I don't have 3G coverage where I live, heck I don't even have broadband at all where I live, and AT&T activation went right through first try. Have used 600+ Meg on Edge already!

Perhaps at&t should make their 3g network larger...

Even Sprints is bigger now!

Originally Posted by geo

Update. Thanks to the article that figmo10 made available I finally got my AT&T service started. Granted it is not very fast out here in the woods but it is there and now I feel like my iPad is finally complete. I did just what the article suggested...went to Walmart and got a Visa Debit Gift card...got it registered...and then used my Mom's address (where there is full-time 3G) and it went through.

Thank you figmo10 for your help with this. Just made my day.

I was having the same issue - the iPad account set-up would not accept my address because (as AT&T explained to me) the area I'm in is not served by AT&T. Funny thing is I DO have an iphone that's charged to the same VISA account, I just had to get an out of town number for it. Local AT&T service is provided through a partner agreement with local cell companies and works fine.

The work-around that was suggested by AT&T was to enter a street address from someplace where AT&T does provide direct service but that didn't work since the address had to match my credit card billing address. Getting a pre-paid card didn't occur to me until I saw figmo10's post. I am sooo happy now!

Off to get a pre-paid VISA and try this out.... thanks figmo10!

UPDATE: when I went in to sign up with my new prepaid card, I saw that they now have an option to enter a service address that's different than the billing address. So those of us with this issue can enter our normal credit card info and just use a different address (like a family member who lives in a city with actual 3G AT&T coverage) for the service address. Works great!

Glad that I could pass along that info, geo and chiffchaff. Hope you both enjoy your iPad.