dumb ipad question

[buzz]

hey guys, probably a dumb, been living under a rock type of question, but , what makes an ipad work? by that i mean how does it get connectivity. do you simply put a normal sim card in it like a mobile phone or is there more to it?

jamie

[HippoNZ]

Hey mate, the ipad 2 has wifi and a slot for the sim. Wifi for connecting to wireless internet. If you want to use data while on the move, i.e emails, web browser etc you'll need a micro sim (smaller than the standard) on the correct data plan from your cellphone provider.

[buzz]

thanks mate, so it is just a sim card from any of the usual mobile providers.

jamie

[HippoNZ]

Not 100% sure in aussie, here in NZ most of them do so I'm assuming the same over there. It should be as easy as walking into the store, explaining you need a sim for your ipad, then discussing how much data allowance you need and then they set the sim up for you.
Chuck the sim in and away you go.
At work our ipads are on account with vodafone.
While your in there discuss prepay vs account plans - depending on your requirements prepay could be more practical but if your looking at using your ipad a bit then on account would most likely best the most cost effective.

[buzz]

excellent info, thanks hippo.

jamie

[tracemul7]

You would need the 3G version of the iPad for the simcard slot.
But if you have wireless coverage wherever you go, eg home, work (or an iPhone 4) - you could probably make do with just the wireless only version - which is quite a bit cheaper.

I have the wireless only one, as have wireless at home and work, and can use my iPhone 4 as a wireless hotspot, if needed, when on the move.

[AB]

You would need the 3G version of the iPad for the simcard slot.
But if you have wireless coverage wherever you go, eg home, work (or an iPhone 4) - you could probably make do with just the wireless only version - which is quite a bit cheaper.

I have the wireless only one, as have wireless at home and work, and can use my iPhone 4 as a wireless hotspot, if needed, when on the move.

So do you plug your Iphone into the Ipad and the Iphone is obviously on 3G so you can get internet on your Ipad?

Does that make sense....lol

[patch697]

So do you plug your Iphone into the Ipad and the Iphone is obviously on 3G so you can get internet on your Ipad?

Does that make sense....lol

I was told by a service provider that although the mobile USB internet dongles & mobile phones all use the same WAP browsing services to access the internet, using your phone as a modem (tethering is the term used) will chew through data at twice the rate so ring your service provider before doing this & get the lowdown cos WAP data transfer is very expensive as apposed to other forms of internet access.

[Maxhead]

So do you plug your Iphone into the Ipad and the Iphone is obviously on 3G so you can get internet on your Ipad?

Does that make sense....lol

No connections necessary mate, your phone acts as a wireless hotspot(like your wireless router at home) so you can connect any wireless device to the internet through your phone.
AFAIK there is no extra data consumed by doing this. We use these for work on 2Gb plan and no one has ever gone over the limit by just email,internet and a few work downloads here and there. These are on and used all day long.

[patch697]

No connections necessary mate, your phone acts as a wireless hotspot(like your wireless router at home) so you can connect any wireless device to the internet through your phone.
AFAIK there is no extra data consumed by doing this. We use these for work on 2Gb plan and no one has ever gone over the limit by just email,internet and a few work downloads here and there. These are on and used all day long.

This really depends on the service provider.............

I would recommend getting in touch with your service provider & asking before doing so as you could end up with a hefty unexpected increase in your bill.