, the fundamental problem is you can't get a Your Telecom login without moving the SIM to another device. Creating an account requires sending the password to a device via SMS, something that can't be done on an iPad. Doing so means moving the SIM to another device.

old3eyes

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#494965 18-Jul-2011 19:50

You could use Telecom's mTopup system if your bank supports it. I use this for all my prepay data sticks.

edit.

I just remembered something. Can the iPad do SMS??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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mattwnz

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#494977 18-Jul-2011 20:27

I haven't had any trouble checking my balance through their online control panel, and the online management is reasonably usable but not built for the ipad. I guess it does allow me to topup through it with my credit card, but haven't had the need to try that you.

However nowhere on it does it discuss when the credit expires. I suspect one day I will come to use it and all my credit will be gone. Then I will need to phone telecom to complain and to have my credit reinstated.

sbiddle

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#494979 18-Jul-2011 20:28

old3eyes: I just remembered something. Can the iPad do SMS??

No.

mattwnz

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#494980 18-Jul-2011 20:28

corksta: You're dead right that the new plan only applies to new sign-ups, while everyone else remains on the 10c/MB plan.

I have also not been able to find anywhere that says when the credit expires. Either guesstimating yourself or ringing Telecom to find out when credit was last applied is probably about the only way.

Thanks, you have confirmed the same problem. I just thought I was missing something.

boby55

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#495042 18-Jul-2011 22:14

sbiddle:
boby55:
sbiddle: Using an iPad with Telecom can really be summed up with one acronym. PITA. There is nothing wrong with the network or plans, but merely the processes involved to deal with topups and account balances.

Not being able to even directly top up a device online is a pain, you can only send the voucher an SMS which of course is no good on an iPad. Even setting up an account requires access to another device so you can get the password to use the online account portal.

What Telecom need is a native iOS app - and the more people that contact them saying this means the better the chances of this happening!

Can you not use the 'Your Telecom" Page to topup via voucher or credit card?

I know I can on my iPhone

Unless somebody knows a magical way that I've yet to hear of, the fundamental problem is you can't get a Your Telecom login without moving the SIM to another device. Creating an account requires sending the password to a device via SMS, something that can't be done on an iPad. Doing so means moving the SIM to another device.

Oh I just thought that the iPad was the same as the iPhone as was authenticated by network not login. Shows I need to get an iPad to play on myself ;)

michaelmurfy

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#495058 18-Jul-2011 23:10

If you use the link billgates gave this does indeed work on the ipad under 3G

Another method is to go to http://m.telecom.co.nz then go down to your telecom

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mattwnz

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#495063 18-Jul-2011 23:23

michaelmurfy: If you use the link billgates gave this does indeed work on the ipad under 3G

Another method is to go to http://m.telecom.co.nz then go down to your telecom

Thats the link I have been using. It doesn't mention anything about expiry of the existing credit. It says

Balance As At:

11:21pm

Last Top Up:

No top up amount has been added.

But nothing about expiry

cyril7

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#495112 19-Jul-2011 08:34

Can the iPad do SMS??

Having dealt with and designed apps using are modest number of different m2m SOC/modules which you will find inside the likes of many smart phones and tabs, the answer is yes it can do SMS, but someone wants you to buy a iphone aswell.

Cyril

NonprayingMantis

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#495130 19-Jul-2011 09:16

technically credit does not expire.

*however*, if you don't topup for a period of time (I think 12 months, cant remember, might be 6 months) then your account is deemed inactive and so deactivated and so any remaining credit balance dissapears along with it.

this is the same principle for Vodafone and 2Degrees.

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