iPad 101: Conserving your 3G data use
Since I brought home my 3G + Wi-Fi iPad a little over a week ago, I've been running in Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi enabled to avoid using cellular data. Otherwise I kept getting a prompt (shown here) asking me if I wanted to setup an account, which I didn't want to do.Fortunately, there is another way. Go into the Settings application and tap on "Cellular Data." This brings up an on/off switch for Cellular Data and Data Roaming. Turn both "off" and you will not be prompted to sign up for a data plan when Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Airplane mode disables not only the cellular data, but also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the GPS. If you are only trying to avoid using cellular data, there's no need to use Airplane Mode.
If you have upgraded your iPhone to iOS 4 then you also have the ability to disable cellular data under Settings » General » Network » Cellular Data, which may come in handy if you have a metered account with AT&T.
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Since I brought home my 3G + Wi-Fi iPad a little over a week ago, I've been running in Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi enabled to avoid using...
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Wait, so you bought an iPad with a 3G modem and you're taking drastic measures to prevent its use. I'm sorry. That's Retarded.
June 29 2010 at 11:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou have probably not been using your ipad outside your country, where the use of a dataconnection over 3g is very expensive? 5-6 dollar per mb.
September 19 2010 at 2:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm glad you can get yours to activate, been trying since Thursday when I bought mine. Keep getting the ssbpg0001 error from AT&T, seems their servers are still being hammered. Not that I need the 3G, i use MYWI on my phone for the hotspot. It just annoys me that something isnt working right. AT&T support has been less than helpful on the matter.
June 29 2010 at 5:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLove you guys. Thanks form the tip. Was driving me crazy every time that popped up.
June 28 2010 at 9:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, my approach is just to use my EVO with its unlimited 4G connection. If any of you guys want to piggyback, the SSID is ATnTSux and the security code is JobsBloaz
June 28 2010 at 5:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI assume the iPad is like the iPhone in Airplane Mode where even though it turns off wi-fi, you can still go back and manually turn it on. I have done this on a flight with Internet access.
June 28 2010 at 5:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyyes on the ipad you can turn on airplane mode and then turn on wifi, just like the iphone
June 28 2010 at 6:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyStrange. My 3G iPad came with that option in the 'Off' position.
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