iPad Data Plan

International Roaming with a 4G iPad

aknicol — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:02:16 +0000

The Apple 4G iPad 3 devices are among the hottest sellers on the tech market. They are designed for North American users, however, and you’re going to have problems with 4G service if you go outside North America. In fact, you cannot get 4G service on these devices outside of North America.

The Issue

In the UK, there are no 4G networks. The frequencies that Apple uses for 4G networks are used for television in the UK. Apple iPad 3′s can get 4G connections on the 700Mz spectrum and the 2.1GHz spectrum. These are simply not in use for 4G connections in the UK. The earliest possible date for 4G in the UK service is the end of 2012 and even that is not certain. The solution is to get a local 3G LTE card and hook up to their wireless network with a 3G connection.

In Europe, there are 4G networks and they are very good. Unfortunately, they’re also on different frequencies than the iPad uses. The iPad cannot support 4G connections on these frequencies so, just as is the case in the UK, you have to use a 3G LTE SIM to connect. You can buy these at any wireless store in Europe. This is a well-known problem and simply telling the vendor what’s going on will likely get you the right part.

Canada

Canada does have 4G connections on the right frequencies for iPad 3 devices. You can get service through Rogers or Bell Canada. Speeds and prices are comparable to what you’ll find in the US and there are plans that let you go across the border without having to buy service from a local provider. US users should have no trouble with Canadian networks.

The Big Picture

If you’re taking your iPad abroad, the UK and Europe are where everything changes. Taking it to Canada will really not be any different in terms of the user experience than roaming around the US.

Around the US, Verizon has better 4G network coverage than AT&T, though AT&T’s network usage plans keep them competitive.

If you’re planning on going to Europe, plan on buying a SIM card and plan on needing a different one in continental Europe than you do in the UK. Provided you’re ready to deal with this inconvenience, you should have good service. Remember that Australia has the same issues with 4G networks, so you have to get a SIM there, as well.

4G Data Plans in Canada

aknicol — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:01:22 +0000

Canada has good 4G options for iPad users. The data plans are very similar between the various providers and, because of that, the question will really be one of coverage. You may find that the bonuses being offered by the various companies for signing up also sweeten the deal, so these are worth considering when you’re singing up for new service for your iPad.

Bell Canada

Bell Canada has the largest Wi-Fi network in Canada and you get unlimited access to the over 2,100 hotspots throughout the nation. Where data transfer is concerned, the prices are a bit higher, on the average, than they are for US carriers. The plans offered by Bell Canada include:

10MB for $5 per month
250MB for $15 per month
5GB for $35 per month

All prices are given in Canadian dollars.

Bell Canada has an extensive 4G LTE network with excellent penetration into the more rural areas of the nation. They are, of course, present in the major cities, so users located in urban areas will find their service quite reliable.

Rogers

Rogers offers flexible plans that are designed to accommodate overages. If you go over on the plan that you’re paying for, you’ll simply be bumped up to the next tier for that month. This helps to avoid the surprise—and very expensive—overage charges assessed by many other companies.

Their plans include:

$5 for 10MB per month
$17 for 250 per month
$37 for 5GB per month
$21.93 for 500MB per month

You also have the option of getting coverage in the US for one rate, which breaks down as follows:

500MB for $46.93 per month
1GB for $61.93 per month
2GB for $96.93 per month
3GB for $131.93 per month
5GB for $191.93 per month

The US plans with their larger data allocations are obviously intended for business users or those who plan using their devices on the road and having larger data download amounts.

Both of these carriers offer good plans. The deciding factor will likely be your usage habits and how much roaming you intend to do. Rogers gets extra points for basically eliminating the awful overage charges that users sometimes get stuck with from other carriers. Moving up a notch to the next highest level of service seems to be a fine—and very fair—option if someone goes over on their data usage for any given month; not a hard thing to do on an iPad.

4G Data Plans in Europe

aknicol — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:29 +0000

4G service for iPads in Europe is somewhat complicated. In fact, you cannot get true 4G service on a North American iPad. The only way to get wireless service is to use a SIM card and even that solution varies depending upon what type of iPad you have.

Verizon and AT&T

Verizon and AT&T sell versions of the iPad that work on different types of networks. Neither of their 4G products will get 4G service in Europe because the type of network and the frequencies used are different. To get service in Europe, you have to downgrade to 3G for the time being.

