I MADE my wife do it. Our hearts were hammering when she made the first snip. We were cutting a SIM card to fit into the iPad's micro SIM slot.
We had bought the 3G version of the iPad online and knew that instead of the usual SIM card, there would be a micro SIM — half the size of the usual SIM.
The challenge: to trim a regular SIM card (right) to fit into the iPad's micro SIM slot (left). The AT&T micro SIM came with our 3G iPad bought from the United States. ST PHOTO: Tan Chong Yaw
The only way we could use the 3G version was to cut a local SIM card ourselves. We remembered what the telcos had said: "Cut the SIM card at your own risk. You could damage the iPad or the SIM card would not work if you altered your SIM card."
We couldn't wait. We really wanted to use the iPad. Besides, we already had a mobile broadband plan that we want to use more of.
So, we signed up for a multi-SIM plan where we paid a one-off activation fee and about $5 a month for a second SIM card. This would enable us to leverage on our existing mobile broadband plan.
Now, the actual act of snipping the SIM. How to do it? We turned to the Net which was full of references like that of John Benson's blog that involved a meat cleaver. But we much prefered the guide posted at Softpedia.
We printed the template that showed the micro SIM on a normal SIM, just to get an idea of size. Apart from the scissors, we also needed adhesive tape.
Our "cutting-edge" tools. ST PHOTO: Tan Chong Yaw
Since my wife had the surer pair of hands, she became the cutter. I clenched my teeth, worried that something would go wrong. The nerve-wrecking part was that she might have to cut slightly into the metal contacts of the SIM card.
Before we did the real thing, we needed practice. As we were holidaying in Malaysia at the time, we tested ourselves on a couple of SIM cards — including one for a fresh pre-paid account — there.
Success: The card on the left is being used now on our iPad. Note how the design and size of the metal contacts differ. ST PHOTO: Tan Chong Yaw
The cut was successful but I couldn't get the slimmer card to connect to the Net. Then, I found the solution. I had to manually change the iPad's APN (Access Point Name) settings which can be found in Cellular Data under Settings.
You will need to key in the values for your APN, user name and password. To look for the APN values for my telco provider, I checked out this website: http://modmyi.com/wiki/index.php/Carrier_APN_Settings#Singapore_Networks_
An important thing I discovered was that of the two SIM cards, one must be the primary SIM card that would always be used in my wife's phone. Otherwise, she would not be getting SMS messages.
Now, my wife and I can surf the Net with the iPad anywhere there is a phone signal. One thing is for sure: If it weren't for the images posted on the Net of successful "cutting" attempts, I would have tossed out the idea as lunacy.
Warning: Be aware that you may be well wrecking your SIM card by cutting it.