Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Connect to the Internet Using 3G
For people who tend to travel more, or need more frequent access to the
Internet than is afforded by Wi-Fi hotspots, Apple offers an iPad model
with 3G cellular data access built in, the same network used by modern
cell phones. With 3G enabled, your iPad likely has Internet access nearly
everywhere.
note The iPad can hop onto a 3G cellular network, but it can't place or
receive calls like an iPhone. The 3G access is strictly for data. (But you
can still place calls using a Voice-over-IP service such as Skype.)
However, 3G is more expensive: the 3G iPad model costs $130 more than
the Wi-Fi-only model in the United States and requires an additional
fee to access the network. The good news is that Apple negotiated great
deals with AT&T and Verizon Wireless to provide 3G access. (I'm using the
U.S. carriers as the examples here, but companies worldwide also offer
the iPad with 3G access. Check with your carrier for specific pricing.)
models require different communications
hardware to connect to their networks. The GSM model (used by AT&T
and most international carriers) will not work with CDMA networks like Verizon.
Be sure you purchase the correct model if you haven't done so already.
The AT&T and Verizon iPad
2
note
Here's how it works for AT&T customers: For $14.99, you can transfer—
both downloads and uploads—250 megabytes (MB) of data within a
30-day period. For $29.99, you get 2 GB of data transfer during the same
period. If you use more than your allotment, you can pay for more data.
The least expensive plan for Verizon customers is $20, but that counts for
1 GB of data; other prices include $35 for 3 GB of data, $50 for 5 GB, and
$80 for 8 GB. (These prices are current as of March 2011 and may have
changed by the time you read this.)
 
 
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