MUST READ: Congress demands answers from Google over Glass privacy concerns

Topic: Hardware

Verizon's LTE iPad finally gives us data how we always wanted, on our terms

Summary: I get ticked when I see carriers charging extra for tethering fees, especially if you don't even use up what you purchased on your smartphone. The new Verizon LTE iPad gets it right, finally.

Matthew Miller

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

The new iPad is sold out online, wait time is showing as 2-3 weeks, so if you didn't already pre-order one then you may be joining the crowds at the Apple Store, WalMart, AT&T, Verizon, and other retail locations tomorrow. As you consider what model you are going to buy, I wanted to state why I think the Verizon LTE model is the best for those who want to always stay connected.

I have complained for years that carriers are unnecessarily charging folks with smartphones for tethering functionality and still believe that. If I pay for a block of data, then I should be able to use it like my minutes however I desire. I can pop my T-Mobile SIM into any GSM phone and consume minutes. We should be able to buy 5GB and use it just from the smartphone or from other devices connected to that smartphone. Thankfully, Verizon has gotten it right with the new generation LTE iPad and in the end they may end up making more money too as people sign up for larger capacity plans. If you buy a Verizon LTE iPad then you can consume data on the iPad or turn it into a WiFi hotspot and use your laptop, MP3 player, etc. via the wireless connection.

Another couple of benefits of using the iPad as a WiFi hotspot is that the battery life will be better than any other dedicated WiFi hotspot device and there is no contract required. You simply order the amount of data you want right from your iPad and can adjust that data plan as needed. Now, the use of a WiFi hotspot on the iPad may be limited to the power user, but I know plenty of folks at work that would love to connect their laptop to a device they already have with them.

New Apple iPad review roundup

Topics: Hardware, iPad, Mobility, Networking, Smartphones, Verizon, Wi-Fi

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

8 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • If I understand it ....

    It is a drink deeply as your data has the potential to evaporate quickly.
    Stand by for extra charges......

    or did I miss something?
    rhonin
    Reply Vote

  • I'd prefer a per GB fee that charged me only for what was used

    ...unless they wanted to introduce an unlimited shared plan.
    ShockMe
    Reply Vote

  • Verizon gets it right?

    Well not quite. They need to "homogenize" their data plans and make them device-agnostic. Actually this selection of data plans for the iPad, including tethering/hotspot I think would be nice on ALL devices Verizon supports/allows, including smartphones, netbooks/notebooks, cards, hotspots & modems. Allow data sharing across multiple devices, (at no extra cost, e.g. multiple SIMS per line) and now you've got esentially the European business model, which runs rings around the American models that exist soley for the profit of the carriers.

    Oh, and on the phone side, as per European model, eliminate reciever pays for minutes & SMS. If I'm getting screwball calls, wrong numbers, and junk SMS, I don't want to have to pay for these.
    podstolom
    Reply Vote

    • Well Verizon does allow you block spam SMS messages

      And I wouldnt be surprised to see data sharing too--especially once voice moves over to LTE.

      Just curious, do the European carriers care about profit? If not, is it because they rake in tax dollars from EU citizens?
      otaddy
      Reply Vote

  • Yet another good thing courtesy of Apple.

    Thanks to Apple's ability to negotiate, not only do you get free tethering for the iPad, but this flexible plan. No contracts, no screwiness.

    Not outstanding, but not too shabby either. Very...decent.

    And a great reason to pick the Verizon model
    dhmccoy
    Reply Vote

  • US behind Australia here

    Telcos here have not [double-]charged for tethering with any device. They sell hotspot devices and the plans are no different than for a USB xG device.
    Patanjali
    Reply Vote

  • But the download limit is still 50 MB!!!

    I have the iPad2 and am interested with the new one due to the hot spot capability. With my iPad2, I've had issues where an Audible Audiobook was corrupted by Downcast running my (64GB!) iPad out of space. So, no problem, right? Just re-download the book... But, I'm on the road, and the download limit is 20MB. Each book is a bit over 100MB. Screwed until I find wireless, or forced to download on my android phone (which just warns me and happily downloads - slowly because it's 3G verizon). If I buy a 3GB plan, would it kill them to allow me to download things larger than 50MB? This is probably the issue keeping me from sending another $830 Apple's way. I'll probably end up with a new android 4G verizon phone that does hot spot so that when I'm on the road and need to download something in the 100 to 200 MB range to my iPad, THAT will work.
    tony@...
    Reply Vote

  • How about the monthly limit for usage

    matt - its not clear from your article that when you buy a block of 5gigs, is this PER MONTH? meaning even if you don't use up the entire 5gigs, you WILL need to buy more EACH MONTH. to truly be fair you should not have a monthly usage limit but continue until you've used up your entire data block over several months [like rollover minutes]. if Verizon has NO MONTHLY LIMITS then its a no brainer to even consider the other carrier [the notorious A-T-&-T with which, i understand, you LOSE YOUR UNUSED DATA by the end of the month-period.
    averyherman
    Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close