iPad 3G

Ever worry that your iPad is bombarding you with radiation when connected to a 3G mobile data signal? We're used to hearing about SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) when it comes to mobile phones, however tablets are also regulated by FCC limits. Pong Research has experience developing smartphone cases that divert potentially harmful energy away from the user's body.

Now they have launched the Pong iPad and iPad 2 case, to provide the same antenna technology to tablet users. The Pong case diverts radiation away from the user, reducing the SAR by up to 82 percent of FCC limits. The case also provides enhanced 3G connection performance.

AT&T Mobility has announced a new option for iPad 3G data users, a postpaid cellular data plan for tablets. Currently all iPad data plans must be prepaid to start service by activating the subscription directly on the iPad.

Existing customers can now add the iPad data charges to their monthly wireless bill from AT&T and pay one bill at the end of each month. Those who don't yet have a postpaid account with AT&T can start one for the iPad, only a credit check is necessary and the plan can't be activated on the iPad itself.

Great news is here for those interested in using an iPad on the Verizon network. Apple is producing iPads with components that will make it possible to use these devices directly on Verizon's cellular data network. In a clear sign that no exclusive iPad deal with AT&T exists, Verizon Communications CFO Francis Shammo told Bloomberg the Verizon iPad was coming soon.

No timeframe or pricing was given, however the iPhone 4 is scheduled to arrive on Verizon's network as early as February 3. Also unclear is whether or not the Verizon iPad will use the company's current CDMA network or launch with LTE capability.

AT&T Wireless released two months worth of iPad 3G data, stating that 400-500 thousand units were activated with data plans on its network during the period. 75-80 percent of these users chose the top-tier monthly data plan over the smaller plan with a low bandwidth limit. Initially, AT&T offered iPad owners the choice of an unlimited data plan or 200 MB.

AT&T has since moved to a tiered data plan on the iPad and iPhone 4. Users can now choose between 2 GB per month or 250 MB. Apple sold over three million iPads in several countries since the April launch. AT&T has an exclusive US contract to provide data plans for the iPad 3G, and offers customers monthly data plans that can be cancelled at any time.

Lawyers have lined up behind iPad owners who feel that Apple and AT&T Wireless unfairly baited them into purchasing an iPad 3G with the promise of unlimited data plans. Since the iPad was launched, AT&T has announced the switch: unlimited data plans were due to be removed as an option on June 7. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in United States District Court representing consumers from several states.

Many users are finding that the iPad 3G unlimited data plan is still available, and AT&T has stated that users keeping their unlimited data plan paid every month would be able to keep the plan. A change was also made to the lower-tier plan, with a 250 MB cap reduced to 200 MB for the same price of $15.

One member of the Goatse Security group that revealed an AT&T iPad 3G security breach has been detained after the FBI conducted a search of his property. The "computer security researcher" known as Weev was arrested in Arkansas for possession of LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and a bunch of pills.

AT&T has accused the group of compromising its network and maliciously attacking its servers to steal data relating to 114,000 iPad 3G user accounts. Goatse Security claims it's providing a public service by exposing security holes, but the group has been under investigation by the FBI after pulling data from AT&T servers and reporting the story to the media.

If you haven't already heard about the massive iPad security breach that was revealed late last week in an exclusive report by Gawker.com, here's the lowdown: an online security group exploited a vulnerability in AT&T's 3G network and through doing so gained access to at least 114,000 e-mail addresses and ICC IDs (integrated circuit card identifier), a digital identifier that associates SIM cards with the device they represent on AT&T's network. Topping the list of the 114,000 iPad 3G owners that were revealed to have been compromised were powerful CEOs, military personnel, political figures, entertainment personalities and more.

Seen above: The list of 114,000 email addresses leaked via the AT&T breach, printed out by Gawker.com.

AT&T launched two new iPad data plans on Monday, however it remains unclear when the unlimited data plan will be removed as an option. The company previously explained that current subscribers to the unlimited data plan would be able to keep those terms of service on a monthly basis until they stopped renewing the plan.

Since then, reports have surfaced that AT&T might allow iPad buyers who ordered their devices before June 7 to have the unlimited plan as an option when their iPad arrives. Representatives from AT&T couldn't say how long the unlimited option would be available and advised purchasing the plan immediately.

Critics have already charged that the iPad 3G limited data plan won't get you very far with only 250 MB. We put this allegation to the test and kept a log of what activities took place on the iPad when connected to 3G. Checking data usage is simple under Settings, General, Usage so each time the iPad was used everything went into the diary.

An iPad Wi-Fi + 3G model was activated with AT&T's unlimited data plan over a Wi-Fi network the morning of day one. Activation went smoothly and cost $29.99. In contrast, AT&T offers the 250 MB plan for $14.99. For the diary, most of the cellular data usage took place in the car, with the remaining balance spent whenever a Wi-Fi signal wasn't available.

Despite AT&T's recent marketing, which states that 97% of all Americans are covered by AT&T's 3G network, a somewhat surprising number of reports continue to surface from new iPad 3G owners that are being denied the ability to initiate a data plan for their new iPad. During the activation/signup process for an iPad 3G data plan, AT&T is performing checks on the addresses of new customers and refusing to initiate service for those that fall outside of the current coverage provided by AT&T's 3G network. Yes, you heard right: AT&T, who has taken considerable heat for their lack of 3G coverage, is highlighting that fact by turning away customers on that basis.

The issue is that many of these customers are well aware of the fact that their home address is not within AT&T's 3G coverage area, but want to purchase an iPad data plan nonetheless. After all, the vast majority of iPad owners will likely choose to use their WiFi networks at home, while reserving the use of their iPad 3G data plans for when they are on the road or otherwise away from home. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, the iPad 3G will fail over to AT&T's EDGE network when 3G coverage is not available and one can assume that customers who escape the reach of AT&T's 3G network likely fall within the EDGE network and could successfully (albeit slowly) use their iPad on that network.