Cheap PAYG iPad micro sim option

orange_gerbera

Thought the following info may be of use to anyone looking for the cheapest possible sim option for their iPad.

This also applies to unlocked MiFis and mobile broadband dongles.

I have a 3G iPad, but will only very occasionally use the 3G option. All the usual PAYG deals for micro sims are too expensive for my useage and any unused data allowance seems to expire after a month.

If you search on eBay, you can still find a few sellers who have old Vodafone PAYG data sims. The nice thing about these sim cards is the credit doesn't expire.

As they're standard sized sims, you'll need to cut it down to micro-sim dimensions. I had mine cut by a friend who has a sim cutter, I think these are also available on fleabay.

Anyway, my point is these cards do work. Mine cost a tenner and it came pre-loaded with £10 credit. I reckon that's last me at least 3 months.

Oscartheposcar

Good call - I think the "pay as you go but we'll cancel your unused credit after 30 days" deals are bad news for people who only use 3G data infrequently. Effectively you may as well be on a rolling contract.

I know that O2 have a £2/day option for the iPad, but still, the idea of getting a sim with credit that doesn't disappear is a good tip!

skhwoody

i had a play with the ipad in the shop at work and while it is good, i am appalled that it does not have a usb socket..... are there plans to include this in future models

orange_gerbera

You're right, there is no USB socket.

As with iPhones and iPods, its file system is managed via itunes (unless you jailbreak it... but that's another issue).

I think you can download photos straight from your camera to the iPad via a special cable, but it's not something I've investigated as I manage all my pictures through iPhoto.

boliston

Another vote for vodafone who seem to have a good deal for people who surf occasionally.
I use vodafone as a backup sim that I always carry in my wallet, and it allows me to surf up to 25mb per day for 50p.
Days I don't surf then no charge.
It's really annoying that some sims have data bundles that expire after 1 months which means it's effectively a "rolling contract" rather than true payg.