Doubling of data

All levels of data usage (on prepaid only) have been doubled, for example the 30-day allowance of 3GB is now 6GB. The prices are unchanged.

It's not clear if this is temporary promotion or not, but it's been applied to any active months already, and to historical data in your online usage records.

Update: It was just a promotion. the double data ended in January 2011.

On the downside, Telcel now seem to be doing a much better job of tracking usage. Since they ignored much of my usage before (it was fun while it lasted...) I'll probably end up hitting the doubled limit sooner.

The current prices and allowances (in Spanish) are at: Telcel Banda Ancha. The amounts shown, such as 499 pesos for 30 days access, are mainland Mexico prices. In Baja California the tax is lower so the amount charged is a bit less (477.49 pesos for thirty days, a little under US$40).

iPad

Micro-sims for the Apple iPad are now available from Telcel. They call them "microchips".

Details (in Spanish): iPad on Telcel

This means you can use an iPad in Mexico on the same rates as the existing Telcel 3G data service (above).

As the iPad is not locked to a carrier, you'll be able to use (for example) a US iPad in Mexico on the Telcel network with a Telcel SIM at 3G speeds. You buy the new sim then pay (prepaid) for access for just the days/weeks you are in Mexico.

Might be best to go to a company store for the "microchip" sim as I doubt local dealers will stock them, at least in the short term.

It was possible in the past to use Telcel with your iPad, but that involved cutting the chip down to size. Now there is an iPad specific chip available.

According to the instructions at the link above, you connect your iPad to Telcel (after inserting the new chip) by going to "Settings", then "Mobile Data", then "Set APN", then altering the APN to "ba.amx".