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I asked Verizon about using it today on Twitter and they said this:

"The Verizon iPad is unlocked so you can use it with international carriers & pay their rates. They are usually cheaper."
The video in the first post proves that it's unlocked and will work with another sim card, but I'm wondering if the iPad3,2 model number might cause some issues when trying to sign up with a local carrier like it does with at&t…
 
ok, so I think I might have figured it out…

All iPads are unlocked, BUT the two '4G' iPads have a different model number:

iPad3,2 - CDMA/GSM iPad (aka Verizon iPad)
iPad3,3 - GSM iPad (aka AT&T iPad in the US)

so… my guess is that since the verizon iPad (iPad3,2) is unlocked, it will accept accept any GSM sim card including the at&t, but it won't let you sign up for an at&t plan on the verizon iPad (iPad3,2) because at&t doesn't recognize (or actively blocks) the iPad3,2 model number.

This should explain why foreign iPads (iPad3,3) should work in the US with an at&t sim card since the rest of world will only be getting the iPad3,3 models.
Kind of makes you wonder if the verizon iPads (iPad3,2) will have any issues activating a local GSM sim in another country even thought it's unlocked…

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fyi, the iPad3,1 is the iPad wifi only model.

The problem is simply that AT&T's system rejects the VZW iPad IMEI and/or ICCID when you try and set up the account online, on the iPad or in person in the store. If you have a "pre-activated" ATT sim from another device it works fine. When you buy a "foreign" SIM overseas they don't care about the IMEI plus foreign sims are activated differently in a US unlocked device. You simply go to a website which has no connection to ATT or VZW and put in your info or do it in a store.
 
Can anyone give an idea of the kinds of speeds you get when using an AT&T SIM in a Verizon iPad? I know it won't do AT&T LTE, but do you get HSDPA+ ("4G" - the way they keep changing the definition of 4G makes it hard to ask this question) speeds? In a related question, if you were to take the Verizon and AT&T iPads overseas, should they be able to get the same kinds of data speeds on other GSM networks?

I guess what I'm really asking is, are the sub-LTE capabilities of the Verizon iPad the same as the AT&T iPad?

I was able to activate and AT&T sim on an AT&T iPad2 and transfer it to my Verizon new iPad.. it immediately was able to find service under AT&T "4G".. speedtest app reported 8.07 Mbps DL / 1.03 Mbps UP in my single test conducted from where I live in Jacksonville, FL.

I can't answer your overseas question as you probably need someone overseas in certain areas to help you test that.

Sub LTE capabilities of the Verizon iPad I assume are running off the psuedo AT&T "4G" HSDPA+, which is presumably better than the fallback Verizon EVDO.
 
Okay,

An AT&T sim can work in a Verizon iPad but no LTE connectivity?

No. We knew an AT&T sim on a Verizon iPad would not get LTE because of different frequencies (?). The issue was whether a Verizon iPad could get AT&T 3G or 4g (not ot be confused with 4G LTE). It seems that while you can insert an AT&T sim in your Verizon iPad and get the AT&T symbol in the upper left corner, when you go to activate the service, it says the device is not supported.

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Close. It is VERY likely AT&T will put the kabosh on those using **PHONE** sims (because doing that, aside from the TOS issue) you are getting "free data" on another device which (yes, it is stupid) is not allowed (we agreed to the TOS).

I believe it is highly UNLIKELY ATT will have a problem with buying an iPad Data sim and using it in a VZW iPad.

The problem is, you can't activate a new ATT iPad SIM on the VZW device or online. (There is no PIN involved). Even if a store is willing to do it they still need to add the IMEI/ICCID of the VZW iPad to the provisioning process which their system will REJECT. That is the major issue.

If you have a working already active ATT iPad SIM (and account) you should have no problem using it and adding funds online. What you won't be able to do without calling AT&T is turn off the "auto renewal" feature of the prepaid SIM because that function can't be accessed through the iPad and I didn't see it on the website. On the website you can cancel the entire account but not cancel auto-renewal.

So let me get this straight, the only way you can use a Verizon ipad3 Witt an AT&T sim is to set up and maintain a plan using an AT&T iPad 2, not just the initial setup? The Verizon iPad will always not recognize the AT&T sim? So I would activate it on ipad2 then insert in VZW ipad3 and just use the service, not go to the account page?
 
