3G iPad makes its debut

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The brother of the first iPad has shown itself to the lucky few in the US. It looks pretty much the same although in the rear there is a black plastic strip at the top which is there to let in the 3G signals easier than than they can get through the aluminium. Hopefully that will improve reception on the 3G iPad now available in the USA home market. AT&T have the deal for the 3G connection an I expect it will not be too long before there are more whinging and whining about AT&T and the coverage they give. I wonder if they have learned much from the iPhone experience and having a beefier service for the mobile device users.

There is a micro-SIM slot on the iPad and to get the tray that contains the SIM chip out you can poke it with a straightened paper clip – Ah! The height of technology these days?? Not too many other visible evidence on the external view of the iPad and you have to see in the software and in particular the settings. The first destination there is you go to other countries will be to turn off data roaming, so that you don’t get stiffed with a big as in enormous data bill.

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In the View Account area is where you can sign up for the 3G wireless connectivity, if you try yo connect to something and you are out of range of the WiFi you will get a message to sign up for the 3G. As it is a mobile phone company you will have to sign in blood, and promise kidney of your first born child. there are two options for service: a 250MB metered plan for $15 per month and an unlimited data plan for $30 per month (the same as the iPhone’s 3G data plan). Both are recurring plans by default—you’ll be charged every 30 days on the date your current plan ends. You can change this once you’ve signed up by logging into your account and tapping “Add Data or Change Plan,” where you can switch to another plan or cancel your existing plan. In either case, your new choice won’t take effect until your current plan expires, so once you’ve laid down your money, you’re in for the month.

The 3G version of the iPad also has the GRS chip in it which will surely give you better, more accurate positioning than you can get with the WiFi only version.