Telstra recently re jigged their pre-paid mobile broadband to include a 365-day expiry option. Something I have been wanting as I'm a light user of 3G data on my iPad, but really love the convenience of having 3G ready to go. Unfortunately the iPad micro-SIM from Telstra only has a 30 day recharge expiry

I know you can't use the iPad microSIM in another device, as Telstra will realise and change the rate at which your data is used (I put the microSIM into mi-fi and leeched some data off it and it ran out quicker), and it states in the T&C's that that's what they'll do.

2.1 By activating the Telstra Pre-Paid iPad Account you acknowledge that you have purchased a Telstra Pre-Paid micro-SIM for iPad Kit, and the Telstra Pre-Paid micro-SIM for iPad provided to you in this Kit can only be used in an approved Apple iPad device. If you use your Telstra Pre-Paid micro-SIM for iPad in any other device, you will be automatically charged the standard Telstra Pre-Paid Wireless Broadband charges as set out in Our Customer Terms based on your most recent recharge denomination.

But no such condition exists on their general pre-paid mobile broadband, which gives the 10GB for $150 (365 day expiry) option. This means you can grab a regular pre-paid SIM and when you activate it, just choose the Mobile Broadband option. I already had a MBB SIM lying around, so I added $150 to it, cut it up, slapped it in my iPad and *boom* - 10GB that expires in 1 year from now.

Using a microSIM adaptor, I can also place this same SIM into my Telstra mi-fi device and use that for when I need mobile internet on some other device - something you cant' do using the microSIM as Telstra will slug ya. 10GB is mostly enough for 1 year of usage for me and because it's prepaid, if I need more for whatever reason, I can simply buy more credit, 24/7, on the phone or online using a credit card. If I don't use it, I've got whatever is left of the 365 days to use it. Fantastic

are the speeds the same?

Originally Posted by wolfie

are the speeds the same?

Yep - SIM card has no bearing on speed.

Originally Posted by glitch

mmmm...doesnt show up as an option on my SIMs, but then none of them are specific mobile broadband SIM's, they are all mobile phone ones i am using in USB modems, will have to look into getting a mobile broadband SIM to do the same.

Yeah, I've got a "voice" SIM (which really are the same, but when you activate it, Telstra assigns it an account type, and hence, a certain recharge scheme). Go grab a $2 or whatever SIM and activate it as a data SIM. Call 125 8887 to do it.

Originally Posted by glitch

Agh...Ok, I have a couple of devices I would like to do this with, one for my own non-telstra modem I use with my MBA when I am travelling, (Telstra in Australia and local SIMs overseas.), a Telstra turbo modem that I stuck a spare voice SIM in for my mum and one for an iPhone.

So I will grab some SIM's and activate them as data SIM's and change them over.

I wonder can I use Me2U credits to recharge, I can buy them at a significant discount to face value and the seller somehow applies them all in one day, so theoretically if he applies $150 to the SIM in one day then it should work as you describe.

Food for thought!

Should work if you can get someone to send $150 of credit at once (can't be $50, $50, $50 for a total of $150 credit).

Well I'll be doing it today, the only disadvantage I see here...
If you lose your iPad, there goes all that unused credit, especially if you don't sim card lock code either.
no thief deserves free net ontop of a new iPad

Let us know how it goes wolfie as this is something I'd be interested in (vs Voda $150 for 12GB iPad microSIM).

ok you get a sim replace,ent but do you get the credit back or is it lost?

Originally Posted by Appleaday

Probably a silly question but [cannot find an answer on the Telstra Web site]

I guess you need to have a Telstra sim to be able to do the $150 recharge - what is the most economical way to get a sim card?

Go into a T-life store and grab a $2 starter pack.