iPad 3g

wandos

I am going abroad soon and was hoping to pick up an iPad from either the airport or possibly out in Canada as I understand they are far cheaper, and come unlocked. Does anyone know if it is possible to put a mobile phone sim (cut down to correct size etc) into an iPad and have the data work ok. My wife's o2 contract has "unlimited" data, and is coming to an end soon. She will be taking a new phone number, and I was hoping to keep the old 1 running and simply put the sim card into an iPad.

Would there be any problems with the Internet, would o2 be able to see that I was using it in an iPad, and therefore charge me?

jenniewb

I could be being blonde here but I doubt you could get away with cutting a mobile sim to size and not damaging it beyond use.

scottishblondie

Actually, you can. There are many guides online, and you can buy sim cutting tools to help you get it to the right size.

However, depending on the amount of data you use you could fall foul of the fair usage policy and end up with some serious charges.

Lynsey

You can cut down a sim to fit, this has been confirmed. You can also buy a sim adapter for around 99p to enable you to use the sim back in a phone.
BTW, the ipad 2 is due for release soon, supposed to have 2 cameras and usb ports - reports are that they will be on sale early April (possibly 2nd or 9th). I delayed buying my son one for Xmas due to the new one coming out soon..........looks like I'll be reminded soon. lol

Link: http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/how-to-make-your-own-ipad-or-iphone-4-micro-sim-681020
Lots of others and also youtube guides.

Lynsey

Chorlie

I cut a sim down to fit into an iPad (bought in USA), but it was a 3G Data sim not a mobile phone sim.

You need to find out your data usage, but a Three 3 month / 3GB data sim off eBay (about £8-£9) may workout cheap if a low / average data user. I use an old Vodafone 1GB sim without an expiry, had it 6 months and still has over half the 1GB left.

I use WiFi and BT Fon where I can to save on my mobile data costs

wandos

The contract sim has a 1GB data allowance, which should be ample for me as I would take the iPad out a few times a month at most. I just wanted to know if anyone had done as I am planning to, and whether there was any difference in data for a mobile phone and data for an iPad

Lynsey

Just a quick update. T-Mobile sims are more difficult to cut down due to the width of the contacts on the sim - hence they could be damaged. You can get your number transferred to a micro-sim for £10 in store. I've heard Vodafone and possibly o2 do it for free.

I'm just going to pay the £10 (contract worked out free anyway with cashbacks etc.).

Ipad2 time in just over 2 weeks.

Lynsey

neil40

You can get a sim cutter from ebay or amazon for around £10.They cut the sim to Micro perfectly & quickly.Be sure to check if your provider allows this or you could be cut off if they find out.

Neil

Exemplar

They are substantially cheaper abroad, we got ours from the USA and it was over £100 cheaper.....

gjchester

alcot33uk wrote: »

They are substantially cheaper abroad, we got ours from the USA and it was over £100 cheaper.....

But a lot more expensive if it goes wrong. Apple's warranty does state they can make you send it back to the country it was purchased in if they deem so although in all probablility they won't.

And of course you declared it for VAT in your return.

FuzzyMoose

gjchester wrote: »

But a lot more expensive if it goes wrong. Apple's warranty does state they can make you send it back to the country it was purchased in if they deem so although in all probablility they won't.

And of course you declared it for VAT in your return.

Even with UK VAT, the ipad is still consideraby cheaper in the US then it is in the UK.