iPad mini Sprint SIM in AT&T iPad Mini 2

[mobiletaylor]

I currently have an iPad Mini 2 on AT&T. I’m planning to switch data over to Sprint. I was going to purchase a new iPad Mini 2 for Sprint. However, after looking at the specs, it appears all the iPad Mini 2,s are the same? It’s just the SIM card that differentiates them? Is that correct?

If so, can I just get a Sprint SIM card and put it in this iPad Mini 2?

Thanks!

 

[Closingracer]

No I don't so since I assume it's sim locked as well

 

[solodogg]

technically, yes. But, Sprint locks their SIM cards to individual devices, so it won't allow you to activate it once you place it in the AT&T iPad.

You might try contacting Apple, and see if you can get someone to send you an Apple SIM. It would be able to be placed on a Sprint account, and is not locked to the device it's connected to. Not sure how it would work in a Mini 2 though.

 

[rigormortis]

if you you have an iPad air or its equivalent mini
which is ???? iPad mini retina???

sprint will activate your sim. but you must jump through their red tape and their ring of fire. they will ask for a receipt proving you purchased the iPad from the apple store.

call sprint first.
bring your iPad to a sprint store and see what they are willing to do.

they won't switch your device. i don't think its necessary. but they might be willing to sell you a sim that has already been activated.

sprint models of the ipad air and mini retina are supposed to only work on sprint, because they run special sprint software. but as far as the iPads go, sprint has been known to bend the rules and allow AT&T and verizon iPad airs on their network

you might have to show them a receipt proving you bought the universal part #

if sprint says you MUST trade in your device for a sprint model and you have an iPad air or iPad mini retina ( at least) walk away, and try a different sprint store. or hang up the phone and try to get a different representative

 

[mobiletaylor]

Thanks for all your help everyone!

I was going to test out Sprints network in my area by using Ting.com for a few months. They also require a Sprint SIM as they run on their network. But I could pay month to month for a bit to see how it works out. As I was reserving this, Ting.com announced they will be supporting GSM in February. The GSM network is much better in my area, so I checked to see if my AT&T iPad Mini 2 would work. Turns out it will be fine as long as I get a SIM card from Ting.com. I think I'nm going to try this to see how everything works.


My next question is about swapping AT&T SIM cards between iPads. The above iPad is on an AT&T unlimited data plan. I'm upgrading to the iPad Mini 3 and taking the unlimited data plan with me. My wife is getting the iPad Mini 2 with the Ting.com service as she doesn't use much data. So, can I just pull the AT&T SIM from my iPad 2 and put it in the iPad 3? I'd rather not use the new Apple SIM with AT&T as it will lock to that service. Would rather keep my options open with the new Apple SIM card. Can this be done? Maybe I should ask this in another post?

Thanks again!

JT

 

[rigormortis]

yes
you can freely move the AT&T sim from the iPad 2 to the iPad 3 no problem