Theoretically you can. That was my plan but I was told it wouldn't work on the Verizon model in the US.So I could swap out my Verizon SIM with my AT&T unlimited 3G data SIM?
I hope you're right but I'll bet you're wrong.
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Can I use both ATT and Verizon 3G on either iPad LTE?
- Thread starter iSingandiDance
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Absolutely right WRT LTE. 2G/3G only.
The Verizon iPhone 4S will only do GSM outside the US. Nothing to do with locking. They can easily delete specific carriers or signal types during provisioning of the SIM or programming of the radio. Same with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus.
My information came from a VZW engineer who lives 2 doors down from me. He also could be wrong be he sure seemed like he know what he was talking about. I guess we'll find out next week for sure.
I ordered a VZW model with the intent of using it on AT&T 3G (no AT&T LTE here yet) with an AT&T SIM but he said it won't work.
It seems to me that if the GSM side of the CDMA VZW iPad were unlocked for USA use many many people (as I probably mistakenly did) would buy the Verizon version so they could have pretty much the best of both worlds. Better 3G than Verizon on AT&T bands and better coverage on LTE using the Verizon bands.
Doubt "many many" people would do that, this is apple not android, the masses of apple's audience don't experiment or really know an extensive amount on the technology behind the product. If they have ATT and plan on using ATT, they'll buy an ATT model.
True, but since AT&T barely has any LTE coverage and won't for at least a year if your theory works it would be crazy to buy the AT&T model unless you are in one of the 6 or 7 AT&T LTE cities and then, if you travel, it's still useless. With the VZW, if you are right, you will still get ATT HSPA+ and VZW LTE.
Like I said, I hope you are right which is why I got the VZW model. My phone is on ATT and I get 10-12MBps on their "faux" 4G and the VZW model has those bands so if you are correct I should be in very good shape.
Please let us know how you fare with the ATT SIM in the VZW model for ATT 3G when needed. That was my question too since VZW has superior 4G while ATT has superior (read "faster") 3G, but I wimped out from buying the VZW model and trying it out, and went with ATT instead even though I'll probably never use the ATT 4G. Props for trying that out. Good luck.
I'm on the very very outer edge of NYC LTE coverage (according to the map) and don't get LTE but do get VZW LTE.I'm lucky enough to have ATT LTE over here, i can't wait
Please keep us up to date on your experiments...
I'm hoping all the Verizon iPad buyers report back to this thread about how well other sim cards work out.
I desire the most flexibility in what data plans I can use and if the Verizon iPad (3) can except other plans (albeit less than 4G), then having their option as well could have its advantages.
On the other hand, I heard that Verizon might be offering hotspot capability at no extra cost. If AT&T decides to charge for this, it might make Verizon the most flexible option.
I'm hoping all the Verizon iPad buyers report back to this thread about how well other sim cards work out.
I desire the most flexibility in what data plans I can use and if the Verizon iPad (3) can except other plans (albeit less than 4G), then having their option as well could have its advantages.
On the other hand, I heard that Verizon might be offering hotspot capability at no extra cost. If AT&T decides to charge for this, it might make Verizon the most flexible option.
I have both models coming. One will go back or be resold depending on if there is a shortage. Hopefully eclipseblur954 will be right and the VZW one will work with my ATT 3G SIM from my former iPad 2.
As what I just heard from one Apple sales, the Att 3G Sim card won't be working in Verizon model.
I agree 99.9%. That was my understanding as well from a VZW engineer and how it is on the VZW UNLOCKED iPhone 4S (or so I am told). However on the .1% they might be wrong I'm going to try it unless I first see it posted by an "official" VZW or Apple source.
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Haha I just heard from an Apple store rep that it would work but "service would be poor." Couldn't get him to elaborate on exactly what that meant.
Guess we'll just have to test it ourselves. I also just ordered a VZW model in addition to my existing AT&T order.
justkiz said:
Haha I just heard from an Apple store rep that it would work but "service would be poor." Couldn't get him to elaborate on exactly what that meant.
Guess we'll just have to test it ourselves. I also just ordered a VZW model in addition to my existing AT&T order.
Why is everyone getting the Verizon model thinking it has more bands? I thought the AT&T model could do LTE on 700 MHz and 2100 MHz while the Verizon model can only do it on 700 MHz. So if switching them between carriers did work wouldn't the AT&T model have more compatibility??
I think this is unprecedented and we're just going to have to try things out ourselves.
I also talked with an Apple Rep:
The problem is that using different sims and carriers requires an apn profile change. It's easy to do but when you ask an Apple Rep, or an AT&T Rep, or a Verizon Rep, they may not know about this and even if they did, they would likely not factor it when answering this question about switching plans unless you bring it up specifically.
If you do not know about apn profile switching on an iDevice, then most of this would seem impossible.
But here we have a real interesting case of a Verizon device with all the GSM bands and should be unlocked. I don't think there has been a single device like this before as I'm pretty sure every Verizon device before has been locked, with or without the bands.
I ran into a similar conundrum when the iPhone 4S came out as a "world phone," basically I ended up wanting to learn if the Verizon 4S could be used on either AT&T or T-Mobile since it had the bands:
# World phone
# UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz);
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
# CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)4
I don't think any of the folks who wanted to find out themselves reported back, but I believe that Verizon locked the GSM side from being used in the US. But then, that was the iPhone 4S purchased on contract so it wasn't that much of a surprise.
The iPad is a different matter, since you buy it without contract and you are not obligated to have a data plan. The previous iPads were unlocked and so should this one be. So going from Verizon to GSM should not be a problem unless there is a lock or something else happening beyond logic.
As a side note, I was curious what all the options could be for data on the new iPad, and I have to say that AT&T and Verizon seem to be the best $/GB (both T-Mobile and Simple Mobile for instance were pretty bad). So at least for now, I would consider getting a Verizon iPad to have AT&T data options if that would work, but there is no reason to look beyond those two unless you have a grandfathered plan.
Thinking long-term, though, the AT&T has 700 and 2100 LTE, while the Verizon model only has 700. Is this significant down the road?
We know the verizon model has gsm/3G bands needed for AT&T and other carriers around the world. They've told us it'll work worldwide. Technically it would work on AT&T's 3G/HSPA. If it doesn't then they've done some sort of weird lock just to prevent it from being used on AT&T. The only things they've really said publicly is related to LTE use and to be sure to pick the model you'd like to use with AT&T LTE or Verizon LTE. They really never said the Verizon model won't work on AT&T 3G. I really think they're avoiding it or telling people in person that it won't work as they don't want to confuse regular consumers - they want it to be a simple AT&T or Verizon decision for domestic use. We'll see in a week anyway.
AT&T model has LTE bands 4 (AWS - Apple is incorrectly referring to it as 2100) and 17 (700 Lower SMH)
Verizon model has LTE band 13 (700 Upper SMH).
Those two 700 bands aren't currently compatible. Incredibly there's actually four different 700 bands that exist.
Does the AT&T LTE potentially have any advantage having two different bands over Verizon's one band?
I imagine it doesn't matter how many you have, but how much coverage it provides, but I really would like to know more.
I guess that solely comes down to what coverage each of them have in the US.
The only other advantage would be if you travel in Canada and use one of the LTE networks there which would work with the LTE AWS band on the AT&T model.
Crappy situation to have to decide between verizon and AT&T LTE this early in the game.