I would like to give my iPad2 with wi-fi to my sister so she can keep in touch. Her house has wi-fi. Can she use the iPad without having a cellular data plan? It seems to me that she should be able to use iMessage and FaceTime with those of us on Apple devices, and connect to the internet to access Gmail, Netflix, and the App store. Is this correct?
iPad 2, iOS 6.0.1, Wi-Fi
If it's a wifi-only iPad then you can't get a data plan directly on it, only the 3G/4G models have that option (and she shouldn't need to sign up to a cellular service in order to use it over wifi). If she has a wifi network then yes, she can connect to the internet through that (Settings > Wi-Fi 'on'). And for FaceTime, on the iPad 2 it's only possible over wifi, it's only with the iPad 3+ that it's posible to do FaceTime calls over a cellular network. Email, Netflix and the App Store can all be used over wifi.
The iPad is wi-fi only. She would only be using it where wi-fi is available.
Can she access the internet without a data plan? Can she use iMessage and FaceTime with other Apple devices without a data plan?
Does she need a data plan?
Could someone please offer a simple yes or no answer?
If the iPad is Wifi only, it cannot have a data plan. Only wifi +3g iPads can have data plans. A Data plan is a Cellular service that lets you access ther internet via the Cellular providers network.
If the iPad is Wifi only it cannot connect to a cellular network, therefore it cannot have a data plan.
Wifi only iPads connect through Wifi. The internet connection would be the same she uses for her computer or laptop.
So NO, she does not need a data plan, because theres no way to use a data plan on a Wifi only iPad.
But the question still hasn't been answered, can she still iMessage and Facetime with other Apple users?
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
If your iPad is Wi-Fi Only, you can't use cellular on it. If your iPad is Wi-Fi + Cellular, she won't have any problem using it without a cellular plan
THANK YOU!!!
Which is pretty much what she has already been told
Actaully that question was indeed answered in the post she marked "This solved my question".
Is data plan required?
