Using iPad with mobile data outside the UK

[davethekeys]

Hi there. I'm in the UK and have iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G (mobile data). For 3G I use a micro-Sim, Pay As You Go, from the 3 network. I want to know how to use the 3G facility outside the UK. I am travelling to the US on vacation in a couple of weeks.
I asked customer service at 3 and they were little help, just sending me a data sheet on using a mobile phone outside the UK!
Do I need to buy a PAYG micro-SIM from a store whilst I'm the US?
Or do I just turn on roaming on my iPad and it'll use my 3 micro-SIM?.
Hope someone can help me.
Cheers. Dave.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

Hi there. I'm in the UK and have iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G (mobile data). For 3G I use a micro-Sim, Pay As You Go, from the 3 network. I want to know how to use the 3G facility outside the UK. I am travelling to the US on vacation in a couple of weeks.
I asked customer service at 3 and they were little help, just sending me a data sheet on using a mobile phone outside the UK!
Do I need to buy a PAYG micro-SIM from a store whilst I'm the US?
Or do I just turn on roaming on my iPad and it'll use my 3 micro-SIM?.
Hope someone can help me.
Cheers. Dave.

I have a '3' SIM on my iPad too. If you want to roam, then you need to call '3' to have this enabled - by default you don't have roaming enabled on a '3' SIM. However, having said that, it's almost always going to be cheaper to purchase a PAYG SIM in the US or use a WiFi hotspot. You can obtain AT&T SIMs very widely in the US - microSIMs are a little more difficult, so you might want to invest in a SIM-cutter (see Amazon) that can trim the excess plastic off a 'regular' SIM. AT&T offer several data plans (see their web site) specifically for the iPad too.

However, I visit the US very frequently and I typically rely on free WiFi hotspots for 90% of the time and use my '3' SIM for the few times that I can't get WiFi coverage. But remember (a) to get it enabled by '3' and (b) turn on cellular roaming in your iPad's 'Settings' menu.

Have a great trip.

Tim

 

[davethekeys]

Thanks Tim, that's great. When I call '3' to have roaming enabled, is there some reference on the micro-SIM I should be quoting them? Once again, thanks, Dave

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

Thanks Tim, that's great. When I call '3' to have roaming enabled, is there some reference on the micro-SIM I should be quoting them? Once again, thanks, Dave

'Settings', 'General', 'About', 'Cellular Data Number' is what they'll want - it's the 'mobile number' of your SIM.

Tim

 

[davethekeys]

Thanks again Tim!