I took the AT&T sim card out of my AT&T MiFi device, cut it down to micro size, put it into my new Verizon 4G iPad and turned it on. Viola it works great, after a little bit of "Searching" it now says AT&T 4G and I am able to surf the web. I did not need to change any settings, it just worked...

Even though it's really only 3G speeds, this is great, because the service on the sim card is from my company provided Mifi, so now I don't have to carry around that stupid Mifi device. We'll see if AT&T catches on or gives me any grief regarding data usage. I think it's setup on a 2GB plan for the Mifi, which is plenty fine with me.
 
ok, so I think I might have figured it out…

All iPads are unlocked, BUT the two '4G' iPads have a different model number:

iPad3,2 - CDMA/GSM iPad (aka Verizon iPad)
iPad3,3 - GSM iPad (aka AT&T iPad in the US)

so… my guess is that since the verizon iPad (iPad3,2) is unlocked, it will accept accept any GSM sim card including the at&t, but it won't let you sign up for an at&t plan on the verizon iPad (iPad3,2) because at&t doesn't recognize (or actively blocks) the iPad3,2 model number.

This should explain why foreign iPads (iPad3,3) should work in the US with an at&t sim card since the rest of world will only be getting the iPad3,3 models.
Kind of makes you wonder if the verizon iPads (iPad3,2) will have any issues activating a local GSM sim in another country even thought it's unlocked…

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fyi, the iPad3,1 is the iPad wifi only model.

That's a very good question.
 
So let me get this straight, the only way you can use a Verizon ipad3 Witt an AT&T sim is to set up and maintain a plan using an AT&T iPad 2, not just the initial setup? The Verizon iPad will always not recognize the AT&T sim? So I would activate it on ipad2 then insert in VZW ipad3 and just use the service, not go to the account page?
Once the SIM is INITIALLY activated on any iPad it will work. You can add funds online on ATT's website, you just can't do it on the iPad itself.

Remember though, if you don't continue to use the iPad data account the account closes and you have to start over and if you don't have your iPad 2 you're SOL. I think it said 6 mos of non-use closes the account. Not sure on that, may be less.

Another possible issue is, if you sold the original iPad to someone else but kept the SIM and then they tried to create an account for their use on your old devices with same IMEI (let's say you sold it) it is possible that either they won't be able to do it since it already exists in the system or it will cancel out yours. Not sure on that but logically thinking ATT won't be able to have the same IMEI/ICCID on 2 ACTIVE accounts. That's another issue that needs to be tested.

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I took the AT&T sim card out of my AT&T MiFi device, cut it down to micro size, put it into my new Verizon 4G iPad and turned it on. Viola it works great, after a little bit of "Searching" it now says AT&T 4G and I am able to surf the web. I did not need to change any settings, it just worked
Even an iPhone SIM works but the only problem there is ATT might flag you for moving the SIM between 2 different types of devices which is against your TOS. It's like putting an iPhone sim in the iPad or a dumbphone sim in an iPhone.

For that same matter they might flag an iPad 2 sim in an iPad 3? We all know how F'd up ATT is.
 
Did you have to change the APN? If you plan on keeping your iPad 2 you're good to go but if you get rid of it and let your ATT iPad account expire you'll be out of luck.

I did not have to do any APN modifications.. after the sim was tranplanted the ipad simply drew cellular data after searching for service and then showing 3 bars and "AT&T 4G".

The iPad 2 we have belongs to a family member in my home who chose not to upgrade and let me take their SIM so I'm just lucky that the situations permits having an AT&T iPad2 still available in case any changes need to be made. It seems that anyone else who would like this perhaps would need to have something like that available if they want to take advantage.
 
None of this proves that the Verizon iPad only works up to AT&T HSPA. Someone with an activated AT&T LTE sim card will have to put it in the Verizon iPad to find out. iPhone or iPad 2 sim is not (AT&T) LTE capable. Only new AT&T iPad sim can access AT&T LTE after activation.
 
The problem is simply that AT&T's system rejects the VZW iPad IMEI and/or ICCID when you try and set up the account online, on the iPad or in person in the store. If you have a "pre-activated" ATT sim from another device it works fine. When you buy a "foreign" SIM overseas they don't care about the IMEI plus foreign sims are activated differently in a US unlocked device. You simply go to a website which has no connection to ATT or VZW and put in your info or do it in a store.
Hmm.. But wouldn't it be much easier and cheaper to 'accept' the iPads based on their model number? e.g. Run sim application to sign up for a data plan if model number is iPad1,1 or iPad2,2 or iPad3,3?

