AT&T offers nationwide data access for the Apple iPad on a month-to-month plan which you set up and top up from your iPad.
The SIM comes with no data so you first need to access the internet from a Wi-Fi hotspot (there are loads of free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the USA including most Starbucks coffee shops).
When you set up your account you will need to enter in a USA address (just use your hotel address) and you will also need to pay for your data access using a credit card issued in the USA (to get around this obstacle, just buy a (US Issued) MasterCard or Visa gift card when you are in the USA, with enough credit to pay for your data). Note that it requires USA issued cards, not just US $ cards.
Data costs on AT&T's iPad plans are as follows:
- 250MB data $14.99/month
- 3GB data $30/month
- 5GB data $50/month
Just about everyone opts for the 3GB/month plan.
You can buy Visa gift cards from these locations in the USA. Just make sure that you add at least $30 so you have enough credit on the card to pay for your data.
Please note that AT&T doesn't accept all gift cards as payment for your service. Most will give you no problem, but there are some brands that are not accepted by AT&T. If your card is not accepted for payment, simply buy another brand gift card from a different supplier and try that. Our customers have reported success with the Vanilla Visa gift card available from CVS, Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacies and many convenience stores throughout the USA. After buying a Vanilla gift card you will need to log into the Vanilla Visa website and link a ZIP code to your Vanilla Visa account that matches the ZIP code used in the address that you use when activating your AT&T iPad SIM card.
This SIM card will work with all generations of the Apple iPad.
Previously AT&T produced two different types of SIM cards for the Apple iPad (one for the original iPad and the iPad 2 and a different SIM that worked with the newer LTE-compatible iPads). In the past if you purchased a SIM for the older iPad, this SIM card would not work in a newer iPad; however the SIM cards that we now sell will work in all iPads - the original iPad, the iPad 2, the new iPad (3rd generation iPad) and the iPad with Retina Display (4th generation iPad). Please note, however, that the iPad Mini requires a different size SIM card to the full-size iPad so you will need to specify whether you have a full-size iPad or an iPad Mini when placing your order.
The latest Apple iPads (the iPad Mini and the fourth generation iPad) are available in two different models: models A1454 and A1455 for the iPad Mini and models A1459 and A1460 for the fourth generation iPad. All iPad models will work on AT&T's US network, however model A1455 (for the iPad Mini) and A1460 (for the fourth generation iPad) have a different activation proceedure and may give you an error message when trying to activate using the standard AT&T activation process. If you have one of these iPads, call us on 03 9988 0686 or on our US number 310 933 6222 and we will activate your iPad SIM for you. An activation fee of $40 applies for activation of iPad models A1455 and A1460. This fee includes 3G data to use within 30 days in the USA.
Please note that when you receive your SIM card you will receive step-by-step instructions for activating your AT&T data service along with a SIM card in a plastic zip-lock bag. As AT&T do not usually provide their resellers with micro or nano size SIM cards, your SIM will have been cut down to the micro or nano size for your respective device. There may be faint marks on the SIM contacts where it had been inserted into a device for testing purposes. Your SIM is cut by a SIM cutting machine. All the SIM cards we sell at travelgear.com.au are genuine brand new SIM cards.