Verizon networks use CDMA and LTE. CDMA is not available in Europe, so you have to use GSM or LTE technology to connect to their networks. AT&T can accommodate GSM and LTE networks, which are both used in Europe.

The Tech Issues

The issues with 4G in Europe get very complicated. The heart of the problem, however, is what frequency spectrum is used for their service and which frequencies a North American iPad expects to find 4G connectivity on. Unlike the UK, many European nations have very developed 4G networks. They’re not available to your iPad, however.

The iPad uses the 700MHz spectrum for 4G connectivity. Like the UK, this spectrum is used for television broadcasting in Europe. The iPad also uses the 2,100GHz spectrum, but this is used for 3G data connections in Europe. These are frequencies that use LTE network connections in both cases.

With the proper SIM card, the iPad 3 can use the 3G LTE network in Europe. The speeds, of course, are not as good as 4G, but they should prove adequate. Between using the 3G network and wireless connections in public places and commercial establishments, most visitors from North America get acceptable levels of service from their iPads.

Controversy

North America is the only place in the world where you can get 4G connections over the 700 and 2,100MHz frequency bands. The advertising for Apple iPad 3′s in Europe, according to some complaints, made it seem like their 4G connection would work anywhere. There is no way to make them work in Europe, as these connections are simply not available on the frequencies that Apple uses for them and because that is not likely to change any time soon. Apple denies that their advertising was deceptive, deliberately or unintentionally.

Buying a SIM

If you’re buying a SIM, it’s best to buy one right in Europe, preferably locally to the place that you’ll be staying. There are good connections throughout most of Europe and your device shouldn’t have any trouble with connecting with the local SIM installed.

If you’re heading to Europe, expect it to be something of a hassle to get your iPad connected to their networks. At least be aware that you won’t be able to use your 4G connectivity anywhere but in North America. Other nations may require different workarounds. Some nations don’t have 4G available at all, of course, but you may be able to get a 3G LTE SIM.

4G Data Plans in the UK

aknicol — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:59:31 +0000

You may be surprised to learn that the term “4G” is actually not a term that has any guaranteed meaning. It describes a type of network, of course, but it doesn’t exist in all nations and, in nations where it does exist, the meaning isn’t always consistent. Case in point: the UK. People who purchased the Apple iPad 3 will find that they cannot get 4G service in the UK. Why? Because it doesn’t exist in the UK.

What’s the Frequency?

The term 4G varies, among other things, in terms of what frequencies it describes. The iPad 3 listens for 4G networks on the 700MHz spectrum. This works well for the US and Canada, but radio frequencies are allocated differently in different nations. In the UK, that spectrum is used for digital television. The 4G spectrum that Apple iPad 3′s are looking for is simply not available in the UK, so you’re not going to be able to use these services in that nation.

How Bad is the Problem?

It’s bad. Consumer who were irked by the advertising for the iPad in the UK, which boasted its 4G speeds, have filed official complaints about the advertisements, which they allege were misleading. The same has happened in Australia. The contention is that the fact that Apple advertised 4G services in a nation where they didn’t exist was deliberately misleading the public. These advertisements claimed that you could get 4G anywhere in the world, which is clearly not the case.

There are also issues with whether or not the iPad’s technology will work with the 4G networks that are planned for the UK. The Daily Mail reported that the 4G network in England won’t be available until the end of 2012, at the earliest. The network will use that different part of the spectrum that applies to the UK and, because of that, it’s not even certain that you could use the device in England, at least not as they’ve been advertised. The iPad also supports the 2100MHz frequency spectrum but, like the 700MHz spectrum, those frequencies are not being considered for allocation to 4G networks.

Workarounds

You may be able to get service if you load a 3G SIM card into your iPad. This workaround has been reported to work in some nations, but not in others. This will require getting another SIM card, of course, as your North American carrier will have supplied you with a 4G version of the SIM.

Remember that you’ll need a SIM from the UK to make this workaround work. A SIM from the US will be incompatible, so be sure that you look into getting a SIM when you get to the UK.

It remains to be seen what will happen with 4G in the UK. Unfortunately, it’s likely that Apple will have an entirely new generation of iPads available before 4G service is added in the UK and that, of course, means that customers who bought iPad 3s may never get to use them on a UK carrier at 4G speeds.

