Which cellular data plan for iPad....?

billy few mates

I've got an iPad mini and I was wondering what options were available for cellular data. I don't intend to use it often I'd just like to have the option for when I'm out and about so I don't need a monthly bill pay plan so what are my best options?
Ideally I'd like a PAYG sim that I could have a data allowance that didn't expire if I didn't use it (but I don't think they exist) and top it up as I needed.

long_b

billy few mates wrote: »

Ideally I'd like a PAYG sim that I could have a data allowance that didn't expire if I didn't use it (but I don't think they exist)

You're correct there - no such thing here.

Why not just use the hotspot/internet sharing feature on your Android/iPhone ?

Graham_B18C

You could buy a 3 sim and top up with €20 then use a fiver a month for 500MB, then the months you don't want to use it then don't use the credit on the data add on. 60 quid a year if you used 500MB a month

Zcott

Alternatively Three UK offer prepaid SIMs which last for a while. Best one is probably the £70/12gb one and is valid for a year. With their free roaming to the south it's as good as a Three Ireland one.

http://store.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/Plans/Pay_As_You_Go

billy few mates

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I tried tethering it to my phone data package and that works great, I also wanted to be able to give it to my son while he's away from home (and a WiFi connection) so that he could use it occasionally when his own phone data ran out.

I can't see why the service providers don't sell a package that lets you buy, for example, 1GB of data that doesn't expire if you don't use it within 'x number of days', that you can just top up when and if you need it. Surely there'd be a market for that...?

michael999999

€10 euro gets you 5 gb a month, or €5 for 1 gb for light users with tesco.

munsterleinster

michael999999 wrote: »

€10 euro gets you 5 gb a month, or €5 for 1 gb for light users with tesco.

I know this was posted a few weeks back but can't find this on their webpage..
Where did you see these prices for tesco mobile?

Cheers

Creamy Goodness

billy few mates wrote: »

I can't see why the service providers don't sell a package that lets you buy, for example, 1GB of data that doesn't expire if you don't use it within 'x number of days', that you can just top up when and if you need it. Surely there'd be a market for that...?

Because they won't make money off you that way. Carriers are now dumb data pipes and they've realised it. Data is only to get more expensive.

billy few mates

Well they're not getting any extra from me, on the few occasions where I've needed to get online I just did as suggested earlier and used my phone as a hotspot.
If there were the option to have a PAYG sim which didn't expire until you use the data I'd probably stick a tenner on one and have it just in case.

Creamy Goodness

you throwing a tenner on a PAYG sim every now and then doesn't make them money. suckering people into contracts or a 30day sim plan is how they money, they know this and offer their services accordingly.

you're best bet is to get a tesco mobile sim and use one of their "Once off bundles" from here http://www.tescomobile.ie/priceplans/high-speed-data.aspx

Heisenberg1

OP why not sign up to the Mitch plan with 48 15gb a month for 15e

http://www.48months.ie/deal

billy few mates

Thats €15 per month, I was looking for a plan where I could buy X GB which I could load onto my sim, and that data remained there until I used it rather than having to 'use it or lose it' after thirty days....