Difference between AT&T and Verizon iPad 4G

If you want the most flexibility you want the AT&T version. Since it's a SIM card setup, you can purchase it here and plug in the micro SIM from your home country with a data plan there and you should be good to go. Verizon will largely only work in the US on the Verizon network (there are some CDMA networks, but not many as I understand)

Probably true -- at least in the past the AT&T version offered more flexibiity with the SIM card setup. But reading the fine print on the Apple website about the new iPad (3rd Gen) it almost seems like the Verizon version also has a micro-SIM card? Guess I should call Apple to try to confirm ... if I can get an answer I'll post it here.

The new Verizon iPad will have a sim slot and will be useable on GSM networks as well as CDMA, per the Apple page.

Looking at the specs page, it seems both AT&T and Verizon share these network capabilities:

LTE 700, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Only AT&T model can connect on this network:

LTE (2100 MHz)

Only verizon can connect to this:

CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)

So the question is, which of these two choices is better for international roaming and other purposes?

This is the first iPad to offer both CDMA and GSM on Verizon. The following is based on my experience with Verizon's global Blackberries (CDMA/GSM) and my AT&T iPad (GSM).

If you travel internationally infrequently and for short periods of time (i.e., the annual two week vacation), you probably won't bother to go through the hassle of buying and swapping out the SIM for a country specific card. For short term use, the simple solution is either of the international roaming plans offered by AT&T and Verizon. The AT&T international rates are a little lower than Verizon's but I'd recommend Verizon if you have better coverage domestically with Verizon.

If you travel frequently and are likely to swap out the SIM, AT&T is your better bet. The extra LTE band is a plus. More importantly, their customer service folks have much more experience handling questions about GSM and international roaming. Verizon's business is mostly domestic and CDMA. They've offered a handful of phones with dual CDMA/GSM, but this new iPad will be their first major foray into GSM and international roaming.

As for CDMA coverage, that's useless in most of the world - except China. But, with CDMA, you're stuck with the Verizon international roaming rates unless you want to go through the hassle of opening a data account directly with China Mobile. China Mobile is Verizon's roaming partner in China, so either way, you're stuck with their funky version of 3G unless you switch to GSM and get a China Unicom sim (and you're back to AT& T because they have the experience with GSM).

We are going to Europe for 2 weeks. I have ordered the Verizon New ipad (3rd gen), and I own an AT&T Iphone 4s. This site rents SIM cards for what I would consider reasonable rates a day ($8.99/day for 1G and $13.99/day for unlimited). I am hoping I can get one SIM card to swap between my new Verizon ipad and my ATT iphone during the trip. This site is highly rated on the Flyer Talk blog.

So... I'm still trying to clarify if I could swap this card between these two devices. I may order one either way, just for the phone, but would love to use it in the Verizon ipad.

Forgot to list the site: http://www.iphonetrip.com/

From Apple's website, it is not clear if the Verizon 4G LTE version will be able to accept CDMA sim cards from abroad, such as China, Japan etc, but it will definitely able to use GSM sim card. At mimimum, the verizon version is more capable than the ATT verion abroad (as far as 3G network is concerned)

I just don't want to pay Verizon's roaming rates. Want to rent a SIM card in the country I'm traveling and drop it in. From what you're saying, and I'm reading, I should be able to.

CDMA is hard wired in, no SIM card, or at least that's always been my understanding.

I have not seen the new iPad for Verizon, but, in theory, that sim should work in both the AT&T phone and GSM capable Verizon iPad. I have swapped sims in my gsm att ipad with no issues. Call Verizon to double check. You may also need to have them unlock the device for international roaming. Ditto on the phone.

CDMA handsets used to be hard-wired and have no sim cards, but the situations are changing. In most Asian countries, CDMA phone also needs sim card. For example, the just annouced IPhone 4s for China Telecom (CDMA) is supposed to be Verizon iphone 4s, but it needs sim card to activate and work!

From what I read, Verizon 4G LTE may not accept ATT sim card (for 3G), but definitely will accept GSM 3G sim card from abroad, it may be simply a software lock ( and may be removed by future Jailbreak). At the moment, no information is available if CDMA sim card from abroad can be used in the Verizon 4G LTE

Re cdma sim - that is really interesting. I wonder if it is because there are multiple CDMA carriers, not just the one, like we have here.

China Telcom is the only carrier in China using CDMA protocol. Sim card based CDMA phone is the trend for CDMA world and it makes perfect sense. There is no logical reason why CMDA must be hard-wired!