All iPads Why carrier-specific cellular models?

I checked Apple's website. They are all the same version and all unlocked. A Verizon or AT&T iPad will work with T-Mobile and vice versa.

The different versions ship with the SIM card for the specific carrier. You can swap it out and put in another carrier's SIM.

 

I am trying to understand all this as well.

Why not buy the ATT or TMOBILE and then pick the plan that works?

 

They make you choose because they are not going to include 4 SIM cards with each iPad, that would be a waste of money.

 

How difficult to get a "new" sim for another carrier? T-Mobile to start, ATT later?

 

i have a att ipad min, i plan on getting a tmobile mini 2 and seeing how the free data goes, and then putting the nano sim from my att mini (company account) into my mini 2.

 

Depends on the carrier, AT&T is a piece of cake. Verizon very hard. Sprint I dare say impossible.

 

Why would it be a problem to get a SIM card from Verizon or Sprint? I cant imagine they'd turn away customers wanting to join their network.

 

It's gonna be a real hassle to get a prepaid iPad sim from a Verizon retail outlet. Google " need verizon SIM card for iPad " to see the complaints from Verizon users.

Read that you will have better luck calling verizon and asking for sim but a real pita trying to get one from a verizon store.

No experience with Sprint.

 

Apparently you can pick up Verizon sims on eBay for $5.00 that work.

 

But they do. LOL, at least if you think getting an iPad SIM is bad, try getting a Nexus 7 SIM. Verizon's official policy to to refuse because they haven't "tested" it (aka been paid by Google).

Sprint is even worse. At least Verizon reluctantly embraces SIM cards. Sprint uses them for Apple LTE devices and nothing else. Adding insult to injury, this is the first Sprint LTE SIM that *might* be swappable between devices. See, iPhone LTE SIM cards on Sprint do not have the CSIM application, meaning that unlike with Verizon, the SIM card isn't used for CDMA. This effectively eliminates the purpose of the SIM card.

I'm also going to be curious if the Sprint iPad is fully unlocked in normal iPad tradition, if it is it'll be a first for a Sprint device... ever.

 

I'd love to know as well. I plan on the ATT model due to their upcoming data plan addition (3 month) but I'd love to have a T-Mobile Sim to throw in for the free data. Can I get a spare one from Apple when I pick up my iPad? Or will a T-Mobile store give me one if I visit a store?