We know AT&T isn't blocking the VZW IMEIs (would probably display 'no service' instead of the AT&T logo and the signal bars), but something is preventing the sim application that is used to sign up for an AT&T data plan...
None of this proves that the Verizon iPad only works up to AT&T HSPA. Someone with an activated AT&T LTE sim card will have to put it in the Verizon iPad to find out. iPhone or iPad 2 sim is not (AT&T) LTE capable. Only new AT&T iPad sim can access AT&T LTE after activation.
Will never work because the Verizon (iPad3,2) and AT&T (iPad3,3) IPads have different antennas for the different LTE signals.
 
But would the AT&T ipad be limited to 3g?

What exactly are you meaning with this question? Will the ATT LTE iPad be limited to 3g on ATT's network,only if there is no LTE and then yes it will. If you are asking if the Att iPad will be limited to 3g when on verizons network then yes it will be, Apple left little doubt as to whether or not it would work on Verizons LTE network. It isn't because of the hardware really though, the hardware is the same, the amplifiers the software uses is different though.

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Hmm.. But wouldn't it be much easier and cheaper to 'accept' the iPads based on their model number? e.g. Run sim application to sign up for a data plan if model number is iPad1,1 or iPad2,2 or iPad3,3?

We know AT&T isn't blocking the VZW IMEIs (would probably display 'no service' instead of the AT&T logo and the signal bars), but something is preventing the sim application that is used to sign up for an AT&T data plan...

Will never work because the Verizon (iPad3,2) and AT&T (iPad3,3) IPads have different antennas for the different LTE signals.
They don't actually have different antennas, the modems are identical, they use different amplifiers for the Verizon network than they do on the ATT network.
 
This is great news. However, I am loving Verizon LTE I'm getting 30 down and 20 up my speed test.
 
None of this proves that the Verizon iPad only works up to AT&T HSPA. Someone with an activated AT&T LTE sim card will have to put it in the Verizon iPad to find out. iPhone or iPad 2 sim is not (AT&T) LTE capable. Only new AT&T iPad sim can access AT&T LTE after activation.
It has been tried. Somewhere among the messages it is there. Besides that, the frequencies are different.
 
Hmm.. But wouldn't it be much easier and cheaper to 'accept' the iPads based on their model number?
It might be easier but it doesn't work that way but basically at the lowest level that is what they do. For example, all IMEI from 3333xxxxxxxx to xxxxx would be one model, all from 4444xxxxxxxx to xxxxxx another. It's really the same. It's just a worldwide standard. Similar to MAC addresses on any network device and the public IP addresses on computers. That's just how the world organizations chose to do it.
 
OK, guess I'll give my .02. :D

Purchased 64GB VZW iPad on launch day. Read info about the AT&T 3G card working so I called local AT&T store about getting a sim card for my iPad.

Went down to AT&T and they set up sim card with a phone number and activated card right there. By him setting it up there was no $15 cost for the card. I did not have iPad with me. He told me I could put it in my iPad when I got home and all would work fine (iPad2).

Got home, popped out the VZW sim, put in the AT&T sim and all is working fine. I am not in a 4G area for either VZW or AT&T but within the AT&T + area and am getting between 7 and 9 down and 1.5 to 2 up speeds (VERY GOOD).

When I go to "view account" in the cellular data section it does have the AT&T logo in the top right corner but does say "The device type entered is not supported" With a codes (I guess) under it that says USIM followed by 4 numbers. Don't know what that is.

When I get close to my 30 days I'm going to call and cancel my service if I can't do it online. I haven't set up the online account yet.

So since about 6pm on Friday I've been using the AT&T card with no issues and speed that blows away VZW 3G. My VZW iPhone 4S gets about 1.5 up on a good day. My kids were loving how fast it was in the car as they were hulu plus and surfing the web driving around yesterday.

I'm so impressed with the AT&T 3G speed that I was thinking of taking the VZW version back but I don't know if I want to give up the hotspot feature or knowing that VZW will build out their network at a quicker pace than AT&T. That said, is the VZW version worth the extra $10 per month for less (2gig vs 3gig). Thoughts?
 
OK, guess I'll give my .02. :D

Purchased 64GB VZW iPad on launch day. Read info about the AT&T 3G card working so I called local AT&T store about getting a sim card for my iPad.

