iPad 2 (AT&T) and new iPad LTE

TooDarkPark wrote:

Verizon will unlock the GSM side for use only overseas. The GSM radio will not work in the US.

There are two iPad versions, one with Verizon and one for AT&T. Apple would not make you decide which version you wanted on ordering if they were not specific to each carrier.

Then is it the case where the AT&T version is also locked in the US and must be unlocked by AT&T's good graces for international use?

I thought iPhones were locked because they were subsidized with a contract. Why can I purchase an unlocked iPhone but I cannot purchase an unlocked iPad? That would be ridiculous.

Correct. They are not compatible with GSM carriers in the US, they are a differant frequency.

iPad LTE:

UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

iPhone 4S:

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

Are they different frequencies on the GSM level?

Different frequencies is an entirely different issue than locked/unlocked.

Rolo_DivA wrote:

TooDarkPark,

I can very well see this being the case. That would definitely explain why Apple lists those GSM bands under the Verizon model--it's for international travel, not using it on AT&T's network.

Some early reports that you can run AT&T's network on the Verizon iPad: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1341710

Yeah, I read that entire thread and honestly, I still stand by what TooDark said. I think the VZW model is meant to only be used by int'l GSM carriers. What people do with the device after going to a sketchy website and unlocking AT&T SIM cards is up to them. I'll keep an eye on MacRumors, however, to see if anyone posts any long-term results of doing this. It won't take AT&T long to figure out what's going on (not sure if they'll care). It should be noted that this was done with an AT&T iPad 2 SIM, so if you try to get away with just popping your iPhone micro-SIM into an iPad get ready to get some nastiness from Big Blue.

After reading that thread, I'm now just going to stick with the AT&T model. If I have to go rigging SIMs and messing with APN settings in order to get the VZW model to work on AT&T's 3G network, thanks but no thanks. I'd rather just stick with the (less congested and faster) AT&T LTE network. All of my regular traveling destinations are covered so the smaller LTE footprint turns out to be a non-issue; besides which, from what I understand AT&T's HSPA+ is still faster than VZW's 3G so when/if I'm out of LTE range, I'm still trucking along quite fine. (Still waiting on that tethering option, thought, AT&T!)

Thanks for the info, anthrovisual!

Ok, we can all stop guessing now. Apparently, it has been confirmed that you CAN use an AT&T micro-sim in the Verizon LTE iPad to access AT&T's 3G network. http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/16/new-verizon-ipad-runs-on-att-3g-networks-wit h-att-micro-sim/

Glad Apple didn't lock it to a carrier.

I knew it! It didn't make sense that they would "lock" it in the US for 3G when it's open internationally. That is awesome to hear... not entirely sure how I'll take advantage of it - other than to use up the remaining days of AT&T 3G service from my iPad 2 on my new iPad, but it's nice to have that option in case I end up somewhere where Verizon doesn't have 4G.

iPad works just fine internationally with a 'foreign' mini GSM. I've used Vodafone and TIM cards on the iPad while traveling in Italy. This was with the First Gen iPad. We'll see about the 3rd one.