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Tutorial: How to use an iPad chip for Data-only iPhone use

Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Details & video tutorial here:

http://pcwizcomputer.com/weaksauce12/2010/06/28/project-iliberation/

In a nutshell:

1. Get an iPad SIM
2. Activate it
3. Change your iPhone's APN settings to "broadband" for data-only

If you have a 2G/3G/3GS, you'll need a MicroSIM adapter ($5 on fleabay). If you don't have an iPad already, you can just buy the SIM from AT&T for $15. You can activate it on any iPad 3G. You don't need to jailbreak your iPhone to do this. You can use VOIP for calls if you want to use it as a phone. Now you have your very own iPad Mini 3G. Enjoy :awe:
 
Now, if only you could add prepaid voice calls to that too. My iPad sim already has international calls attached to it for some reason so it can't be impossible.
 
I wish data was a little more reliable in my area, I'd totally just buy data only cards and use Skype/VoIP for everything.
 
Kmax82 said:
I wish data was a little more reliable in my area, I'd totally just buy data only cards and use Skype/VoIP for everything.
Click to expand...

Same. I bought the unlimited package from Skype (~$70 a year), but I'm still using my Verizon cell as my primary phone. But thanks to Google Voice I can forward my new GV number to both, so at least I can save some cash on minutes.
 
A quick update:

Hit my first month's usage on this. I managed to keep it under 250 MB - used for an occasional Skype call, surfing while waiting in lines, and checking email and news. I'm around WIFI at work and home, which is where I spend most of my day. I'm really very happy with this setup - it gives me access when I need it, for cheap. I can't justify spending $80+ a month on an iPhone on AT&T's craptacular network, but for $15 a month, I don't mind so much :awe:

The plan automatically rolled over into a new plan and charged my account $14.99 for another month - for now, it's working great through AT&T's iPad plan. I would imagine it would continue to do so, because if I ever buy a 3G iPad and swap it out of there, it'd be super annoying to have it be de-activated because I'm swapping it.

I'm also very happy that Skype now supports backgrounding and pushes calls - been using it a lot more in place of my cell phone. Very reliable on WIFI. 3G really depends on your signal - it gets distorted pretty quickly when you start losing bars. Even on full bars, sometimes it has trouble connecting. So it's really more of a WIFI phone. I'd really like Bluetooth support soon.
 
My only question is whether you really expect this to last? AT&T regularly does sweeps to find people in non-iPhone plans (e.g. PayGo). I can't imagine they're going to ignore this.
 
ViRGE said:
My only question is whether you really expect this to last? AT&T regularly does sweeps to find people in non-iPhone plans (e.g. PayGo). I can't imagine they're going to ignore this.
Click to expand...

Yes and no. If they deactivate my card and I actually have an iPad, then that's bad on them. Also, the iPhone is set to "broadband only" - but I'm sure it's still showing up as an iPhone to Apple. Someone needs to do a jailbreak patch to make it look like an iPad in the data transmissions :hmm:
 
Kaido said:
Yes and no. If they deactivate my card and I actually have an iPad, then that's bad on them. Also, the iPhone is set to "broadband only" - but I'm sure it's still showing up as an iPhone to Apple. Someone needs to do a jailbreak patch to make it look like an iPad in the data transmissions :hmm:
Click to expand...
I don't think that's possible. I'm sure AT&T knows the IMEI range of the iPhone, so you'd have to change your IMEI to get away with it. That's a crime in a number of places.
 
ViRGE said:
I don't think that's possible. I'm sure AT&T knows the IMEI range of the iPhone, so you'd have to change your IMEI to get away with it. That's a crime in a number of places.
Click to expand...

Yeah, when there's money involved, I'm sure they'll find a way to make users pay. But it's also a swappable SIM, so - do they nuke your card, and then prevent you from getting data on your iPad? It will be interesting to see what they do, for sure. I'm hoping they don't do anything 😀

In the future, I can see everything being based off a data-only plan - with VOIP apps now allowed over 3G, they're going to face some major competition once the VOIP programmers dig into the API's and integrate the functionality better. For example, Skype already supports push calls, voicemail, etc. - the only thing it doesn't do (other than Bluetooth support) is dial numbers from within apps, like Firefox (like the cellular dialer does).

So in order to keep their cashflow, I'm betting there will be something like a $99 "unlimited data" plan without cell phone minutes available, and maybe they'll throw in a free VOIP app from AT&T or whatever provider you're on.
 
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