Went down to AT&T and they set up sim card with a phone number and activated card right there. By him setting it up there was no $15 cost for the card.
By him setting it up the chances are very strong he put you on a monthly plan rather than a "prepaid" plan which is probably why he didn't charge you the $15. Verizon has been doing that to everyone who walks into a store and some Best Buy stores are doing it as well. They say "let me set it up for you" and next thing the person knows is he is on a monthly plan rather than pre-pay. They do that because they get a commission. The advantage to the pre-pay is you can purchase as needed and at the end of the month it runs out and doesn't renew (if you set it up that way on the iPad account) the monthly plan requires you to call att and cancel at the end of every month before they auto-renew for the next month.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1342861/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1343018/
 
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By him setting it up the chances are very strong he put you on a monthly plan rather than a "prepaid" plan which is probably why he didn't charge you the $15. Verizon has been doing that to everyone who walks into a store and some Best Buy stores are doing it as well. They say "let me set it up for you" and next thing the person knows is he is on a monthly plan rather than pre-pay. They do that because they get a commission.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1342861/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1343018/

Yes, it is on a monthly plan. I knew that going in and he did tell me that up front. He told me I'd be billed for this month and the following on my first bill. He was very up front about it. What is the difference though to me?

Also, it seems people haven't been able to sign up for the AT&T prepaid plan on the iPad with a new sim, or am I wrong about that? If you can do the prepaid I can just cancel this at the end of the first month, order a sim online for $15 and then I'm all set with both (as long as I don't lose the one that's not in there when I'm not using it! that's what I'm really worried about :eek:).

EDIT: When I say it's on a monthly plan, I DID NOT have to sign up for a 2y commitment. Contract clearly states it is month to month. He did say I had to call to cancel but I'm going to see if I can set up account online and cancel that way if possible.
 
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Went down to AT&T and they set up sim card with a phone number and activated card right there. By him setting it up there was no $15 cost for the card.

FYI, the cost of the SIM card seems to vary from store to store. I walked out of a store on Friday with two iPad pre-paid SIMs, I wasn't charged for either of them, and I didn't have to get on a plan. I didn't want to confuse them by telling them that I needed them for my Verizon new iPads, so I simply told them that I bought two iPad 2s on craigslist, and they didn't come with SIM cards. They handed me the SIMs, and I walked out.

I have a friend who works at an AT&T store, and he also told me that if you go to an AT&T corporate store and not an authorized reseller, SIMs are free.
 
I have a friend who works at an AT&T store, and he also told me that if you go to an AT&T corporate store and not an authorized reseller, SIMs are free.
Mine was $15 at a large corp store (that was 2 mos ago for my iPad 2).

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Yes, it is on a monthly plan. I knew that going in and he did tell me that up front. He told me I'd be billed for this month and the following on my first bill. He was very up front about it. What is the difference though to me?

Also, it seems people haven't been able to sign up for the AT&T prepaid plan on the iPad with a new sim, or am I wrong about that? If you can do the prepaid I can just cancel this at the end of the first month, order a sim online for $15 and then I'm all set with both (as long as I don't lose the one that's not in there when I'm not using it! that's what I'm really worried about :eek:).

You can't sign up on a VERIZON iPad with an ATT sim but you can on a ATT iPad.

With a Prepaid plan you only pay for the current month and it just stops working at the end of the month and you can just "restart" it anytime you want up to 6 months later when it expires if not used online at att.com/ipad. You can also set it up online NOT to renew every 30 days.

With prepaid you can also get the $15 250MB plan.

It sounds to me like you may be under a 1 or2yr contract plan which you can't cancel and you have to pay every month whether you want to or not. Not sure on that but the ATT guy was just too happy to "set you up." :eek: You should check that out unless it's what you want.

EDIT: After reading online it seems the "Postpaid" plan can be canceled at any time but you need to pay every month rather than use it only as needed. No contract, but no "pay only when needed" and no $15 250MB option.
 
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When I take my iphone 4S SIM card out of my Verizon iPad and put the Verizon sim card back in, do I have to go back to the website that ends in "nz" and run a program to have it revert back to the Verizon settings?

I haven't seen the answer to this question, unless I missed it reading thru the thread. Can anyone describe what you must to do which back to Verizon, particularly so that LTE will still work? I'd hate to mess that up.
 
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