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Using an iPad 3G while travelling in the USA - a review

K1W1

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It's easy.

Fly to the USA with your iPad 3G. When you arrive go to an Apple store and tell them that you are there on holiday and that you are looking for a 3G card. They will GIVE you an AT&T micro SIM card for free.
Note: If you can't find an Apple store you can get an AT&T card from an AT&T store but they will charge you $15.00 for it.

Once you have the card find a free wifi network (obviously the Apple store if you are already there, but any Starbucks or McDonalds or many cafes will do. I used the cafe route because I didn't have my Ipad with me when I went into the Apple Store. Insert the SIM card, join the wifi network then go to AT&T's web site and find the page about Ipad plans it's quite easy to find but not screamingly obvious, then sign up for a plan.

There are two basic plans available. 250MB for 30 days = $15.00 or 2GB for 30 days = $25.00. I went to 2GB route and gave my iPad a fairly heafty thrashing over a 12 day period including using it as a GPS in the rental car, Skype and some video viewing and managed to chop through a bit over 500MB so I think that the $25.00 plan is the better value for all but basic use.

You will need a credit card and an email address to sign up. Hotmail is fine and so is an overseas credit card but there is a catch. The plans are monthly if you are going to be in the USA less than 30 days you MUST cancel the plan either soon after you sign up (it will still run the 30 days) or immediately BEFORE you leave the country otherwise you will get another 30 days worth of data billed to you next month.

Coverage? I used mine in northern California from about Carmel through San Francisco and up into northern Marin county and generally the coverage was pretty reliable and consistent. I don't know what it would be be like in other less populated areas.

When you get home take the AT&T SIM out and put your home country SIM back in and you will be back on your home 3G network without any problems.
 
Great review - many thanks - I'll point other Members to your post, if I may as we often get asked about visitors using their iPads in the US.

Tim
 
Great Info, but I'm trying to do it from Mexico, since I'll be in San Francisco next week, I know I need the sim card, but I was checking the online store, and is asking me to add an equipment, let say I have to buy an IPad with them or I can not continue in the shopping cart, does this get fixed If I go in with my iPad and the sim inserted? kind regards.
 
Really great info! Thanx!

Does anyone know if it's possible to order an AT&T micro-SIM card for an iPad from Canada and have it sent (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc) before going to the States, perhaps activating it also before leaving?

Next time I drive down I'd like to have use of my 3G iPad as soon as I cross the border which will be into a remote section of northern Vermont late in the evening.

Presumably once you have an AT&T SIM for the iPad you can re-activate that same SIM again on any future trips?
 
Obtaining monthly 3G coverage for UK visitor

I am visiting from the UK and I have found it impossible to purchase monthly 3G coverage. I have spent hours in AT AND T stores who have all tried to help but without success. It seems you can only purchase with a credit card registered to a USA address, as a zip code MUST be entered in the pop up form. I tried using the address where I am staying in the US but it would not accept this as the address did not match the address the card is registered to,which is of course in the UK.
I was advised to purchase a prepaid debit card, which I did, but on returning to AT and T they found that the card could not be used without first a authorising it, and in order to activate it you have to have a social security no. Again, not being a US citizen, I don't have one. Cam anyone please advise me how a UK citizen can purchase 3G monthly service while staying here?
I will add that I also contacted two Apple centres, who tried to help, but had no answers.
 
You might perhaps try

RoamMobility.Com

It is specifically designed for Canadians travelling to the States but might perhaps also work in your case.
Worth contacting them to see. Their prices are reasonable for us Canadians when compared to what Canadian companies charge us for roaming in the States.

I'd be really interested in your comments on RoamMobility.




I am visiting from the UK and I have found it impossible to purchase monthly 3G coverage. I have spent hours in AT AND T stores who have all tried to help but without success. It seems you can only purchase with a credit card registered to a USA address, as a zip code MUST be entered in the pop up form. I tried using the address where I am staying in the US but it would not accept this as the address did not match the address the card is registered to,which is of course in the UK.
I was advised to purchase a prepaid debit card, which I did, but on returning to AT and T they found that the card could not be used without first a authorising it, and in order to activate it you have to have a social security no. Again, not being a US citizen, I don't have one. Cam anyone please advise me how a UK citizen can purchase 3G monthly service while staying here?
I will add that I also contacted two Apple centres, who tried to help, but had no answers.
 

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