can i use a bluetooth mouse with ipad

Looked like you were saying it wasn't possible. I'll cede that point to save an argument.

Apple "pimps" both AT&T and Verizon's plan for gaining access to 3G (still behind on your reading?) and they do not get anything for doing so. They have no revenue sharing plan with any provider whether it be on the iPhone or the iPad. You can keep your bridge.

@deggie

Yes, because the iPad is now sold on a verizon store. But they don't pimp Tmobile's plan or Clearwire's UNLIMITED wimax portable hotspot to go with their iPad.. Gee, I wonder why. 😀

That would actually be because they make a Verizon model iPad with an internal CDMA radio. You seem to be hung up on the word "pimp". You can put a cut down T-Mobile SIM in an iPad, it is not locked to AT&T, but since T-Mobile USA uses a different frequency for GSM 3G than every other provider in the world you would only be able to get EDGE speeds. I seriously doubt any reasonable person would pay $130 extra to get an iPad with EDGE speeds. And they also don't make a WiMAX model and it is doubtful they ever will since for 4G Sprint is going to dump WiMAX and go with LTE.

They have signed contracts with AT&T and Verizon is the only reason they sell models with the microSIM included. I believe they do the same with Vodaphone in the UK and other providers in other parts of the world. It isn't "pimping" it and it is no different than certain model cars offering Bose or Harmon-Kardon or other audio systems with their cars.

@deggie

Let's get back on point-- I know you're up to date with the news so hurray. As I said, you can tether the iPad to ANY phone as long as it supports bluetooth dialup networking. The reason why Apple doesn't do this (no DUN support on their bluetooth stack) is because they already have agreements with AT&T and Verizon to sell their plans instead. Allowing the ipad to tether internet connections to any carrier would hit their bottom line... this is why their bluetooth stack is crippled... no dun, no mouse support officially.

Now if you believe that Apple promote AT&T/Verizon plans for the "good and benefit" of their customers instead of getting money for it -- i.e. a capped AT&T plan is better than unlimited Wimax plan-- then good for you. You're apple's perfect sucker, err... customer.

At the end of the day, I'm watching Netflix movies using my wimax hotspot on my iPad, and you're worrying whether you've hit your bandwidth quota on AT&T. If you're happy with what you got and believe Apple gave you a fair deal, then more power to you. For others, there's jailbreak.

Actually now you are way off topic. Where did I say that Apple offers models of the iPad with GSM and CDMA (AT&T and Verizon in the US but remove the microSIM from the AT&T model and it will work with any GSM carrier anywhere in the world) for the "good and benefit" of the customer? They do it because they signed contracts with AT&T to offer the models and, in the case of the AT&T model, offer a free microSIM with it. It is more convenient to have the 3G internal and it also includes a GPS chip, something the WiFi model does not have. People who opt for a GSM iPad (remember, it is only AT&T in the states, it can also be Rogers and Telus in Canada, Vodaphone, O2, 3 and Orange in the UK and T-Mobile in Germany) do so because of convenience and not having to carry another device.

Glad to hear you are enjoying your Netflix movies with a Sprint WiMax hotspot, if that meets your needs you made the right choice. I still have the unlimited plan on mine and I'm definitely not one of the top 2% users so I won't be throttled anytime soon. You left out that Verizon will also have a capped plan and T-Mobile throttles. I'm quite happy with my plan and iPad, meets my needs. A good question will be how long Sprint will be the lone holdout with an unlimited non-throttled plan. I can guarantee it won't be available when they deploy their LTE 4G network.

If I could be a little nosy how much are you paying monthly for the Sprint WiMax plan and which model do you have? Also what is your real world battery life with it?

@deggie

Like I said, if you believe apple offers AT&T/Verizon plans because they made an "agreement" without any cash involved, I have a bridge for sale.

I said Clearwire, not Sprint. Go to clear.com for their plans and see for yourself. Their portable hotspot lasts 4 hours on battery -- real world as I watch episodes of 24 on it.

Sorry, Clearwire is also non-compatible and could sign an agreement with Apple to build a Clear iPad but given the low market penetration and the financial situation of Clear I doubt that is ever going to happen.

Apple does NOT offer an AT&T plan. Period. If you buy the GSM here at an Apple Store, like a lot of foreign visitors do, you can use the included tool remove the microSIM, fly back home to Germany, go get a T-Mobile microSIM and then you will be prompted to sign up with a T-Mobile plan. Does this mean that Apple is "pimping" these plans with more than 100 providers around the world?

Again, save your bridge, there is no way that Verizon or AT&T is going to share any money with Apple for data plans on the iPad.

@deggie

So you believe that Apple made iPads compatible with AT&T 3G and Verizon just because it's a Tuesday, not because of money.... had it been Thursday, they would've made them compatible with T-Mobile 3G. LOL!

Thanks.. I needed a good laugh. 😀

PS Here's some news that you didn't get. AT&T 3G is not compatible wih European/Asian 3G which runs on the IMT band (2100) while AT&T runs on PCS band (1900). So if you buy an "AT&T" iPad here in the US, you won't be running 3G in Vodafone UK. Not that this is relevant to the point, but you seem to like showing off your knowledge.

They don't make an AT&T 3G compatible iPad. They make a GSM 3G compatible iPad. They also make a Verizon CDMA iPad, a smart move since Verizon is the largest cell provider in the US. Never said they didn't make them because of money, of course they did, they want to sell as many as they can get. I said that they do not share revenue with any of the GSM providers around the world or with Verizon on monthly data plans.

PS: http://www.vodafone.co.uk/personal/mobile-internet/on-your-ipad/index.htm?cid=rd r-1746-01

@deggie

Now you're just being ignorant. Scroll to the bottom of this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands

Worldwide GSM 3G runs on 2100. 1900 for AT&T. 1700 for T-Mobile US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad#Technical_specifications

Note the HSDPA listing under WiFi+3g

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HSDPA_networks These are all the systems around the world the GSM iPad is compatible with

This is the last item under the United Kingdom in the above list:

"

Vodafone launched HSDPA services during the summer of 2006. Vodafone released their HSDPA laptop data card on 22 June 2006 and have speeds of up to 7.2 Mbit/s in central London and some airports"

Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole are we? :)

I never said 2100 ipads dont exist. I said the one you buy in the U.S isn't it. Those are 1900 ipads.

3g is umts. Hsupa/hsdpa/hspa+ are bridge technologies between umts and LTE. My 8 year old gsm phone is compatible with hsdpa so don't read too much into that.

Um, no I'm not.

And I'm aware of bridge technologies, yada, yada

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

Specifically:

So much defending..... and not constructive helpful stuff how to make a great device better for the end user. And Microsoft use to be "Big Brother"? Too many reasons trying to explain "why it doesn't" than "why doesn't it?" I thought that was the Apple innovation at heart, creating, innovating, not "it just doesn't, live with it!". I still believe they will, and are listening to the users that love there stuff.

@deggie

I click "View account" on my 3G iPad, and I see the AT&T Logo ("Rethink Possible.")

This is not an "AT&T iPad"? 🙂 You mean the logo will change to Vodafone when I insert a Vodafone UK simcard? Wonderful! Keep dreaming.

@skeezerweeezer

The way to make a great device better is to unlock it. Implement a FULL bluetooth stack with mouse/keyboard suppport, re-enable USB keyboard via the camera adapter, and make an iPad for every carrier, not just the ones Apple have an "agreement" with.