4G Data Plans on AT&T and Verizon

aknicol — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:58:21 +0000

The two major carriers for 4G iPad service in the USA are Verizon and AT&T. They both boast extensive networks and have managed to penetrate even into rural areas. They also have pricing that is really quit competitive with one another. Unfortunately, both companies have done away with unlimited 4G access so, if you’re signing up with a new account, you’ll have to accept that there will be data caps in place on your usage.

Pricing

AT&T has pricing that is structured as follows.

250MB/month @ $14.99
3 GB/month @ $30
5 GB/month @ $50

Beyond these limits, you’ll be looking at overage fees, which can get quite high. AT&T does not allow you to use your device as a mobile hotspot, which will be too limiting for some users, particularly those who need maximum connectivity for their devices, no matter where they are.

Verizon has a slightly different pricing structure:

2GB/month @ $30
5GB/month @ $50
10GB/month @ $80

While Verizon lacks the convenient 3GB per month that AT&T offers, it does offer the very generous 10GB per month plan for only $30 more than the 5GB plan. For users who are on their iPads almost constantly, this is the obvious choice. It’s also a great option for those who want to make sure that they can use their iPads for business without having to worry about getting overage charges.

Availability

Where network availability is concerned, Verizon tops AT&T by far. Even very rural areas in the US tend to have 4G coverage by the wireless giant. This makes them a great choice for those who need to do a lot of travelling for business or who live in areas that aren’t urban enough to have guaranteed coverage from AT&T.

If you do happen to live in an urban area, however, the choice is not quite so clear. AT&T has a good network in urbanized parts of the nation and they may be just as good a choice for city dwellers. The 3GB plan is a nice middle ground and offers 1GB more transfer per month than what Verizon offers at the same price point.

The bottom line is that those who need coverage that extends as far and wide as possible will likely want Verizon, as will those who need a very large data plan. Those who do not need the very broad coverage or biggest data plans will likely do fine with either carrier.

3G International Roaming Options

aknicol — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:07:31 +0000

If you are looking to purchase an iPad, choosing among the nation’s only two providers is certainly difficult enough. For most users, it comes down to personal preference and which company has provided the best experience in the past, which company holds the user’s cell phone plan, or which one simply has the more favorable reputation. But for users who travel internationally, there is one other thing to consider, and it is absolutely a major consideration. International data plans.

One MAJOR Note

If you plan to conduct much international travel, considering the international data plans offered by both carriers is critical. While price and data limits are certainly worth considering, you will primarily want to consider your most likely destinations. Why? The Verizon and AT&T iPads run on completely different technologies. While AT&T iPads run on GSM systems, the Verizon models run on CDMA. How does this impact you? Well, it determines where you are going to be able to use your device. For example, while Canada is a CDMA country, you will find that the vast majority of Europe runs using GSM networks, meaning that AT&T is going to be the only way to use your iPad to connect to the web.

Price Comparisons

For AT&T, international data breaks down as follows.

20 MB for 24.99
50MB for 59.99
100Mb for 119.99
200MB for 199.99

It is worth noting that these limits are for a 30 day period. There is no doubt that international data rates with AT&T are pricy, but when compared to the significantly limited availability of CDMA networks in the international market, it still makes AT&T the better option.

With Verizon, international data breaks down as follows:

25 MB for $30
70 MB for $100. Overages are billed at .02 per KB

As you can see, not only are coverage areas extremely limited, but package options are quite limited as well. AT&T offers a clear advantage in both categories, so unless you are planning to spend most of your international time in Canada or other CDMA countries or already have Verizon as a wireless carrier, AT&T will likely prove the best option for you.

Summary

For most users, international data coverage is merely an afterthought or a minor consideration when looking for a data plan. AT&T is the clear winner in this, but there are many advantages to Verizon for people who will use their devices mostly here in the US. The choice is certainly a matter of personal preference, but if you do a great deal of international travel, these are certainly considerations you will want to take.

3G Plans in the UK

aknicol — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:06:20 +0000

In order to connect to the Internet, iPad users must sign up with one of the major U.K. data plan providers. The top companies are T-Mobile, Orange and Vodafone, though Three and O2 are struggling to stay active competitors. Orange and Vodafone are larger companies and thus are available throughout all of Europe. However, Three and O2 are holding their own. T-Mobile is now owned by AT&T.

