Are iPad 1st Gen's network locked?

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Are iPad 1st Gen's network locked?

Hi guys,

Bought an iPad 3G through a friend. I was under the impression that all 1st Gen iPads are not network locked i.e. you can use any of your country's carriers SIM card in it. My last 1st gen iPad I could and used O2, 3 and T-Mobile.

However, this iPad is showing up as No Service with all three and was just wondering how I would go about identifying the network required (if any) otherwise it seems to lean towards a faulty antenna.

Cheers..

PS I'm in the UK 🙂

iPad 3G, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Jan 10, 2012 2:36 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 10, 2012 3:02 AM in response to maxruddock12

No 1st Gen. IPads aren't locked so unless there's something in Restrictions I'd say you're right about the antenna.

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Answer 2

Jan 10, 2012 3:04 AM in response to maxruddock12

If purchased from a Carrier they can be locked to that carrier if they were bought under a promotion (partly subsidised by the carrier)

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Answer 3

maxruddock12 Author

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Jan 10, 2012 4:59 AM in response to paulfromathens

Any ideas how I would find out? Basically I get a signal when I pop my T-Mobile SIM in but really want to use my 3 SIM card. Have already booked a repair - pretty sure it said in Apple's keynote that all iPads are factory unlocked?

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Answer 4

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,507 points

Jan 10, 2012 5:34 AM in response to maxruddock12

They may be factory unlocked...however if you buy your iPad from the AT&T store then AT&T may have done something to keep you from using it on another network (not definitively saying that they have but it's possible)

Verizon is essentially locked because Verizon's protocol, CDMA just isn't compatible with many other carriers (they don't use the SIM card).

It's along the same premise that all DVD players are manufactured to be region free, however once it's determined what country they're going to then they are programmed to only one region.

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Answer 5

Jan 10, 2012 5:50 AM in response to maxruddock12

If you mean T-Mobile in the U.S., T-Mobile uses, as I recall a different frequency for their GSM than AT&T. Unlocked iPhones aren't completely supported. I'm not surprised that, even though AT&T iPads are unlocked and can easily be used in other countries, that they don't work with a T-Mobile SIM. T-Mobile is not a supported carrier.

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Answer 6

deggie

Level 10

167,589 points

Jan 10, 2012 6:21 AM in response to maxruddock12

You can call AppleCare and give them the model and serial number and they will be able to tell you if it is locked and who it is locked with.

@Skydiver119: No, AT&T did nothing to any iPads they sold (and still don't) and you can use them with any other compatible GSM cell data network.

To both you and Meg, the OP already mentioned O2 and 3 so I'm pretty certain he is in the UK so the T-Mobile USA frequency is not an issue.

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Answer 7

Jan 10, 2012 11:03 AM in response to deggie

deggie wrote:

To both you and Meg, the OP already mentioned O2 and 3 so I'm pretty certain he is in the UK so the T-Mobile USA frequency is not an issue.

Oops, missed the O2 reference. Thanks!

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