iPad - 3G options

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nolsie1

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Cape Town
Just got an iPad with Wireless and 3G, and would like to connect via 3G. What options are available? It's super frustrating getting info from MTN and Vodacom.
Vodacom can provide a micro sim and then you load data onto the number. But I have to go to a shop to do it, and without sms I cannot see the balance or receive a PIN for website login.
So my questions:
- What's the best cell provider for 3G for the iPad - I will probably use 500MB-2G/month
- Is pre-paid the best option
- Is there a sms application for iPad? How can read sms to the number?

Thanks
Johan
 
For Vodacom: you can buy bundles and check the balance online. If all else fails use the micro-SIM in an adapter or just position it nicely in a regular cellphone.

Anyway, my opinion is, for you Telkom 3G will be the best. They have the cheapest 3G per gigabyte. R219 per gigabyte.
http://www.telkom.co.za/products_services/w-cdma/do_move/cost.html

Unfortunately the current iPad doesn't support 900Mhz 3G for the Cell C network. Maybe iPad 2 will.

There is an SMS app, but only through Jailbreak.
 
I use Vodacom for my iPad. It is super easy to load data bundles. You must go with prepaid - don't get caught in any contract. All data bundles with Vodacom roll over into the second month - so it pays to buy a slightly bigger package and use it for 2 months (if you buy at the beginning of the month). Register your vodacom sim on vodacom4me.co.za, if your bank supports it (Standard does) transfer enough money to buy your bundle into your sim, go onto vodacom4me.co.za and you buy the bundle you want. Remember to buy at the beginning of the month - then you will get a full two months to use your bundle.

Everything gets done at home, no going to the store. It might sound complicated, but once you are used to it, it takes just a few minutes to buy and load your data bundle, and is effective immediately.

SMS ? I prefer to use my phone, but if you want to use your iPad, then you have to jailbreak it. Or you can go into vodacom4me.co.za, and you can send free SMS's from there (I think there is a limit)
Maybe a future, free iPad software update will allow SMS, but not yet. There is a software update coming next month, but don't think it has SMS.
 
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I have an extra "data-only" sim loaded on my normal Vodacom Talk 240 contract and I buy the "once-off" bundles for that. Nice thing is that my iPad and Smart phone now share the same bundle.
 
Hi Surfs-up,
How did you register on vodacom4me? I register, but then a OneTimePin (OTP) is sms'd to the phone number. I cannot read the sms on the iPad and I do not have another phone that takes a micro SIM.

TYR - thanks for the info on the data-only sim - I been looking for exactly that. Currently have 3 SIMs (phone, USB dialup, iPad) with 3 TelNos and would like to share the data bundle and have 1 subscription fee. When I inquired about this at the local Vodacom store yesterday, they had no suggestion as to how I could do it.
 
nolsie1 said:
TYR - thanks for the info on the data-only sim - I been looking for exactly that. Currently have 3 SIMs (phone, USB dialup, iPad) with 3 TelNos and would like to share the data bundle and have 1 subscription fee. When I inquired about this at the local Vodacom store yesterday, they had no suggestion as to how I could do it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, unfortunately the Vodacom staff are not always too clued up ... I got my microSIM from Vodaworld on this setup and all went fine, but then the microSIM actually packed up about three weeks later (could not connect and kept rebooting my iPad) ... when I went back to Vodaworld for a new one I explained to the chick that it is a "DATA SIM" and not a "TwinCall", so "please swop it accordingly".

... and guess what, the moment they actiavted that new SIM (later that day), I missed all my calls on my phone because she did go and swap it for a TwinCall, ie. last SIM signing onto network kicks off the other SIM. ... anyway got it sorted out by dealing with the floor manager. This is definitely what you want if you already have a Phone contract, iPad and phone can surf at the same time off the same bundle without affecting calls at all.
 
From someone I know...

So I've got this iPad with 3G and want to use the 3G as back-up for the Wi-Fi when I'm on the move.

First stop that Apple reseller at Sandton City. This is back in early August. "Are micro-sims available in SA?" "Yes, but on a contract."

Next stop Altech Autopage. They wave the micro-sim at me and say "Only Vodacom, only on contract, 24 months."