Data Plans for U.K. Customers

Company Sim Only? Wi-Fi? Max Data Price Range

Orange	yes	On Some Plans	10GB	2-40 GBP/Mo
Vodafone		On Some Plans	5GB	7-25.53 GBP/Mo
Three		On some plans	10 GB	7.50-20.99 GBP/Mo
O2		Yes	2 GB	2.04-15.32 GBP/Mo
T-Mobile	yes	On some plans	1 GB	2-15 GBP/Mo

The Orange Company proudly states that its coverage extends to 93% of the English population. There are four major plans for U.K. Orange service:

iPad SIM Only plan
iPad Daily
iPad Weekly
iPad Monthly
iPad Monthly 25

The SIM Only play is a simple, pay-for-what-you-use data plan, and costs 5.1p per MB. However, there is a cap at 40 pounds per month. SIM only plans are popular among users that don’t want network restrictions and want total flexibility. The daily plan offers 200MB for one day’s time and costs two pounds. The iPad weekly provides 1GB of allowance for a week for seven and a half poounds. The iPad Monthly 15 offers 3GB and unlimited access BT Openzone WiFi, which is great for coffee shop surfers. As the title implies, this only costs 15 pounds a month. The 25 pound a month option offers up to 10GB per month and unlimited Openzone WiFi, which is a respectably more powerful connection.

Vodafone offers access to its “dependable and award-winning network”, and promotes its no long-term contract deal. Vodafone is obviously cheaper than Orange, offering plans as low as three pounds a month. Bandwidth plan options are:

250MB of bandwidth. (3 pounds)
500MB a month (seven pounds),
1GB a month (10.21 pounds), 2GB a month (15 pounds),
3GB a month (15.32 pounds)
5GB a month (25.53)

Another competitor worth mentioning is Three. This data plan provider offers plans that are somewhere in between our two former examples. Plan options include:

1GB rolling contract for 7.50 pounds per month
10GB contract for 15 pounds per month.

The company also offers pay as you go options

1GB costs 10.49 for 30 days.
3GB costs 20.99 for a period of three months.

The company excitedly points to the fact that YouGov voted it the best provider in the U.K. for speed and reliability.

There is also O2, which has a range of plans for selective users. For a pay as you go option, the company offers 200MB for 2.04 pounds on, or customers can choose a recurring contract for bandwidth up to 2GB for 15.32 pounds. A 1GB contract only costs 10.21. All of these data plans come with unlimited WI-FI.

It’s hard to imagine GB in terms of actual user experience, so the company does a swell job of breaking it down. The most basic plan gives you 2,000 pages to browse, 40 songs (or four albums) and up to 25 minutes of video footage. On the other end of the spectrum, the fastest connection gives you 20,000 pages to browse, 400 songs or 40 albums, and four hours of video footage.

T-Mobile offers iPad products as well as SIMs and data plans. T-Mobile is solid financially speaking, because of its affiliation with AT&T, and has recently won the “Fairest Pricing and Customer Satisfaction” award at the Broadband Expert Awards. This company offers 250 MB per day for two pounds, 500MB per week for seven pounds, and one GB per month for 15 pounds.

Comparisons and an Editorial Selection

O2 is the cheapest option, though its 3GB plan is not a disappointment for intermediate web users. T-Mobile offers an identical low-cost plan, as does Orange. However, the Orange Company provides the most powerful user experience with its 10GB.

As Geeky-Gadgets.com and Which.co.uk confirm, only Orange and Three go all the way with 10GB, though to Three’s credit, it wallops Orange on price. The magazine Pocket-link.co.uk provides some insight into the quality of service beyond industry awards. It suggests that O2 and Vodafone data plans are primarily for new users or business owners but that Orange appeals to younger and more web-savvy audiences.

MobileUsers.net brings up an interesting point in comparing Three and Orange; Three has 9,192 coverage sites in comparison to Orange’s 7,500 coverage sites. Even O2 beats Orange in terms of coverage. This gives the smaller Three Company an advantage over Orange, at least locally speaking.

3G Plans in Europe

aknicol — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:05:33 +0000

The main providers of 3G data connections for iPads in Europe are AT&T International/T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, and O2. However, not all of these providers are available throughout Europe.

What Data Plans Are Available in Europe?

