AT&T's international data plans for iPad start at $25 for 20MB
In total, four "Data Global Add-On" packages are available starting at $25 per month for 20 megabytes of data and scaling up to $200 for 200 megabytes. Users can purchase the plans, which service more than 90 countries, directly from their iPad's Cellular Data settings pane on a month-by-month basis (shown below).
Upon selecting an international data plan, users have the option of specifying the date when they want the plan will go into effect. Unlike iPhone data plans, those for iPad do not auto-renew each month, so they'll need to be repurchased each month. AT&T recommends that users purchase an international plan before departing for a trip.
International data plans for iPad
- $24.99/month: 20 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 20 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
- $59.99/month: 50 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 50 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
- $119.99/month: 100 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 100 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
- $199.99/month: 200 MB Data Global Add-On gives you 200 MB of usage within more than 90 countries
For some perspective on what these data plans will deliver content wise, the San Francisco Chronicle recently crunched some numbers based on the domestic 250MB data plan AT&T offers stateside iPad users:
- About 35 minutes of YouTube video at standard-definition
- OR about 8-10 minutes of YouTube or iTunes video at 720p hi-definition
- OR about 70 songs from iTunes
- OR a few thousand Web pages and typical email usage
- OR more than 4,000 Facebook photos
More generally speaking, 250MB of data should facilitate:
- Browsing a few dozen Web pages a day and typical email usage (without downloading big attachments)
- Looking at a few dozen Facebook photos a day
- Watching a few minutes of YouTube video a week
- Downloading a few songs and podcasts from iTunes per month
- Downloading a few small iPhone or iPad apps per month, light app usage
Although Apple is using a micro-SIM card in the iPad 3G measuring 12mm x 15mm — or just under half the size of the standard size SIM card from an iPhone 3GS — it's possible cut down a full-size SIM card and turn it into a Micro-SIM, as the contacts are fully compatible.
Therefore, data plans from international wireless operators may represent a more cost-effective alternative to AT&T's international plans, especially those that will be offered with micro-SIMs following the international launch of the iPad 3G at the end of May.
65 Comments
I suspect that carriers around the world will start offering prepaid data sims for the iPad pretty soon. And since the iPad is unlocked, a better way to travel will just be to buy a prepaid sim and use it while you are traveling.
.... based on the domestic 250MB data plan AT&T offers stateside iPad users:
About 35 minutes of YouTube video at standard-definition
OR about 8-10 minutes of YouTube or iTunes video at 720p hi-definition
Hopefully where you stay has WiFi....
Can't really fault AT&T here, don't they get banged over the head for roaming charges, too?
I think internationally the sharing between competitors is costly, so when you roam you pay dearly. Of course, I'm just going by something I remember reading and haven't done any actual research to back any of these statements up.
Someone who does travel internationally care to enlighten?
I suspect that carriers around the world will start offering prepaid data sims for the iPad pretty soon. And since the iPad is unlocked, a better way to travel will just be to buy a prepaid sim and use it while you are traveling.
I hope so. Those prices are incredibly high.
AT&T should let us swap out our sim cards from our phones and use them in our iPad whenever we want. Assuming the iPhone 4G will incorporate this new micro-sim, what is the downside of popping out our sim cards and swapping them from our iphones and ipads? Only one device would be accessing the AT&T network at the same time...
Or you could just physically modify your current sim to fit inside the ipad then have an adapter so it will sit properly when you put it back in your standard GSM phone.
However, Apple and AT&T will be all too smart and find ways to disable this feature. The only alternative is to jailbreak your ipad and stick either your current iphone or existing AT&T sim card with appropriate data plan to fully access and make calls from the ipad.
Why the F$%^ not???? At least have a mode where you can have the iPhone tether to the iPad while disabling all data features of the iphone! I do not understand the mandatory additional data plan. It is so ridiculous.
AT&T should let us swap out our sim cards from our phones and use them in our iPad whenever we want. Assuming the iPhone 4G will incorporate this new micro-sim, what is the downside of popping out our sim cards and swapping them from our iphones and ipads? Only one device would be accessing the AT&T network at the same time...
Or you could just physically modify your current sim to fit inside the ipad then have an adapter so it will sit properly when you put it back in your standard GSM phone.
However, Apple and AT&T will be all too smart and find ways to disable this feature. The only alternative is to jailbreak your ipad and stick either your current iphone or existing AT&T sim card with appropriate data plan to fully access and make calls from the ipad.
Why the F$%^ not???? At least have a mode where you can have the iPhone tether to the iPad while disabling all data features of the iphone! I do not understand the mandatory additional data plan. It is so ridiculous.
How is swapping your sim card from iPhone to iPad saving you money. This is overseas charging, so the best cost-saving measure would be buying a sim overseas in the country you're visiting and using it in the iPad since it's unlocked. When you return, swap the sim out again.
Someday, we will have a worldwide EU market for data. Just before we land the first manned Mars mission.