Then off to Vodacom. I say "No contract." They talk of a pre-paid sim with a micro-sim swap. Alternatively they will use the nail clippers on a regular sim. "What about loading the data bundles?" It seems this is complicated for a pre-paid, involving a visit to the Vodacom shop.

In the end I buy a 49c Vodacom prepaid sim, get it RICAed and activated, and load R29 airtime. Back home I use the nail clippers myself and fit the sim into the iPad. And now I am connected.

Reloading is simple. I register the number with Vodacom online, buy airtime online from FNB. The airtime goes straight to the sim, and I convert it to data at Vodacom online.

(All of this is, of course, MUCH simpler in the UK. The Apple shop gives you a micro-sim from O2 for free. You pop it into the iPad, which uses the sim to offer a range of bundles, and asks for credit card or bank details.)
 
That's such bullcrap, Vodacom and MTN should give you a micro-sim on prepaid if you want it. Well good for you!
 
My experience is that the service level at Vodashops vary tremendously, from clueless to absolute great. I got my iPad a week or so ago, went to the Vodashop shop in Campus Square near UJ, the guy sorted me out with the CORRECT micro-sim, linked it to my existing contract account, etc, I was out there in ten minutes. I already had a 'bolt-on' data bundle on my contract, so the only fiddle was to get the iPad to connect to Vodacom (remember to enter 'Internet' into APN settings). Next time I needed a new data bundle the ORTIA Vodashop was absolutely clueless, told me to phone the infamous 111 helpline. I might as well fly to Mars, I said, I'm going to wait that long for assistance. Tried again at Cape Town airport shop, they were a little more informed, but somehow the process took heckuva long but I got a new bundle (I don't want the automatically repeating one, I buy when they run out). In short, the whole process of buying data packages is still a shlep if you don't find a shop that's clued up. Oh, and by the way the iPad is DATA HUNGRY! My Galaxy S is extremely frugal with data to the point where I don't switch the data 3G off anymore, but the iPad burns through tens of megabytes in a day, even if I don't visit the app store.
 
Wireless G

Hi,

I use wirelessg from gconnect.co.za - prepaid airtime - never expires.

62c/Meg on 3G lower on wifi - can use same account on adsl/wifi/3g - usage rate per medium just get deducted from rand balance - check balance online and top-up easily.

can also use them on mango in flight soon.

cheers
 
nolsie1 said:
Hi Surfs-up,
How did you register on vodacom4me? I register, but then a OneTimePin (OTP) is sms'd to the phone number. I cannot read the sms on the iPad and I do not have another phone that takes a micro SIM.

TYR - thanks for the info on the data-only sim - I been looking for exactly that. Currently have 3 SIMs (phone, USB dialup, iPad) with 3 TelNos and would like to share the data bundle and have 1 subscription fee. When I inquired about this at the local Vodacom store yesterday, they had no suggestion as to how I could do it.
Click to expand...

I registered first with the sim in a phone. Once the pin had been sms'd to my phone, I made a note of it, took the sim out and then cut it to size so it could fit in the iPad. I'm sure there are many other ways of doing it, but that is what I did...
 
Hi,

Ive searched the threads but couldn't seem to find an answer to the following question. Does MTN offer a micro-sim on pre-paid. I live in a vodacom dead spot so need to use MTN (or 8ta i suppose) but would prefer not to go down the cutting the sim card route. MTN tell me i can only get micro-sim on contract does that sound right?
 
Well you should be able to get a micro sim on prepaid or contract without any hassle. They have plenty. If they're not letting you get it I say stuff them and cut it.

Cutting it down is really not a big deal. It can be done very easily by yourself.
 
TYR - thanks again for the info on the Data-only SIM. I now have 1 phone number and 2 sims (one in an android phone, and one in an iPad). Unfortunately they cannot provide a 2nd data only sim, which I would like to use on my 3G USB modem. That way I'd be able to share 1 data bundle across 3 devices. Hopefully they catch on.

Also checked at MTN and according to the lady there, MTN cannot provide an additional data only sim. Not sure if it's true - my experience of the knowledge of the people in the Vodacom and MTN stores have not been very comforting
 
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