Company Price Range Wi-Fi Data Capacity Availability

AT&T	25-200 USD	no	20-200 MB	Global
Orange	15GBP to 40 GBP/MO	Yes	1MG-10GB	UK, France, Spain, Switzerland
SFR	75 MB-Unlimited	Yes	6-29.9 euros
Vodafone	3-25.53 GBP	Yes	250MB-5GB	UK, Germany, Italy, Spain
O2	2-15 GBP	Yes	500MB-3GB	UK, France, Germany

Let’s start with AT&T. (AT&T now owns T-Mobile) AT&T’s international 3G data plan is mostly intended for American vacationers in Europe. It is high priced because of the Data Global Add-On Package, which handles data roaming. Vacationers can get 20MB-200MB of data for high price ranges of $24.99 to $199.99. Naturally, 20MB of data is not very much, so even vacationers are not that thrilled to be connected to the net.

Orange is actually one of the most popular European providers, given its list of data plans available in France, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, and with more to come. Using the company’s SIM only plan, users can pay only for their precise usage, 5.1p per MB. The deal comes with a cap of $40 a month for unlimited usage.

Another option is the iPad Daily plan, which allows 200MB a day, which resets at midnight. The iPad Weekly plan gives users 1GB per week, while the iPad monthly 15 provides 3GB for one month. There is also an iPad 25 Monthly plan, which provides 10GB of speed for one month. The Orange Company offers to sell iPad 2s with a data plan included. Besides the U.K. , Orange is only available in France, Spain and Switzerland.

Vodafone is another option, offering services in Germany, Italy, and Spain. Vodafone offers plans starting at three pounds a month for 250MB of bandwidth, or up to 25.53 pounds for 5GB. The company also offers a monthly contract rather than a long-term agreement. With signup, users get access to over 3,000 BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots for free.

The only provider in Spain besides Orange and Vodafone is Telefonica. The only provider besides Orange in France is SFR. The only provider in Germany besides Orange, Vodafone and AT&T is O2. Switzerland also has Swisscom as a data plan provider. Naturally, some of your options will be dictated by your location.

Data Plans By Country

France: Orange €10/mo for 200 MB, €39/mo for 2 GB; both plans include unlimited Wi-Fi at Orange hotspots in France

SFR with plans ranging from 75 MB for 6 Euros to unlimited bandwidth for 39 Euros.

Germany: O2 €10/mo for 200 MB, €15/mo for 1 GB, €25/mo for unlimited

Vodafone €19,95/mo for 200 MB, €29,95/mo for unlimited

Italy: Vodafone €2/day for 500 MB, €30/mo for unlimited

Spain: Vodafone: €17,40/mo for 250 MB, €37,12/mo for unlimited

Orange: €3,50/day for unlimited, €35/mo for unlimited

UK: Vodafone: £10/mo for 1 GB, £25/mo for unlimited (fair use capped at 5 GB)

Orange: 5p per MB / capped at £40/mo, £2/day for 200 MB, £7.50/week for 1 GB, £15/mo for 3 GB, £25/mo for 10 GB; 3 GB and 10 GB plans include unlimited Wi-Fi at BT Openzone

O2: £2/day for 500 MB, £10 per 30 days and 1 GB, £15 per 30 days and 3 GB; all plans include unlimited Wi-Fi at The Cloud and BT Openzone

Orange Vs. Vodafone

Pocket-lint.co.uk published a comparison between the top European data plan providers in 2010. The company reviewed the O2 option, with three difference plans, ranging from two pounds (500MB) to 15 pounds (for 3GB). O2 also offered free unlimited access. However, it’s relatively small bandwidth capacity provoked the publication to call O2 for the “small business user or casual web surfer.”

The publication spoke highly of Orange, particularly for its “widest range of plans.” However, it fared poorly when pitted against O2 for total coverage. The publication stated Vodafone was a “simple” option, though it did give praise to its low data roaming charges for traveling users.

The Winners List

In helping readers to determine the best data plans for their needs, it seems important to highlight which companies are the clear leaders in various aspects of the market and which offer the overall best options.

Availability – Orange

Price – O2 in numbers alone, but Orange when bandwidth is also considered

Wi-Fi – Vodafone

Selection – Orange

The Editor’s Verdict

O2 loses total points for its limited availability (only in the U.K. and France) leaving Orange and Vodafone to duke it out. First and foremost, we see that Orange has a wider variety of options, whereas Vodafone is counting on its simplicity to win over new users and business users. Vodafone does have what Pocket-lint calls “a massive network”, but that is relative to Orange who offers greater speeds, up to 10GB per month.

