Original iPad 3G Customers Begin Receiving Claim Forms for Apple/AT&T Data Plan Settlement

Back in September, a court gave initial approval of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Apple and AT&T alleging that the companies failed to live up to customer expectations with advertised data plans for 3G-capable models of the original iPad. At the device's launch, Apple touted a $29.99/month unlimited data plan through AT&T, but just two months after the 3G iPad models became available AT&T discontinued the plan in favor of a capped data plan.

ipad_3g_settlement_claim
Today, the administrator handling the settlement began sending out claim forms to customers who purchased or ordered an original iPad Wi-Fi + 3G on or before June 7, 2010, allowing them to register to receive their settlement benefits. Claim forms must be filed by February 3, 2014, and the final settlement terms still need to approved by the court.

Under the terms of settlement, all U.S. customers who purchased a 3G-capable iPad will be eligible for a $40 payment from Apple. Those customers who purchased the affected device but did not activate a data plan will also be eligible for a $20 discount on AT&T's 5 GB iPad data plan, good for one year. Current pricing for that data plan is set at $50/month, so the settlement will reduce that fee to $30/month for that one-year period.

On the claim form, customers must attest that the ability to switch in and out of the unlimited data plan was a factor in their decision to purchase the 3G iPad. Customers must also provide the serial number and IMEI number for the device in order to be credited with the data plan benefit. For any customer eligible for the data plan benefit but who is no longer in possession of the affected iPad, he or she may apply the benefit to a newer iPad by submitting the serial number and IMEI number of that newer device.

Full details on the settlement and required claim forms are available on the settlement website.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

theheadguy Avatar
158 months ago
Anytime now the bitter MR members will chime in with their hatred for anyone suing Apple. Ironically, if they received the claim form they wouldn't hesitate to fill it out.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
158 months ago
Just got my email! $40 from Apple, probably going to spend it at Apple!

Finished submission. I wonder how long it will take?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lazy Avatar
158 months ago
********. I bought the original iPad with 3G the day it came out and I still have it. I got the email moments ago. I'm not going to claim.

I think it's fine to sue Apple on your own, but it should be illegal to sue on behalf of others (like me) without my express permission. I don't feel injured by the end of unlimited data after I realized I'm rarely away from WiFi.

$40 is nothing in the long run, but I bet the lawyers are happy.

Many/most class actions suits have an option to remove yourself from the suit, which then allows you to sue on your own or take your position. I'm too lazy to check if that's the case with this one.

I am however going to file for my $40 without any qualms. Even though they allowed those who had the unlimited plan to keep it after they said "Oh wait, did we say unlimited? That's not what we meant." there was still a significant loss in the originally promised benefit as one could no longer come and go freely. I got hosed by that as a couple of months later the credit card I was using expired before I noticed, and then when I went to update the expiration date that couldn't be done, the only option was a new sign up, which meant no unlimited option. That's Ok though, rather than pay them $30/month I did my best to not pay them anything at all (rarely did after that), and now I'll be buying an iPad Air -- with Verizon. :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StarDal Avatar
158 months ago
I just got my email as well and just glanced at it. For a second, I wondered if it was a phishing scam...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wxman2003 Avatar
158 months ago
IPad owners get $50, lawyers get $50 million. Couldn't even get a free bumper.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
158 months ago
Anytime now the bitter MR members will chime in with their hatred for anyone suing Apple. Ironically, if they received the claim form they wouldn't hesitate to fill it out.

I didn't hestitate nor do I have hatred for anyone suing Apple.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)