Good news about the iPad’s 3G connection! Steve Jobs, the CEO for Apple, announced that the tablet will be available with both Wi-Fi and 3G access, which allows the user to download content anywhere. The bad news is that it is powered by AT&T, which is already notorious for its unability to deal with the 3G data usage when working for the iPhone.
Even though Apple knows about all the complaints made about the iPhone’s 3G, they still work with AT&T. Some suggested that the 3G was blocked because they had rights concerns. The fact is that they seem to have made a great deal, as the iPad is unlocked, it doesn’t need a long term contract, it has free access at AT&T’s Wi-Fi spots; users have to pay about thirty dollars for unlimited data and fifteen for 250 megabytes. Users sign up for the 3G access directly from the device and they pay the monthly fee; as the models are unlocked and include micro SIMs, 3G can be used internationally. Most of the time, users will use their iPads fot content consumption and for surfing the web; this means that a dropped connection won’t lead to terrible effects, only the website will stop loading. But this is not likely to happen, because the iPad offers very fast data speeds, up to 7.2Mbps over 3G networks worldwide; the user can always get the best connection available, because the tablet is able to automatically swich between 3G and Wi-Fi, when in an Wi-Fi spot- whoch would provide faster downloads. AT&T allows users to connect for free over 20,000 Wi-Fi spots in the United States and the 3G service can be used through that deal we were talking before. If you choose to buy the 250 MB plan, you will get on-screen alert messages, that will help you decide when to turn off the 3G, as you come closer to your data limit.
If you just want to use the 3G from AT&T in a business trip or vacation, you can sign up for the desired plan before you go and cancel it when you come back. As it doesn’t work with a long term contract, it provides more freedm for the user. You don’t even need to go to a store in order to get the 3G service, because all can be mnaged directly from your iPad- the sign up, the account, the checking for data usage, the cancelation. You can sign up with AT&T anytime, by tapping Settings and choosing Cellular Data; you have to enter your user information and credit card information, select a plan and this is it, couldn’t have been easier. Those who choose the 250MB plan can check their data usage by entering Settings, but the tablet will let you know it anyway, as it shows alerts at twenty percent, ten percent and zero MB left.
All in all, the 3G connection for the iPad is an useful feature and Apple seems to have good reasons for which they continue working with At&T.