Feature Articles

Everything You Need to Know About the Apple iPad

By Aloysius Low, Alvin Soon & Seow Tein Hee - 23 Jul 2010

Connecting the iPad

Connecting your iPad


iPad Data Plans

Not surprisingly, the three Singapore telcos, namely M1, SingTel and StarHub, have also announced an accompanying iPad data plan for its customers. Each company has its own unique price package, and to make it easier, we round up some of the comparable points for your consideration:

Postpaid Data Plans

Telco M1 SingTel StarHub
Monthly Subscription
  • Data Lite: S$20
  • Data
    Unlimited: S$39.40
  • S$36.50 (with 2-year contract
    and free USB dongle + microSIM to SIM adaptor)
  • S$30.50 (with 2-year contract)
  • S$34.50 (without contract)
  • S$43.66 (with 2-year contract
    and free USB modem
  • S$36.38 (without contract)
Data Limit
  • Data Lite: 3GB
  • 50GB
  • Unlimited
Excess Charge Cap
  • Data Lite: S$51.36
  • S$94.16
  • NA
One-time fee
  • NA
  • S$13.38
  • S$37.45


Prepaid Data Plans

Telco M1 SingTel StarHub
Initial Cost
  • S$20
  • S$12.60
  • S$32
Data Limit
  • 1GB
  • Unlimited
  • 2.5GB
Valid Period
  • 30 days
  • 3 days
  • 60 days
Top-up
  • S$30 for 2GB
  • S$18 for 1GB
  • S$5 for 256MB
  • S$49.50 for 30 days
  • S$24.50 for 7 days
  • S$10 for 2 days
  • S$32 for 60 days
  • S$25 for 7 days
  • S$16 for 3 days

From the postpaid perspective, SingTel is currently offering the best value for money across a 2-year period, even for its highest contract offering of S$36.50 with a free USB dongle and microSIM to SIM card adaptor. The plan is built for the average user who relies moderately on their 3G connectivity to go online. However, if you are a heavy data user, it might be wise to opt for either StarHub's or M1's unlimited data offer, since there's no data limit or excess cap charged for both plans

A 2-year contract is in effect for some of SingTel's and StarHub's data plans. When there's a contract, there's bound to be a penalty involved. Here's what you need to know if you do an early termination with either SingTel or StarHub:

  • SingTel: Penalty according to number of months left (and equipment penalty if you get the dongle)

    E.g. If have 20 months left on your contract, you'll have to pay up to 20 months x the monthly subscription, and the S$300 equipment penalty should you opt to get the dongle.
     
  • StarHub: The penalty varies from S$24.61 to S$588.50, depending on the point in time that the contract is terminated.

What if you're already using an integrated voice and data plan? Does it make economic sense to take up a separate data plan just to enjoy constant connectivity on the iPad? We present two possible alternatives for you to consider:

 

Creating Wi-Fi Hotspots

This option is catered for those who are looking to get the iPads relying solely on the Wi-Fi connectivity and having an existing or looking to get an integrated voice and data plan.

Singapore is well-connected with its Wi-Fi infrastructure, but there will be times when a Wi-Fi point is out of reach. As such, you can create your very own Wi-Fi hotspot using your mobile phones. This is applicable for a few devices:

  • HTC HD2
  • Google Nexus One
  • Samsung Galaxy S
  • Samsung Wave
  • Samsung Galaxy Beam

Devices such as the HTC HD2 (left), Samsung Galaxy S (center) and Google Nexus One (right) are capable of creating Wi-Fi hotspots to connect your iPad onto the web.

So if you already own the above mentioned devices or plan to get one, you have a viable alternative in the form of your own Wi-Fi hotspot. In the near future, Google Android devices that have been updated to version 2.2 (Froyo) will also allow you to create wireless hotspots. 

 

Getting a Multi-SIM and cutting it to microSIM size

This method is based on the assumption that you are going for the iPad 3G versions. Do note that cutting the SIM card has some risk involved and if you're not careful, you could damage your SIM card.

A microSIM is only different from a SIM card in dimensions. As such, to fully utilize your current subscription, you can opt to apply for a multi-SIM card, which lets you have multiple SIM cards under the same number. This will chalk up an additional amount to be paid per month and in some cases, a one-time registration fee for the multi-SIMs.

Here's the breakdown of the multi-SIM cost across all three telcos:

Telco M1 SingTel StarHub
Monthly
Subscription
  • S$5.35
    (2 SIM cards)
  • S$10.70
    (3 SIM cards)
  • S$5.35
    (2 SIM cards)
  • S$10.70
    (3 SIM cards)
  • S$11.77
    (4 SIM cards)
  • S$5.35
    (2 SIM cards)
Registration
and Activation Fee
  • NA
  • S$10.70
  • S$10.70
SIM Card Fee
  • S$19.25 (2 SIM cards)
  • S$38.52 (3 SIM cards)
  • S$32.10 (2 SIM cards)
  • S$10.70 per
    subsequent card
  • S$37.45 for 1st SIM card
  • S$21.40 for 2nd SIM card

The next step is to cut one of your multi-SIMs to microSIM size, which measures by 15mm x 12mm. You can cut your SIM card to that specific size with a scissors, but if you have the spare cash and want some assurance, there's a tool called Cut My Sim that cuts your SIM card to the actual size and a microSIM to SIM card adaptor. According to the website, this tool costs 19.95 euros.

Well, that's all for this guide, have fun using your new iPad!

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