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How locked is the iPad?

K

kevink2

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 2, 2008
1,857
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Can an iPad 2, for instance, be used for BOTH ATT and Verizon? For instance, if you change your mind and want to go with the other vendor.

Unlike with the phones, which are locked to the original service (in the states).

I am seriously considering upgrading my original iPad 3G to the as yet unannounced iPad 3. Since I currently have an unlimited data service with it I would hope I could move the SIM to the new iPad. But Verizon has LTE in my area, but ATT doesn't.

Of course, it is only a rumor that the new iPad will have LTE support.
 
AT&T uses GSM and Verizon is CDMA, so no you cannot swap networks. You have to buy the iPad specifically for the carrier you'd like to use.
 
It's unlocked when you buy it... HOWEVER, CDMA and GSM are different technologies and are not compatible with each other. If you buy the CDMA iPad 2, you can ONLY use CDMA networks (EG Verizon). If you buy the GSM iPad 2, you can use any GSM network (ATT, and pretty much any network worldwide).

If you're hanging on for the iPad 3 though, there may be a model which combines both CDMA and GSM (Like the iPhone 4S does).
 
No iPad currently will allow you to do that. If your looking for one and can hold off for a few weeks I suggest waiting till the iPad 3 is announced. I am not trying to start any rumors, however if Apple made an iPhone (the 4S) a global phone it wouldn't be too far fetched to see think they would do it with the new iPad when/if it's ever released.
 
The iPad 2 comes with either GSM/HSPA (AT&T) or CDMA/EVDO (Verizon) hardware.

The iPad 3 will most likely have one 3G model that works on both networks. This is how the iPhone 4S works.
 
If you get a GSM model you can use all GSM networks (all networks which use SIM cards, which is most of them). If you get a CMDA model you can only use it on that one network that you got it for. I'd get a GSM one, so you have lots of network choice :)
 
This is sort of linked to a question I have about buying an iPad2 in the US for use in the UK but one of the answers above changes what I thought was the case re: 3G iPad2s

Can I buy a 3G iPad2 in the US and use it with a UK GSM network (O2, Vodafone etc) or is it locked to AT&T? I thought the latter.

Regards
 
GLOC said:
This is sort of linked to a question I have about buying an iPad2 in the US for use in the UK but one of the answers above changes what I thought was the case re: 3G iPad2s

Can I buy a 3G iPad2 in the US and use it with a UK GSM network (O2, Vodafone etc) or is it locked to AT&T? I thought the latter.

Regards
Click to expand...

iPads are all factory unlocked, so a 3G model purchased from the US can be used in the UK too.
 
Ivan P said:
iPads are all factory unlocked, so a 3G model purchased from the US can be used in the UK too.
Click to expand...

I am now a very happy bunny... ;) I have 2 trips planned to the US in the next 6 weeks and depending on the announcement for a 3, looks like I will be getting an iPad from the US. I have an address where I can get stuff sent to too, so refurb might be an option (£460 64Gb 3G Wifi vs £600 for the same in the UK - refurb or £659 UK vs £525 US new).

Regards
 
I was assuming that the iPad 2 was like the iPhone 4S, with a radio built in that could do both Verizon or ATT.

----------

The unlocked GSM capability of the iPad would work better for me if I spent more time out of the country. My last trip out of the country was to Canada before the iPads were even rumored.
 
I got a prepaid contract with our local provider SoftBank in Japan. The iPads in Japan are sim-locked to SoftBank; no alternative allowed (Thank you Apple; very unfriendly)

But the good thing is that the prepaid account allow to stop automatic recharging each month what I did. Instead I got a WiFi router for NTT LTE Network. So why not just a WiFi iPad ? because on business trips to Switzerland I buy prepaid sim-cards and can use iPad with local networks over here. Very nice.

What I want to say: those mobile wifi router give you quite flexibility; you can connect also some friends or your laptop while on the road.
So if financially possible keep the unlimitted plan with new iPad 3 and add a LTE mobile router. On a side node: check the real transfer bandwidth i your area; I'm a bit unsatisfied with the LTE promise and LTE reality.
 
GLOC said:
This is sort of linked to a question I have about buying an iPad2 in the US for use in the UK but one of the answers above changes what I thought was the case re: 3G iPad2s

Can I buy a 3G iPad2 in the US and use it with a UK GSM network (O2, Vodafone etc) or is it locked to AT&T? I thought the latter.

Regards
Click to expand...

I'm here with a US model iPad 2 (MC773LL/A as opposed to MC773B/A). Inserted my O2, Vodafone and 3 microsims and all work fine. The US AT&T iPads are NOT locked (unlike their carrier provided UK counterparts!).

The ONLY thing is that they come with the US head for the charger as opposed to the UK head. If you already own some of these it's not a problem as all.
 
Reports here that ATT now has LTE SIMs, with speculation about the iPad 3 included, leads me to suspect that ATT may not support LTE on the existing SIMs. Such as the one I have with my iPad. If so, and I upgrade, I may be limited to 3G access even in the few areas that ATT has LTE coverage.

If this turns out to be true, I may just signup for Verizon for my iPad. Verizon supports LTE in my area. And when in a 3G area, though it is slower than ATT's, the other downside of it about no voice/and data doesn't apply for the iPad.
 
Not to steal anyones post, but i figured i would ask a question semi related to the topic. Now this maybe a really stupid question because i doubt it will work. But i recently purchased an incredible two, its a world phone so it has a verizon sim card not just remote activation on the phone like the others have... My question is this, if i were to take the sim card out of the phone, and put it into the verizon ipad... would it let me use the internet on it... Well a better question would be is if the sim card is easily accessible in the first place? I plan on buying an iPad in about a month or so (be it the 2 or whatever else is supposed to be launching soon). Thank in advanced guys.
 
My understanding of world phones from Verizon are that the SIMs are only of use outside the US. Such as in Europe. So would not be of any use in the US.
 
kevink2 said:
My understanding of world phones from Verizon are that the SIMs are only of use outside the US. Such as in Europe. So would not be of any use in the US.
Click to expand...

Except that the the iPads are generally not carrier locked.
 
kevink2 said:
My understanding of world phones from Verizon are that the SIMs are only of use outside the US. Such as in Europe. So would not be of any use in the US.
Click to expand...

I was also under the same assumption but...


Stetrain said:
Except that the the iPads are generally not carrier locked.
Click to expand...

Made me curious on if this could possibly work still in the US lol.
 
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