[Macworld]

Post your comments for AT&T releases more details on 3G iPad plans here

[UM]

so a 'month' is not really a 'month' but somewhat close to a month.

Anyway - when I use my data up, I can start a new 'month' ... I like (better than some kind of 'overusage charge'), I also like the early alerts.

But what happens if I don't use all data? I loose them or can I carry them over to the next month?

Guess I will overpay 99% of the time ... most time I probably will use way less than the 250, but from time to time (being on a long trip or so) I might use it a lot for video streaming. I like the flexibility to get the unlimited plan for when I'm on trips, but don't like to overpay the rest of the time.

Would be nice if I could buy a certain amount of data that does not expire and I buy new data whenever needed ....

[Haxzaw]

UM, on 29 April 2010 - 08:06 AM, said:

Would be nice if I could buy a certain amount of data that does not expire and I buy new data whenever needed ....

Yes, that would be nice, but carriers don't make as much money selling people what they need as they do selling more than what people need. For some reason I never saw the 250MB plan, I might have waited to get a 3G iPad if I'd known.

[cheese7007]

Yes, it would really be nice if they had roll over MB with the 250MB plan like they have roll over minutes. With that I would probably opt for just subscribing to the 250 MB plan and let it roll. Without that I will probably just turn it on when I travle and leave it off when I don't.

[dlife]

here is the worth of 250MB
http://www.buzzintec...50mb-data-plan/

[chiefsilverback]

Presumably access to hotspots is only free whilst you're in a 'paid for' 30 day period?

[maydupp]

"so a 'month' is not really a 'month' but somewhat close to a month."

Oh nos! Every 6 years you will have to pay for an extra month. AT&T is histories greatest monster.

[flybynight]

So, if you want to get your monies worth, sign up in February, and skip all of the 31 day months. That will stick it to 'em!

[rmossman]

flybynight, on 29 April 2010 - 10:04 AM, said:

So, if you want to get your monies worth, sign up in February, and skip all of the 31 day months. That will stick it to 'em!

I'm only including the previous comment as an example. I don't understand why all the comments continue to refer to calendar months. The article clearly says a month is 30 consecutive days from the time you make the puchase.

To me this sounds like AT&T is trying to give you everything you are paying for and NOT cut you off just because Pope Benedict established something called "months".

They are also giving you the option to select two different plans based on YOUR needs (not theirs). If you don't need 3G access, you don't have to pay for it. If you need a little bit of access or only occasional access, go with the $15 plan. There are also monitors and notices that should help you determine (over time) which plan is best for you. Oh and. by the way, you can stop buying their service anytime you want to at no additional charge.

Just how is AT&T being so draconian when they are offering packages that take more administration on their part so they can offer customers more options?

[spinoza2]

Re: Rollover minutes. It's surprising that Macworld, once again, says nothing about an obvious question regarding a new product. But silence is golden, and it usually means "No!" for such things, otherwise ATT would have made this a big selling point.

Even though the rates for 3G sound good on the face of it, I don't regret getting the WiFi iPad because the plans are still not flexible enough, and are not cheap. The rollover minutes would have made a promising offer really good, but the fact that you would have to pay $17 for 250MB, regardless of whether you used all of them or not, makes this only a so-so offer.

Here's what Buzz in Technology says about the roll-over possibility:

"A common question that comes to one’s mind is that is the 250MB data plan has roll over feature? As of now, it looks like you can not use the left over data in the next month. The data plan comes with an expiry date."

[numa1930]

Question: Will these plans be available for purchase using an itunes card, or will you have to use an actual credit card?

Since there's no contract it would seem that Apple and & AT&T would have to have some partnership regarding the ease of signing up.

Anyone know?

Thanks

GM

[veggiedude]

numa1930, on 29 April 2010 - 12:35 PM, said:

Question: Will these plans be available for purchase using an itunes card, or will you have to use an actual credit card?

Since there's no contract it would seem that Apple and & AT&T would have to have some partnership regarding the ease of signing up.

Anyone know?

Thanks

GM

My guess is that it won't be any different than any other regular iTunes store purchase. I mean, why complicate things?

[wally626]

In interesting plan. Start with a 250MB plan. If you typically run out in over 15 days it is cheaper to buy a new 250MB plan every time you run out rather than go for the unlimited. If you normally go over 500MB/30 days then get the unlimited.

On my iPhone I have averaged a little over 250MB/month since I got the phone, I don't know if I would use more or less with a iPad.