AT&T vs. China 3G

Question

Level 1

36 points

AT&T vs. China 3G

From searching in these forums, I'm not completely clear about two things:
1. AT&T's 3G, and thus what the iPad2 3G will have, is WCDMA, right?
2. My wife, who is from China, said that China Telecom uses that 3G system (I forget what it's called) that was invented in China, but the second-largest company uses CDMA, equivalent with Verizon's 3G network.

Ultimately, the immediate question is: My wife's niece wants us to by her an iPad2, and we're wondering whether any widely-available service in China will work with the iPad2 3G.

Mac Pro 2.8GHz 8 Xeon, MacBook Pro 17", iPhone 4, iPad 3G, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 6:32 AM

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Answer 1

mr88cet Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 11, 2011 2:17 PM in response to mr88cet

Sorry, regarding item #2 in my list: The last part was intended as a question: Am I understanding correctly that Verizon's 3G network is CDMA, or more to-the-point, that the iPad2's 3G is not CDMA?

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Answer 2

pvonk

Level 6

13,851 points

Mar 11, 2011 2:22 PM in response to mr88cet

There are two cell models for iPad 2: Verizon (CDMA) and ATT (GSM). You probably want the ATT version. This has a microSIM slot (in the US it comes with a sim) which is "connected" with ATT, but you can replace it with other GSM sim cards.

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Answer 3

mr88cet Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 12, 2011 6:19 PM in response to pvonk

Thanks for the reply.

So then given that the two largest carriers in China use CDMA and ... whatever that Chinese-born-and-bred system is called ... why buy the GSM version? Would it not seem logical to buy the CDMA version, connected through the Chinese carrier that uses CDMA?

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Answer 4

mr88cet Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 15, 2011 5:40 AM in response to mr88cet

Even though the second-largest cellular carrier in China uses CDMA, as does Verizon, all of the evidence suggests that the AT&T (GSM) version is the best bet for China. The reply here said that, and my wife found an account of trimming the width of some Chinese carriers' SIM card to fit the iPad (1)'s slot, and it working. So, that's what we bought for them.

I'm curious as to why buying the CDMA version wouldn't be more appropriate, but I'll nevertheless mark this question as answered.

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Answer 5

Apr 15, 2011 2:25 AM in response to mr88cet

This is the current situation in China:
- China Mobile (largest provider) uses CDMA
- China Unicom (second largest) uses 3G GSM

I live here in China and have ordered an iPad2 Wifi 3G (AT&T), because I plan to use it with a China Unicom SIM-card (3G). I'm very confident that it will work, because I am currently using a Hongkong iPhone 3G and have SIM cards from both providers. With China Mobile I can connect to the internet by EDGE, which is not very fast but good enough for emails and limited surfing. I don't see any problem that this should not work as well with an iPad 3G. If I put in my China Unicom SIM-card, the 3G sign will show up on my phone and I can surf at decent speeds (as for China).

Anyway, I recommend to use China Unicom if mobile internet is the priority. All my iPhone crazy Chinese friends are currently switching from China Mobile to Unicom... this should say something. I have heard some complaints about coverage of China Unicom, but if you stay in the big cities this shouldn't be an issue.

I will keep you guys posted as soon as I've tried it with my new iPad2!!

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Answer 6

alee22

Level 1

0 points

Jun 8, 2011 10:48 PM in response to mr88cet

3G services in China:

China Mobile = TD-SCDMA

China Unicom = WCDMA

China Telecom = CDMA (EDVO compatible)

China Mobile's 3G network has been horribly designed and poorly managed making it incompatible with ipad2, and works only on GSM and only compatible with AT&T version of ipad2

Currently China Unicom's service works for both roaming and for local subscriptions with the AT&T version of the ipad2. That said Unicom's 3G service is very spotty and often unreliable, but is really the only mass market option for local sim cards / use.

China Telecom CDMA works with Verizon versions when roaming in China. Best 3G service, pound for pound, is China Telecom, but right now 3G ipads are not being sold in China, which means China Telecom is not offering local plans (yet). Because the Verizon version of ipad2 dont carry a sim slot, you cannot get on to the network with roaming (which is expensive) until China Telecom supports and publishes the hack.

Although engineers in Guangdong branch of China Telecom hacked the Verizon iphone4 to get it onto their network, but so far no one has published a solution for the Verizon ipad2.

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Answer 7

Aug 10, 2011 5:08 PM in response to alee22

If I'm coming to Shangahai in September for a month and bringing my iPad2 with 3G - what are my options to get mobile data connectivity for 4 weeks? is there a reliable 3g sim card that can be purchased with a pay as you go plan rather than a contract..

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Answer 8

deggie

Level 10

167,177 points

Aug 10, 2011 5:38 PM in response to paulq_from_brisbane

When you get there I would check with a Unicom shop.

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Answer 9

kv1

Level 1

8 points

Aug 11, 2011 4:03 AM in response to pvonk

Thanks for your advice - this is exactly what I have been looking for.

I am also outside the USA, but family in the USA will buy me an iPad2 WiFi + 3G for use in my country (South Africa). I now understand that they have to buy me the iPad 2 64GB (my choice) with Wi-Fi + 3G for AT&T version (and NOT the Verizon Wireless).

All I need to do in my home country is to replace the AT&T Sim card with a micro sim card from a local 3G carrier.

One question: Can one buy an iPad 2 WiFi + 3G in the USA which is not Verizon or AT&T linked? Those are the only two possibilities on the Apple Onlne website?

If so, where?

Regards.

Message was edited by: kv1

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Answer 10

PogoPossum

Level 4

2,508 points

Aug 11, 2011 4:21 AM in response to kv1

The CDMA model will only work with Verizon, as I understand it - there is no SIM card and it is effectively locked.

The GSM model is not tied to ATT - it comes with a provided ATT SIM card, and in the US no other provider offers a data plan for it. However, you do not need an ATT contact to purchase it, the SIM card is replaceable, and it is not locked - so at any time you can switch to another GSM provider that offers a data plan.

So to answer your question, the GSM model is not truly linked to ATT - calling it the ATT model is more of a service to the many people who don't understand the difference between the two technologies and are looking for a then provider with better coverage inn their area.

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