IPAD 2 3G

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arj

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Hi

New to this, advise fellow members please

How to I go about getting prepaid 3g for my ipad, do i need a special sim card , service provider etc

thx in advance
 
The iPad 2 3G will work with any network provider: 8ta, Vodacom, CellC and MTN (and I guess Virgin).

Any pre-paid will do, but the biggest pains are:
- You need a MicroSIM (or you can cut a normal SIM smaller). 8ta at some point sold an iPad 3G pacakge at the iStores with an already cut SIM, but don't know if they do it still. If you don't want to cut down a regular, you can go into the stores and ask for a MicroSIM on pre-paid.
- You need to load airtime and convert it to databundles. This is the biggest pain, as you can't send SMSes, dial or do USSD (such as #111*) on the iPad. In this regard I find Vodacom the best as you can load data bundles directly using a service such as vtime.co.za (or if you bank with FNB, you can load data bundles directly). If the network provider allows you to register on their site and then convert airtime to databundles from the site, remember that you will still register with an SMS - which you can't receive on the iPAd.

Other network providers might offer a similar feature - I just know Vodacom, so can't comment on the rest. Couldn't find out how to do it on MTN.
 
Just check your area for coverage, before you take the plunge. 8ta has a great data service - very fast and cheap data, but they are a new kid on the block, and don't have coverage everywhere yet. Vodacom have dropped their rates recently, and have good coverage. I get great speed with Cell C and they have good rates and their coverage has improved immensely. You also have to bear this in mind when you consider where you will be traveling to with your iPad.

I just used a template and cut my SIM down to the correct size. If you are wary of this, then most SP's will supply you with a micro SIM at a nominal fee.

One thing to be aware of - do NOT put cash into the SIM and operate at out of bundle rates - you will pay a fortune. Put the money into your SIM and then convert the cash into a "data bundle". Most SP's "roll over" their bundles into the second month. So, to get maximum use of your data, buy right at the beginning of the month....and it will expire at the end of the second month (60 days). If you buy your data bundle just before the end of the month, you only get the remaining days of that month, plus the following month.
 
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MyLowBandwidth said:
istores also sell special 8ta prepaid deals for ipad. 3GB for R299 seems great to me!
Click to expand...

I was at the iStore a few weeks ago for one of these sims and they said I had to get the sim from Telkom Direct.
Just a heads up for some people :)
 
surfs-up said:
Just check your area for coverage, before you take the plunge. 8ta has a great data service - very fast and cheap data, but they are a new kid on the block, and don't have coverage everywhere yet. Vodacom have dropped their rates recently, and have good coverage. I get great speed with Cell C and they have good rates and their coverage has improved immensely. You also have to bear this in mind when you consider where you will be traveling to with your iPad.
Click to expand...
On all but the 8ta 10gb special accounts you get MTN roaming, so it's not really a big deal.
 
can 8ta 3gb promo work for ipad ?

i am thinking of cutting sim to micro sim -suggestions
 
arj said:
can 8ta 3gb promo work for ipad ?

i am thinking of cutting sim to micro sim -suggestions
Click to expand...
Yes, but you need to get the sim card from an iStore and RICA it there for some unknown reason.
 
mmmmmmmmm i've just got a micro sim from telkom store
 
arj said:
mmmmmmmmm i've just got a micro sim from telkom store
Click to expand...
In the past 8 minutes? (you were talking about cutting a sim to microsim that long ago).

But yeah, its frustrating.
 
hehehehe no earlier before 12 - i was looking at ipad data bundles compared to normal -much cheaper -
 
arj said:
Hi

New to this, advise fellow members please

How to I go about getting prepaid 3g for my ipad, do i need a special sim card , service provider etc

thx in advance
Click to expand...

Congrats btw...
 
Dolby said:
um :/
Click to expand...
Given it appears to be a typical fanboy statement; but in reality the market stats supports this, as much as you might believe otherwise, nothing else has gained sufficient traction.
 
I believe Apple see Samsung as a serious threat - hence doing their best to block sales everywhere they can. If they were super confident that their device was clearly superior in every way, they'd just let the Samsung get slaughtered in the market - right?

Look - if someone came up to me now and asked 'which is the best tablet?', I wouldn't have a clear answer ... and I don't believe their is a clear answer.

EDIT : Oh - and I'm really not trying to argue.
 
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Nope. Funny thing about IP rights: if you don't defend them relentlessly, you create the assumption that you don't care and not only will there be a dozen copycats next year instead of just one, but the courts won't take you as seriously if and when you do get around to defending them. The current system is horribly broken, agreed, but it is the only one out there and acting all noble and aloof is the fastest way to bankruptcy.

And of course there is a clear answer: "Go to the shop and play around with them. Buy the one that feels best to you." Same as anything else, really.
 
I have an ipad1
But sort of bored with it.
Makro will have a 10% special soon and thinking of a Ipad 2.

Would you rate them
1. Asus transformer as
2. Ipad 2
3. Samsung galaxy 10
4. ipad 1?
 
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