iPad and ATT

[mnewman]

I bought an iPad when I was visiting the US last Autumn. It came with some sort of prepaid ATT plan which I used for somewhat less than a month. I did not renew that plan when it expired.

I'm about to visit the US again and would like to reactivate my ATT SIM and purchase one month's worth of data.

Will that be possible, or will I have to get a new prepaid SIM?

[renaultssoftware]

Just ask AT&T about it. I don't know at all.

[mnewman]

I guess I was sort of hoping to know before I went back. Say, for example, if there was anything I could do in advance.

Here in Thailand it's really easy. Just pop into a mobile phone shop and buy a prepaid data SIM and you're set to go. I gather it's a bit more complicated in the USA.

[NaOH]

My understanding is that 1) AT&T doesn't sell pre-paid SIMs, and 2) AT&T requires a US-based phone number and billing information (credit card, checking account, etc.) for iPad data plans. If you had to give them such information when you got your iPad with the free month of data, and your billing information is still valid, I believe you should be able to simply sign up for another month of data using the Settings app. Even if you didn't have to enter that information, I think you'll be okay by simply signing up for a month of data and giving the required information (maybe use a relative's phone number?).

Presumably, the key in either scenario is that you have your original AT&T SIM. If not, they can be bought at AT&T stores (maybe Apple Stores, too) for about US $15. That's just for the SIM card. Data plans are separate and purchased through the iPad.

[mnewman]

I've still got the SIM and I do have a US-based phone number and credit card. So, I should be good to go. Thanks for the clarification.

[mnewman]

I got it set upnwith the old SIM, but boy does it suck from here on the California Central Coast:

Test Date: May 28, 2011 7:10
Connection Type: Cellular
Server: Los Angeles, CA
Download: 0.48 Mbps
Upload: 0.02 Mbps
Ping: 1591 ms

External IP: 166.205.136.111
Internal IP: 10.63.18.73
Latitude: 35.0270
Longitude: -120.4880




http://www.speedtest.net/iphone/117465338.png