Even though AT&T's $30 unlimited data plan technically went the way of the dodo back on June 7, the company had assured 3G iPad owners that they'd be entitled to one last hurrah -- buy an iPad prior to the 7th and you'd be allowed to grandfather into the old plan, even if you didn't receive your purchase by the deadline. Problem is, the unlimited plan option finally disappeared off AT&T-connected iPads for the first time today, leaving some of these eligible folks who haven't yet signed up for 3G data in the lurch. Not to worry, though: AT&T says that everyone who's eligible "will be able to select the unlimited plan" and that "details will follow." In other words, we don't know how this is going to work yet, but at least the carrier's aware of the issue. Stay tuned.

I've had my 3G iPad since first release and immediately signed up for the 'unlimited' data plan, so I'm now grandfathered. I don't expect AT&T to honor that plan too much longer anyway.

I surely thought that in order to continue to be grandfathered you'd have to continue to pay monthly for the unlimited plan; that once you let it go and cancel, you'd no longer be able to sign up for unlimited again.

This makes it sound like those who bought before the cutoff date might always have that option available. That includes me. But it sounds kind of unfair.

It doesn't sound like hose who bought before the cutoff date might always have that option available. It just makes sure that those ordered by 6/7 can still get it. Nothing about if you cancel it.

Hmm I wonder if this news will come after the news that the are getting the iPhone on their network by 2011.

Interesting... My wife's iPad arrives tomorrow. It was ordered on June 5th, so she should be grandfathered in. I wonder how we'll sign up for unlimited tomorrow.

Getting mine tomorrow, wondering the same thing.

If anyone gets info, please post for those of us who want to sign up for unlimited.

Unlimited AT&T 3G Data Disappears From iPads, Though It Should Return A little light at the end of the tunnel

Got mine yesterday and the option to sign up for the Unlimited Plan is not available in the Ipad. I'm trying to get a hold of someone from AT&T to sign me up for the Unlimited Plan, and boy it's a painful process. I've called them for like 6 times already. The phone number that they direct you to is forever on hold. I've been on hold for 3 times and each of those is over an hour wait. So total is almost 4 hrs! I'm still on hold as I type this.

Apple, you better get a better partner ASAP!

Just read some more accounts of people calling. After a long wait AT&T told them to sign up for the 2G plan and they will change it manually will take about a week. AT&T and BP should merge - that way there will be no question on which is the most screwed up company in the world.

Oh yeah, that will go smoothly. Like the iPhone preorders.

Follow-up: I tried to call AT&T last night and waited on hold from 8:45pm until their system dumped me at 10pm. Their call center closes at 10pm Eastern.

Today, my wife called them at 5:15pm. I arrived home from work at 7pm and she was still on hold.

At that time, I read the AT&T support forums and found an important tip: While you are on hold, go ahead and sign up for the 2 GB plan. This will enable them to then switch you over to unlimited during your phone call. Otherwise, if you have to sign up for a plan during the call, they will switch you within 10 business days and you will receive an email confirmation when it happens. If you are already signed up, they switch you then and there to unlimited and you can verify it in your account information.

I held until just after 7:30pm and a very nice CSR picked up. Within 5 minutes, I was switched.

Be patient. With iPhone 4 being released tomorrow, I'm sure that their call center will just get worse and worse over the next few days.

There has never been many true "unlimited" data plans anyway - just unenforced caps. I think the fine print on Verizon mentions a 5gb cap.

I got it all done in about 20 minutes this evening. Had to sign up for the 2Gig plan, then they transferred me to the "Ipad Support Team" and they switched it to the unlimited right then and there. Guess I was lucky that I just missed the big crunch in the last couple of days.

What's a good app for tracking Wi-Fi bandwidth usage?

So this is a defacto mandatory lifetime contract for $30 a month if you want unlimited data, great...

I haven't signed up yet because even though I qualify according to my purchase date, because I am outside of AT&T's 3g service area and would like to find out if they have a hard date to when we will be upgraded where I live; we just have voice/EDGE coverage at the moment

I did get an e-mail from Apple telling me I had until July 15 to figure it out but it also included this dastardly tidbit.

"Please note: If you cancel the Unlimited AT&T 3G Data Plan for iPad or the Plan is not auto-renewed in the future, you will not be able to order the Unlimited Plan again."

I can see why there's a lawsuit filed, as they originally advertised "unlimited data, no contract required"