IPad sim-locked?

kellanved said:

Hi,
this is my very first post on this forum, so first thing first : hi

Background - I am traveling between Europe and the US a lot and wanted to pick up an ipad 3G. However, at the apple store, hey told me that the ipad 3g is:
a) SIM locked and
b) uses normal-size SIM cards

Now I'm unsure. I want to use the ipad on both sides of the pond. I know that the micro-SIM ipad is not locked (or used to be unlocked). However, the people at the mac store got me confused. Is there now an ipad that uses normal SIM cards instead of micro-SIMs? And if so, is it SIM locked?

Thanks,
~H

Click to expand...

Whoever told you that is wrong on both accounts. All 3g iPads are unlocked, use micro-sims, and work great on both sides of the pond.

are u sure they r unlocked?
i just got a new one from t-mobile and i can only use a t-mobile sim
i had cut down my 3 network sim as i have a mobile internet contract with them and it wont work on my ipad 3g ( no signal)
but i have cut down a pay as yo go t-mobile sim and i get signal
havent tryed any other sims but i think with the new os 4.2.1 they have put a lock on if u bought it a network provider like t-mobile
will try my sim in my sis t-mobile ipad 3g as well and report back

quick update
just tryed my 3 network mobile internet sim and my iphone 4 vodaphone sim in my sis t-mobile ipad 3g and i get no signal
when i connect it to itunes it says
the sim card inserted in this ipad does not appear to be supported
Only compatible sim cards from a supported carrier my be used to activate ipad. please insert the sim that came with your ipad or visit a supported carrier's store to receive a replacement sim card.
now the ipad works with her t-mobile sim so the ipad must be activated so not sure if they r locked to the network u buy the ipad from ect

I know of no iPad being sold sim-locked. From the UK apple store page

"Can I use my iPad while travelling outside the country?
You can connect to Wi-Fi networks in many places around the world. Check with your carrier about connecting to 3G networks outside your home country, as additional charges may apply. Or you can purchase a micro-SIM card from a carrier at your destination and choose a new data plan to connect to a 3G network there."

I'm using my american iPad in Portugal currently with a microSim that comes in an USB Pen so it's unlocked for sure as I use it in US with at&t.

Are you sure you are not getting signal? or may have to configure the settings for each network such as APN, user and password. It's not normally just plug n' play you can easily google for the settings for each provider. Also, where are you located? that will help

bafonso said:

I know of no iPad being sold sim-locked. From the UK apple store page

"Can I use my iPad while travelling outside the country?
You can connect to Wi-Fi networks in many places around the world. Check with your carrier about connecting to 3G networks outside your home country, as additional charges may apply. Or you can purchase a micro-SIM card from a carrier at your destination and choose a new data plan to connect to a 3G network there."

I'm using my american iPad in Portugal currently with a microSim that comes in an USB Pen so it's unlocked for sure as I use it in US with at&t.

Are you sure you are not getting signal? or may have to configure the settings for each network such as APN, user and password. It's not normally just plug n' play you can easily google for the settings for each provider. Also, where are you located? that will help

Click to expand...

im located in the uk
does you ipad have 4.2.1?
i havent tryed any APN settings as the ipad should auto download them settings when connecting to itunes but will have a quick search on google
so its berst buying one from apple or a retailer than from a network provider

update

tryed a few diffrent apn settings for three and nothink
it keeps coming up sim faliure
it has to be locked as when i put a pay as you go t-mobile sim in i get network
i think i will have to wait for some sort of hack ect
thanks

code2006 said:

im located in the uk
does you ipad have 4.2.1?
i havent tryed any APN settings as the ipad should auto download them settings when connecting to itunes but will have a quick search on google
so its berst buying one from apple or a retailer than from a network provider

update

tryed a few diffrent apn settings for three and nothink
it keeps coming up sim faliure
it has to be locked as when i put a pay as you go t-mobile sim in i get network
i think i will have to wait for some sort of hack ect
thanks

Click to expand...

Go to T-Mobile and ask them. They were advertised as unlocked from the start and a major change like this would have had the blogosphere on fire.

I've used my US iPad on 3, T-Mobile, Orange and AT&T since the 4.2.1 update with no problems.

seajay96 said:

Go to T-Mobile and ask them. They were advertised as unlocked from the start and a major change like this would have had the blogosphere on fire.

I've used my US iPad on 3, T-Mobile, Orange and AT&T since the 4.2.1 update with no problems.

Click to expand...

T-Mobile sell them subsidised for £199 if you sign up to a contract. Those ones are probably 'locked'.

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/ipad/buy-now/

Yeah I was just thinking that, some are sold on contract now and may be locked.

Unfortunately everyone just went to 4.2.1 and updated their baseband to 7.x too before we realized this. If we hadn't it is very possible we could have unlocked those with existing unlocks given they use iPad baseband for some anyway.

MaxBurn said:

Yeah I was just thinking that, some are sold on contract now and may be locked.

Unfortunately everyone just went to 4.2.1 and updated their baseband to 7.x too before we realized this. If we hadn't it is very possible we could have unlocked those with existing unlocks given they use iPad baseband for some anyway.

Click to expand...

yer mine is a t-mobile contract . i wanted to get one with three but they didnt have any.
also my baseband is 7.x something and the ipad came with 4.2.1
o well its not a major problem
thanks