Orange is considered the leading European provider for iPad connectivity. However, the biggest in European iPad news is the fact that carriers are forming an alliance in order to force major traffic-producers like Apple, Google and Facebook towards building a network infrastructure in the region, which will help control the “explosion of wireless data usage”, as iPhoneHacks.com reports. Things are just getting started in Europe, but the iPad is already insanely popular.

3G Plans on Bell, Rogers and Telus

aknicol — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:04:43 +0000

The big three wireless service providers in Canada are Bell, Rogers and Telus. Unlike other providers around the world, none of these providers offer to sell the iPad or iPad 2 product—only the connection. However, the company does offer Micro SIM cards for iPad devices.

What Options Bell, Rogers and Telus Offer

The Basics

Company	Bell	Telus	Rogers
Price Range	$15-$45	$20-30	$15-35
Data Limits	250MB-5GB	500MB-5GB	250MB-5GB
Wi-Fi	yes	Yes with some plans	Yes with some plans
Additional Features	Tablet TV, Flex Plans		Flex data plans, tethering

Bell offers service without the necessity of a long-term contract. The plan renews every 30 days in terms of minutes. The company does provide free and unlimited access to WI-FI connectivity at any Bell hotspot location. One of the best places for hotspots is the coffee-crazy Starbucks restaurant. Bell’s monthly prices for service range from $15 per month to $45 per month. Users can start with a minimal 250MB and WI-FI connectivity or increase it to 5GB plus WI-FI.

The priciest option also includes Tablet TV, which is a superfast data plan that allows users easy access to TV shows, news, weather and other “live” video updates. They also offer a Tablet Flex plan for customers who cannot predict how much they will use their iPad in a given month.

Rogers offers a variety of plans for iPad devices including sharing plans and flexible contracts. All iPads will connect to the Rogers 3.5G wireless network, and do require micro SIMs, which the company does sell. Rogers does not require a long-term contract. A 250MB WI-FI connection costs $15 per month, while a massive 5GB connection with WI-FI costs $35.

An alternative is to order the Flex Rate data plan, which automatically adjusts based on your actual usage. This plan starts at $20 per month plus applicable fees. If you exceed 500MB per month, instead of being charged $20, you are charged $35. If you exceed 5GB, you are charged an additional two cents per MB. Another convenient feature about the Rogers plan is that you can share your data with other mobile devices. This company has over eight million customers.

Telus offers data plans from 500MB ($20) to 5GB ($30). Additional data beyond 500MB will be charged at five cents per MB. However, 5GB is the maximum limit allowed per month. The company has over five million customers.

Bell, Rogers and Telus Compared

MyPad3G.com suggests that there are no short use plans between all the companies; therefore, customers have to “pay per month”, indicating that the total amount of data you anticipate using will determine your provider. Just a cursory glance shows that Rogers has the most variety among its data plans, offering 250MB, 500MB, and 5GB for standard prices. Rogers ties with Bell for the least expensive data plan. Telus obviously suffers from a lack of variety, though its prices are largely comparable to its competitors. According to the MyPad3G website, most individual users prefer Rogers.

However, the iPadinCanada.ca website brought some important issues to light. Its editors stated that Bell and Telus have newer networks for 3G technology, and thus are not as “saturated as Rogers.” One distinct advantage that Rogers had was that its customers could activate their data plans on the iPad unit itself, whereas the other providers required calling in and placing an order.

Consider Wi-Fi Availability

While 5GB should be more than enough data even for heavy users, there will be many who opt for smaller data plans. Be wary, especially with Telus, however, of exceeding your plan limits. One thing that many will want to take into consideration when choosing a carrier is the availability of Wi-Fi hotspots in their area. Unlimited Wi-Fi at select hotspots can be found with both Rogers and Bell, making them superior in this aspect, and the ability to download without impacting overall data limits while on these networks should absolutely be considered if you are a heavy data user.

