Activating Your Data Plan

Some tablets are sold with cellular data access, and some can only be used with Wi-Fi networks. You can learn more about data in Chapter 6: “ Understanding Connection: Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G.”

If you've purchased a data plan for your tablet, you'll need to activate it. Your carrier or the store where you purchased your device should give you the specifics on how this is done. For some tablets, this will involve installing a SIM card that identifies the device on the network (AT&T and T-Mobile devices); other tablets will have this information built into the device (Verizon and Sprint). Your tablet will take a few moments to connect to your network of choice and authenticate.

If you've purchased a tablet that has cellular data capability, but you have not purchased a data plan, then you can skip this step and use the tablet in Wi-Fi only mode until you choose to purchase a data plan.