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For three weeks the Apple iPad has been available in Germany. Several mobile phone providers have released micro-SIM cards for accessing the internet with the iPad WiFi + 3G over their mobile networks. At www.teltarif.de we have tested the micro-SIM cards and mobile internet accesses of the four German network operators Telekom (T-Mobile), Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 Germany. This is a short summary of our experiences regarding purchase of the micro SIM card for the Apple iPad and its activation, the selection of mobile data price plans with a short minimum term commitment, network quality and the use of certain mobile data services such as voice over IP or instant messaging.

Apple iPad, Pictures: Phone Guide Germany

Purchase of the iPad Micro-SIM Card Starter Package

Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2 Germany are official Apple partners in Germany. Users can purchase their iPad micro-SIM card either at the mobile phone shops of these operators or at Apple stores. Purchase prices are mostly the same at operators’ or Apple stores. Telekom sells its starter package (micro-SIM card and credit of € 10.00) for € 9.95. The Vodafone and O2 Germany micro-SIM cards are available for € 0.20 at Apple stores when the new subscriber is also buying an Apple iPad. People buying the micro-SIM cards at a Vodafone or an O2 Germany store get it for free. When purchasing the micro-SIM card at the O2 Germany web store, buyers will have to pay € 3.95 for delivery. E-Plus is not an official Apple partner, but offers micro-SIM cards to iPad users at its E-Plus and Base stores.

Selection of Mobile Data Tariffs for Apple iPad

Currently, Vodafone is offering the cheapest price plan to iPad users: Customers buying the micro-SIM before the end of July can use the flat rate tariff “MobileInternet Basic Monatsflat” for free until the beginning of August. The regular monthly charge of the “MobileInternet Basic Monatsflat” flat rate tariff is € 24.95. Alternatuvely, Vodafone offers the “MobileInternet Basic Monatspaket” with 200 MB data volume for € 14.95 per month. Later this month, Vodafone will launch a special website for iPad users at which subscribers can switch or temporarily deregister their micro-SIM card or mobile data tariffs.

O2 Germany has launched three iPad price plans, as well. For example, “O2 Blue S” (€ 10.00 per month) is a flat rate tariff with 200 MB for faster data transfers with EDGE, UMTS or HSPA speeds, “O2 Blue L” (€ 25.00) a flat rate tariff with 5 GB for faster data transfers over the O2 Germany network. E-Plus is offering its regular “Mein Base” price plan with certain mobile data tariff options. E-Plus subscribers can choose between the “Internet-Handy-Flat” (€ 10.00 per month) with 250 MB for faster data transfers or the “Internet-Laptop-Flat” (€ 20.00) with 5 GB data volume for faster transmissions.

Telekom is the only of the four network operators offering real prepaid price plans to iPad users. Subscribers can choose between a day flat rate tariff for € 4.95 per day with 1 GB data volume for faster data transfers and a 1-month flat rate tariff for € 34.95 with 3 GB data volume for faster transfers. iPad users can buy such a prepaid micro-SIM card without having a banking account in Germany.

Activation of the Micro-SIM Card

Telekom is still working on solving certain problems with the activation of micro-SIM cards in its network. We tried to activate the Telekom micro-SIM card by opening the Safari browser on the iPad, by registering at www.telekom.de/xtra, yb removing the micro-SIM card and putting it in again and by calling the hotline for assistance – all attempts have been failed so far. For accessing the mobile Telekom network with the iPad subscribers have to use the APN “internet.t-mobile”. Actually, the internet access should be set up automatically when syncing the iPad with iTunes.

The Vodafone micro-SIM card is activated by putting it into the SIM card slot of the Apple iPad, entering the PIN and opening the Safari browser. If you sync your iPad with iTunes right after putting in the micro-SIM card, all access settings will be done automatically over the Vodafone network (APN “pad1.vodafone.de”). The first page the iPad user will see is a Vodafone website where he or she can register and see further information on Vodafone iPad price plans. Then, the mobile data connection will be cut off for a short moment and reactivated. Now, iPad users can access the internet over the Vodafone network with their tablet PC.

Putting the micro-SIM card into the slot, starting the iPad and entering the PIN – that is what O2 Germany subscribers have to do as well. The mobile internet access (APN “surfo2″ or “internet”) will be set up automatically, then the O2 Germany subscriber has to register on a specific website which open up after the Safari browser has been started. Here, the user also has to enter login data for the service web portal www.o2online.de/ipad-online at which the subscriber can switch between iPad tariffs.

E-Plus or Base are already active when put into the SIM card slot of the iPad. But subscribers have to enter the internet access settings (APN “internet.eplus.de”) by themselves on the iPad. Customers can switch bewteen mobile data tariff options by using the service web portal or by calling the E-Plus/Base hotline.

Network Quality and the Use of VoIP and Instant Messaging

The quality of the mobile internet access over the 3G network of Vodafone is very good, users can surf the web just like E122 over WiFi and stream music without any problems. In cities, O2 Germany is offering UMTS and HSPA coverage, as well. In rural areas without 3G network coverage, Vodafone is usually offering EDGE coverage while O2 Germany often provides only GPRS speeds to its subscribers. E-Plus has just started expanding its 3G network with HSPA. As already mentioned, Telekom has been facing problems with its mobile internet access via GPRS or UMTS so that we could’nt gain any experience here yet. In gerenal, users should check 3G  the network coverage of several providers at their residence since there might be great differences. Telekom, Vodafone and E-Plus are not allowing voice over IP in their iPad price plans. Instant messaging is possible, but prohibited in the Telekom network.