The Editor’s Verdict

Of course, before making a decision you have to take your local Canadian province into consideration. Rogers and Bell have a slight price advantage over Telus, especially given Telus’ GB limit that imposes fairly hefty fines for bandwidth in excess of this mark, though Rogers benefits from a 3.5G network. Rogers’ technical advantage over Bell is relative to the fact that many individual users claim to see a higher quality of HD in Bell.

We give Rogers only a momentary advantage thanks to its unique Tablet TV and Tablet Flex plans, not to mention its far more user-friendly website.

3G Plans on Verizon vs AT&T

aknicol — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:50:55 +0000

There are two major providers in the United States: Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Verizon Wireless not only offers data plan services but also sells iPad systems, in 32 or 64 GB bundles.

Verizon and AT&T Wireless Data Plans

Verizon Wireless advertises month-to-month contracts, no obligation deals, and payments as low as $20 per month. The company sells its services on the MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, which they claim is a supremely stable connection that works anywhere within the coverage area (coverage which extends to practically every state, within most communities). There is also a Fivespot Global Ready 3G Mobile Hotspot, which connects directly to the Verizon Wireless network. This data plan offers “on-the-go global service”, providing a wireless hub that works for five WI-FI ready products at a time.

Verizon Wireless offers individual plans, family plans, mobile plans and prepaid plans, as well as international services. All of the company’s plans include unlimited mobile device to mobile device calling, and no roaming fees or long distance charges. Customers can also enjoy unlimited time during nights and weekends. They are also the nation’s largest 3G network and guarantee their services as the fastest available.

The individual plan offers limited time options (450 minutes for $39.99 or 900 minutes for $59.99) or an unlimited plan for $69.99. For extra cost, users can add messaging, web and email, and a family/friends option, which lets users make unlimited calls to specific numbers. The Family SharePlan offers 2-5 lines and anywhere between 700-2,000 minutes of service, or an unlimited plan. The average cost is $89.99 per month. Mobile broadband is also available on the iPad.

AT&T also sells iPads as well as a variety of data plans. The personal data plan option offers 250MB of data for $14.99 per month or 2GB of data for $25.00 per month. AT&T offers postpaid and prepaid data plans for iPad customers as well as an Enterprise Plan, which connects all of your existing wireless accounts together in one bill. The company offers no term commitments, no activation fees and no early termination fees to its customers.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless Compared

Which of the two providers offers the best deal? Macworld Magazine states that it’s important to determine where you are going to use your device as well as the locations of your friends and family. Macworld did credit AT&T for its prepaid and postpaid options, noting that Verizon didn’t offer a postpaid option. Verizon Wireless also offers more options according to higher memory capacity—3GB, 5GB, 10GB, all of which dwarf AT&T’s 2GB maximum limit. Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T offer no contract deals and cut activation fees, including reactivation fees.

A Side-By-Side Price Comparison

Tethering

One option you may wish to consider before purchasing a separate data plan for the iPad is whether you are already using a phone from the company. Tethering the devices so that they share data can help you save money. Both offer tethering options, although only AT&T offers rollover minutes (at the same price as a comparable Verizon plan without rollover). Both companies charge $20 to tether, and Verizon offers 2GB of data to the tethered device, while AT&T adds to GB extra data to share between the two devices.

Untethered

US Plans	Verizon	AT&T
250 MB	$20	$15 plus $15 per extra 250 MB
1GB	$20 plus $20 per additional GB	Not available
2GB	Not available	$25 plis $10 per additional GB and Free Wi-Fi hotspots
3GB	$35 plus $10 per additional GB	unavailable

The Editor’s Verdict

AT&T has the lowest cost, at $15 for 250MB of data (a plan Verizon doesn’t even offer). However, advanced users and customers who want lots of multimedia experiences will feel frustrated at AT&T’s lack of options. Gizmodo.com explained that 250MB can just handle “35 minutes of YouTube video at standard-definition” and browsing social media sites. Users who are mainly using the iPad for low-bandwidth tasks will be happy with AT&T’s deal.

However, for users who are interested in longer films in HD quality, more storage space (for audio books and songs) and other forms of high-tech web surfing. As Macworld said it, Verizon offers “an affordable data plan ladder to climb”, which allows you to increase your plan according to how much you actually use it. AT&T is about cheap and Verizon is about defining your experience.

AT&T recently acquired T-Mobile, so the playing field in America is fairly even. Customers will likely base their decisions on past home experiences with each company’s respective telephone services, in which case Verizon will probably have the edge.