Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

U.S. Regional Carriers Gearing Up to Begin Offering Cellular-Capable iPad Air [Updated]

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,733
39,680



With the first round of launches for the iPad Air scheduled for next Friday, November 1, Apple will be expanding its carrier partnerships in the U.S. for sales of cellular-capable models to include T-Mobile for the first time. The expansion will, however, go even further, as several smaller carriers have announced today that they will begin selling Wi-Fi + Cellular versions of the iPad Air "in the coming weeks".

Mississippi-based C Spire, which became the first regional carrier to offer the iPhone in late 2011, is one of the carriers announcing iPad Air availability in the near future.
C Spire today announced that iPad Air with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be available on its 4G LTE network in the coming weeks.

C Spire will offer iPad Air with a range of attractive data plans that will allow customers to connect to its fast 4G LTE mobile broadband network with speeds up to 10 times faster than previously available.
Click to expand...
Kentucky-based Bluegrass Cellular has also sent out a press release announcing availability "in the coming weeks".

bluegrass_ipad_air.jpg

We have yet to see word from any other regional carriers about iPad Air availability, but we will update this post if more carriers do confirm plans to offer the device.

It seems likely that those carriers preparing to offer the iPad Air will also offer the iPad mini with Retina display, but Apple has yet to announce an exact date for the first wave of launches of that device. It is also possible that smaller carriers may see somewhat longer delays before they can offer the iPad mini, as supplies of the device are expected to be extremely tight into 2014.

Update: Alaskan carrier GCI has also announced plans to begin offering the iPad Air, as has U.S. Cellular. According to an email sent out today, U.S. Cellular, the fifth-largest carrier in the United States, will begin offering the iPad Air on November 8, the first concrete date release provided by a regional carrier.

Article Link: U.S. Regional Carriers Gearing Up to Begin Offering Cellular-Capable iPad Air [Updated]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/25/u-s-regional-carriers-gearing-up-to-begin-offering-cellular-capable-ipad-air/
I would love to know why there is no such thing as a cellular capable MacBook for MacBook air.
 
cameronjpu said:
I would love to know why there is no such thing as a cellular capable MacBook for MacBook air.
Click to expand...

Then they wouldn't sell many iPads, because a MacBook Air is better than a iPad in every way while it's just a little less portable.
 
Kobayagi said:
Then they wouldn't sell many iPads, because a MacBook Air is better than a iPad in every way while it's just a little less portable.
Click to expand...

Yet, some people prefer the ipad without cellular data over a Macbook Air. It's still twice as expensive when we look at basic configurations
 
I am really having a hard time deciding whether to get the iPad Air or not. I would really like one, but i don't NEED one. I need to save my money. :)
 
iPad Air said:
I am really having a hard time deciding whether to get the iPad Air or not. I would really like one, but i don't NEED one. I need to save my money. :)
Click to expand...

Considering your username, it would be weird for you not to have an iPad Air. You should get it for that reason alone.
 
OK, I'm stupid

I HATE to be stupid, but I don't even own a mobile phone (I know the NSA hates me), so...

If I buy an AT&T iPad Air can I still use it on Verizon's network with a SIM card change? I really just want a phone-version for the GPS chip, but you never know. I've read that iPads are "unlocked", but I'm not sure if any iPad can physically (has the right parts) be used on any network. The frequencies and stuff are different, but do the new iPads now have all of the bases covered?

Thanks.
 
NMBob said:
I HATE to be stupid, but I don't even own a mobile phone (I know the NSA hates me), so...

If I buy an AT&T iPad Air can I still use it on Verizon's network with a SIM card change? I really just want a phone-version for the GPS chip, but you never know. I've read that iPads are "unlocked", but I'm not sure if any iPad can physically (has the right parts) be used on any network. The frequencies and stuff are different, but do the new iPads now have all of the bases covered?
Click to expand...

Not a stupid question at all. The iPad Air and iPad mini aren't carrier locked, and there is only one LTE iPad Air model (A1475) and one LTE iPad mini Retina model (A1490) for all networks.

In the small print of the link above: 3. iPad models are unlocked and may support LTE networks outside the country of purchase when using a valid SIM from a supported carrier. Contact your carrier for more details.

Edit: I'm not sure I answered your original question. Let me try again...

You should be able to buy a nano SIM card from any of the listed carriers and simply sign up for service. The difference will mostly be in fall back speeds where LTE isn't available. The AT&T (and ostensibly T-Mobile) network will theoretically fall back to HSPA+ or HSPA "4G" speeds, while the Verizon and Sprint networks will fall back to "3G" CDMA speeds. Assuming the carrier you choose has solid LTE coverage in your area, it shouldn't be a huge deal.

Do be aware that Verizon has been known to kill the SIM card that comes with the iPad once activated, if it goes unused after a period of time (months?)... You would have to sign up for a monthly service plan of some type to get a replacement card. Ask me how I know...
 
Last edited:
cameronjpu said:
I would love to know why there is no such thing as a cellular capable MacBook for MacBook air.
Click to expand...

Because that only encourages the carriers into charging a per-device monthly fee for every phone, tablet, and computer you own?

Diode said:
No real point - just get a cheap cellular usb dongle.
Click to expand...

Or tether your LTE iPhone/iPad as a WiFi hotspot...

If I was only going to have one LTE device, I'd make it one of the credit-card sized MiFi devices that can tether any device over WiFi. A USB cellular modem only works for devices with a USB port (and comes with a supported driver, which has been an issue in the past for Mac users).

But I'd rather have an iPad mini Retina that I could use with any carrier with just a SIM card swap.

As always, YMMV.
 
Last edited:
cameronjpu said:
I would love to know why there is no such thing as a cellular capable MacBook for MacBook air.
Click to expand...

Because MiFi's are so much easier. Even the iPad makes a great MiFi.. Why add to the MBA's bulk and loose battery life? ack.. The MBA is ment to be a productivity powerhouse that is light and runs forever..:p

Might as well as ask why they don't include a CD/DVD rom, VGA or Ethernet port. :rolleyes:
 
Fresh Pie said:
Considering your username, it would be weird for you not to have an iPad Air. You should get it for that reason alone.
Click to expand...

Valid Point

----------
NMBob said:
I HATE to be stupid, but I don't even own a mobile phone (I know the NSA hates me), so...

If I buy an AT&T iPad Air can I still use it on Verizon's network with a SIM card change? I really just want a phone-version for the GPS chip, but you never know. I've read that iPads are "unlocked", but I'm not sure if any iPad can physically (has the right parts) be used on any network. The frequencies and stuff are different, but do the new iPads now have all of the bases covered?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


There is not a single thing wrong with not owning a mobile phone. That means a little less clutter in your life.
 
barkomatic said:
It's pretty easy to pick up a small dongle or some type of accessory from a carrier of your choice to connect a laptop over cellular though.
Click to expand...

Not easy enough. If they had a cell enabled COMPUTER, think of what Tmobile would do! Customers would be clamoring for the computer with free 200 mb of data a month.

Speaking of which I would also love to know why Apple isn't POUNDING Microsoft on the "newness" and strangeness of Windows 8 in TV ads ala the I'm A Mac ads.

People are literally scared of Windows 8, moreso than they were of even Vista. With Windows Vista, people had heard that it was bad, but didn't usually see it. With Windows 8, you can see from any ad or any new computer just how scary it is for the over 40 sector. Apple should be KILLING Microsoft on this. I tell my clients - Windows 8 is more different from Windows XP than any Mac has ever been from XP. Change is what people fear, why isn't Apple pointing out the drastic change in Windows?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back