Factory unlocked iPad?

True, technically the iPads are "unlocked" BUT..... I bought mine in Canada and wanted to use it while in the US on vacation. I could not activate an AT&T micro sim card because, in order to activate, you need to do it through iTunes.... and because my iTunes account is a "Canadian" one, using a Canadian credit card and mailing adress..... I could not just buy a "local" micro sim GSM card, pop it in and activate 3G connectivity.

Sure, they say the iPad is NOT locked to any carrier, but good luck trying to use 3G outside your own country!
To connect via cell network outside Canada, I would have to pay the ridiculously high roaming rates of our lovely oligopoly service providers.

For this reason, I discourage my friends from buying a 3G version ( unless they'll only use it within Canada)

Jailbreaking and unlocking are two different things although related. One is to add unauthorized programs and the other is to allow alternate carriers. To unlock you need to JB first.

This doesn't mean I support following this practice, I'm just outlining the difference for you.

Very interesting. Could you figure out an alternative like creating a US iTunes account and not performing a sync (to keep your apps)? I know that by calling AT&T then can override certain "checks and balances" on an account. I had them do that for me when I was having account problems.

Actually it's unclear whether the U.S or Canadian iPad 2s w/ 3G are unlocked. If you look at the iPad 2 3G info pages on the Apple's European country sites vs. Canada and U.S. the wording is quite different.

*Europe (UK by example):* +To enable 3G service on your iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G, you need a micro-SIM card and a data plan. A number of carriers offer no-contract data plans for iPad, and you can activate 3G service anytime after installing the micro-SIM card; some plans can even be activated right on the iPad. Micro-SIM cards are available from the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores and directly from carriers; contact your carrier for details.+

Canada: +If you decide on an iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G, be sure to select the model that corresponds with the carrier you’d like to use for 3G service. The iPad model you purchase is specially configured to work with either Bell, Rogers, or Telus. So while you don’t have to activate 3G service right away, you should choose your iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G according to the carrier you prefer.+

U.S.: +If you decide on an iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G, be sure to select the model that corresponds with the carrier you’d like to use for 3G service. The iPad model you purchase is specially configured to work with either AT&T or Verizon — not both.+

The European verbiage is clear: stick in the SIM of the carrier of your choice. However, the wording on the Canadian site seems to imply that it's carrier locked. All 3 Canadian carriers are GSM. The U.S. site is rather ambiguous because ATT is GSM and Verizon is CDMA, so it makes sense you have to choose one carrier or the other. However, Apple neither states nor implies that the ATT GSM version is carrier unlocked, only that it works with ATT.

Based on this I think it's premature to state the U.S. GSM model is unlocked. It may or may not be, but until Apple clearly states this as fact or a trusted reviewer tests this functionality we do not know.

You have a good point here. Here is another angle.

I buy the AT&T iPad in the US. I wait until i get home. I connect it to my Swedish iTunes. Or just "download" a new 4.3 software and install it. It do say that its support Swedish. Which is the language i will use. Will the iPad 2 just neglect my installation or sync with Swedish iTunes?

Is the iPad 1 working with other carriers? That should answer our questions.

Reason for me to buy it in the states is that its a lot better priced for me and i get it faster. I didnt go with iPad 1, so i dont know how it worked with that one..

Anyone that knows?

Thanks for help.

I have asked one my relative to buy an ipad 2 for me from US. I selected the 16gb wifi + 3g version, do I need to unlocked it before using in India or it will start working with my local 3g sim?