An interesting article regarding the iPad and mobile computing in general

Just read this in the Age's tech section.

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-lif...0604-xi7k.html

"The MyZone comes unlocked and without a SIM card, so you can drop in a SIM from
any provider except BigPond which locks SIMs to specific devices."

Does he mean Bigpond as in Telstra's NextG, or does Bigpond itself issue SIMs?

In any case, is he saying that if you want to connect to NextG that you cannot?

What he's written doesn't make sense because he then says this:

"It's a tri-band 850/1900/2100MHz device, which is great for Next G users"

But it's not possible to do this is it because Bigpond lock SIMs into specific
devices, or so he writes.

Anyway, I'm not sure why you'd want this device if your mobile supports
"tethering". Unless, of course the mobile data plans for stand alone mobile
devices are a lot cheaper than what you can get on a phone plan.

Can you go into Coles and buy a pre-paid SIM and slot it into one of these
things and get pre-paid data?

Mike Rofone wrote:

> Just read this in the Age's tech section.

> http://www.theage.com.au/digital-lif...0604-xi7k.html

> "The MyZone comes unlocked and without a SIM card, so you can drop in a
> SIM from any provider except BigPond which locks SIMs to specific devices."

> Does he mean Bigpond as in Telstra's NextG,

You dont have to have a bigpond service, Telstra's prepaid wireless broadband doesnt involve bigpond at all.

> or does Bigpond itself issue SIMs?

No.

> In any case, is he saying that if you want to connect to NextG that you cannot?

Not clear what he is saying.

> What he's written doesn't make sense because he then says this:

> "It's a tri-band 850/1900/2100MHz device, which is great for Next G users"

> But it's not possible to do this is it because Bigpond
> lock SIMs into specific devices, or so he writes.

Presumably he means you can use telstra NextG sims that have nothing to do with bigpond fine.

> Anyway, I'm not sure why you'd want this device if your mobile supports "tethering".

Its much more convenient to not need to have the mobile involved,
particularly if the mobile doesnt have much in the way of data on its plan.

> Unless, of course the mobile data plans for stand alone mobile
> devices are a lot cheaper than what you can get on a phone plan.

You may not have got much data on the mobile plan.

> Can you go into Coles and buy a pre-paid SIM and
> slot it into one of these things and get pre-paid data?

Yes. Tho you would normally have to change the offer that
goes with that sim. You can do that online with the best SIMs.