How will you get a data plan on your iPad in NZ?

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timmyh

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#61474 17-May-2010 15:37

Here is the 3G iPad info from the Apple Aus site.

It looks like Apple has stipulated to the carriers that they must offer no-contract data plans for the iPad, and they have all agreed. But it looks like only some of them will allow the data plan to be configured from the iPad itself ("4. Use on-device activation process (where available)"), presumably because they have implemented the network interface into their billing systems that the iPad can talk to.

I wonder how many have done that and how big a piece of work is involved in this integration?

For the others my guess is that you just manually edit the APN, just like you do to get it working in NZ right now.

If Vodafone were still the only 'official' iPhone provider in NZ would they do the integration work for on-device provisioning? Would it be worth it if you can just as easily put an XT SIM in it and manually enter the APN?

josephhinvest

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#330944 17-May-2010 16:10

If I can possibly afford the difference, I plan to buy the 3G iPad. But I will only occasionally need 3G data.
I had planned to buy a new 2degrees SIM card, put some credit on it and just use it for data.
I would have to trim down the SIM, but this doesn't look too hard.
Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

Cheers,
Joseph.

geekiegeek

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#330954 17-May-2010 16:27

I plan to get a wifi only model and use my jailbroken 3GS as a wifi hotspot if I'm away from my home wifi.

rupertbg

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#330960 17-May-2010 16:39

Telecom has already confirmed that they will support and provide Micro SIMs on XT.. So I think this is a good sign that iPhone HD and iPad are either on the way officially or Telecom has some other trick up their sleeve (considering they are the only devices I have heard of that support mSIM)

www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2010/all/telecom-xt-to-get-micro-sims/

corksta

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#331010 17-May-2010 19:11

I deliberated for a long time over whether to get just the Wi-Fi model or the 3G model. I've decided that I'm just going to get the W-Fi version when it launches in Australia, and will buy this http://www.netcomm.com.au/netcomm-products/3g-mobile-broadband/3g24w
when it releases. It's similar to Vodafone's MiFi but this one will work on XT.

That way when I'm travelling and away from home I'll be able to connect my iPhone, MacBook and the iPad to the one device and share the connection. I'll either go prepaid or on to a plan depending on how much data I end up using.

For me the iPad will primarily be a media device, and for an example of why I'm going this route, if you've used YouTube over 3G (compared with W-Fi) you'll know how crap the quality is and it's no different on the iPad, whereas if you're connected to the device above via Wi-Fi over the 3G network you'll still get the higher quality clips as you would if you were connected to any other W-Fi network - not sure if this is something that Apple/YouTube can fix with the flick of a switch. It also removes that 20MB limit that applies to downloads from the App Store when connected over 3G.

kaptinobvious

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#331028 17-May-2010 19:48

I'm running a 3G iPad on XT at the moment. It works pretty well, but Telecom will need to make some changes for it to work well for Joe-average-iPad-buyer.

XT txts passwords and voucher codes to the iPad (which of course it doesn't pick up) and the Telecom billing and usage pages don't work on it (so you can't check usage from the iPad; I haven't tried topping it up from the iPad but I imagine that might not work either).

The on-sim menus option for managing data plans could even be easier for them to do than re-jigging their existing systems. I don't know. It would be great to see them implemented.

On the other hand, coverage and speed on XT are really great. No complaints there at all. Though this thing chews through data MUCH faster than my iPhone. Big screen needs feeding, I guess. It is a device that cries out for some aggressive pricing on data plans. Curious to see if that happens (not optimistic though ... just sayin).

PoLiGnAc

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#331129 17-May-2010 23:11

So there is no way of sharing your iphone 3g connection on a Wifi iPad without jail breaking either?

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geekiegeek

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#331153 18-May-2010 05:49

PoLiGnAc: So there is no way of sharing your iphone 3g connection on a Wifi iPad without jail breaking either?

Nope.

Oliver

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#331517 18-May-2010 18:24

I've jailbroken my Wifi only iPad and installed an app called iBluever. It let's you share the 3G internet connection from any cellphone that supports bluetooth DUN, with the iPad (tethering). 30 seconds after installing it I was using the internet shared from my Sony Ericsson V640i cellphone, very easy to setup.

I was using the connection to look at Google Maps to get directions while on a road trip last week and noticed that the iPad could still find and track my location on Google maps. Even though it dosen't seem to have GPS, from what I've found out they are still able to take a guess at their location through other sources, and it was accurate enough for us the rest of the trip!

rebeltrousers

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#331528 18-May-2010 18:46

I already use "mywi" app from Cydia.
You have to jailbreak, but that's not a big issue. The app makes your iphone into wifi hotspot and keeps track of traffic too.
When I get an iPad it'll be the wifi version. There's no way I'd get a 2nd data plan or sim because 90% of the time I'd be getting connected over wifi at home/work anyway.
:)

ahmad

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#331539 18-May-2010 19:18

Just got an iPad Wi-Fi today.

Do I want a 3G instead?

One part of me say "yes". But the other more sensible part of me says "no way - not while mobile broadband costs so much in New Zealand".

arthurhh

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#335311 26-May-2010 23:05

geekiegeek:
PoLiGnAc: So there is no way of sharing your iphone 3g connection on a Wifi iPad without jail breaking either?

Nope.

Man that has to be the worst profile image I have ever seen, unless of course it is actually you, how many charges did the person in the photo get convicted on?

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psychrn

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#336163 29-May-2010 23:36

I got my 3G 64 Gb Ipad last week via Toshcomputers.
I have an XT sim card which I made into a micro sim card.
I decided to go with the 2Gb $49.95 a month plan (xt).
Tonight I ran a few speed test between my Ipad on XT & Iphone on VF
The difference was quite impressive.
On xt I managed 3813 Kbps d/l 279 Kbps up
On vf I got 1668 Kbps down & 291 up.
This was located at Te Rapa, Hamilton

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arthurhh

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#336240 30-May-2010 11:39

arthurhh:
geekiegeek:
PoLiGnAc: So there is no way of sharing your iphone 3g connection on a Wifi iPad without jail breaking either?

Nope.

Man that has to be the worst profile image I have ever seen, unless of course it is actually you, how many charges did the person in the photo get convicted on?

I quite like it, goes towards the forensics I end up getting into with what the users get upto on our WAN/LAN and servers.

Think Dick Tracy or the Shadow

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