American iPad in Europe?

Using a US iPad in Europe is no problem. If you are looking for wifi models only, there is no difference.

If you are looking at the cellular version of the New iPad, you have two choices - Verizon or AT&T. Both will work with 3G networks in Europe - but for some reason the only one available internationally (so far) is the AT&T model.

With iPhones, I believe that the warranty is only good for the country the phone was purchased. I don't think this restriction holds with the iPad, but you might want to check.

You can use the American iPad in Europe, but the 4G model uses different frequencies than the European countries so that access will not likely be available.

The charger is rated 100-240 volts so all you need is a plug pin adapter for the European sockets.

I have never heard that before...there have been a lot of users on here in the past who bought iDevices in one country and used them in another. You can try contacting Apple customer service to be sure:

http://www.apple.com/contact

PelleHK wrote:

Thanks for your answers.

I just called Apple customer service, and the guy explained that i still get the 1 year hardware warranty here in Denmark, even if i buy the iPad in america. Pretty neat.

He also confirmed that the AT&T and the Verizon iPad are actually two different iPads. One of them has a "built-in SIM-card", and the other one doesnt.

So you just need to look if there is a SIM-card slot on the New iPad - if there is, then you're good to go to Europe! 🙂

You got incomplete information. Both the New AT&T and Verizon iPads take a 3G sim card and have a sim card slot. Both will work on European 3G GSM networks.

The customer service rep was likely familiar with and telling you about the iPad2 rather than the New iPad.

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

Try this knowledge base pagefor a service support number in your country, or you may need to contact Apple in the US to get service. The Apple warranty is generally stated to be universal on all items except the iPhone. So try the support number instead of the Apple retail store and see if that helps. You may need to send it back to the US but they should be able to tell you.

You can, but if you live in Europe you'd probably be better off buying locally. Service can be slightly more complicated than it needs to be otherwise.

The iPads are not locked to a carrier so you can switch sim cards. If 4G and LTE do not matter to you then the frequencies should not matter.

You need an address and credit card registered in the country where you buy your apps and music, but you do not have to have a US Apple ID to purchase in Europe. In fact, a US credit card and address will prevent you from purchasing in Europe or anyohter country.

PelleHK wrote:

He also confirmed that the AT&T and the Verizon iPad are actually two different iPads. One of them has a "built-in SIM-card", and the other one doesnt.

So you just need to look if there is a SIM-card slot on the New iPad - if there is, then you're good to go to Europe! 🙂

For full compatibility with European GSM networks I strongly recommend you go with the at&t version.

As to your question about the App Store access, no, you don't have to have an account on the US App Store to purchased apps. You will be able to log into your "store of record" in Denmark, with your iTunes Store ID, on an iPad bought in the US.

I'm trying to set up my Verizon iPad account for a European trip that starts tomorrow. I've been on the phone with Verizon for 90 minutes for a process that took four minutes with my AT&T account iPad 2. What Verizon requires is that I change from a pre-paid to a post-paid domestic account in order to even start the process of arranging for International service. They are going to charge an "International roaming fee" (probably the same $5 that they are charging my phone) and then offer three packages of 50 Megs, 150 Megs, and 300 Megs for $30, $75, and $125 respectively.

Honestly, it seems that this is really out of their comfort zone because the first six reps I spoke with didn't even know that the new iPad could be used in Europe. So far I have to say that I was far more comfortable with AT&T's expertise in handling these issues. Presumably that also reflects in their business relationships with the service providers in various European countries.

What I didn't research, and now regret not doing so, is simply changing micro-SIM cards once I get there. Is anyone familiar with doing this to an iPad? I assume that this is not "jailbreaking" the iPad, but merely allowing for a more reasonably priced in-country service.

The iPad is unlocked - do you have the new iPad or the iPad 2? With the iPad 2 you will have to go through Verizon (I don't think there was a sim tray on the iPad 2 VZW), but with the iPad 3rd generation you can just remove the Verizon micro-sim and put in a local sim.

Josh

In Europe, there are prepaid data micro-SIMs available with 256MB to 1 or 2GB data traffic limit at certain locations (use the internet to find out). The cost is quite reasonable, somewhere from 20 to 50 EUR, depending on the carrier. Some also allow "re-charging" with your credit card.

Do not use international data roaming, this can be quite expensive.

Christian is right. I just got a MicroSIM card at LHR (Heathrow) that will allow me today's usage and an additional week after I return from Paris. All for £10,8p. I chose the most knowledgeable staff member and he had it set up I three minutes.

I was going to purchase the American based roaming plan as an interim solution, but fortunately never got to it before I left. In my case I have a new iPad (are we allowed to say, "iPad three.") with Verizon service domestically. Using a T-mobile card here. I understand that it is not the best, but I'll report back as to whether it does the trick.

PelleHK, you have to use some flavor of SIM card installed in your iPad to begin to utilize the Cellular capabilities. If your question is aimed at the specific mention of a "microSIM" that is because the iPad uses a SIM that is slightly smaller than those SIM's that populate cell phones

What I (and others on this thread) have found out is that it makes a lot more sense to actually remove the domestic SIM (whether it is Verizon or AT&T) and replace it with a SIM that is native to the country or region that you are visiting. It seems that the best deals are reserved for those people who can show (or fake) residency. (See earlier in the thread) It may also be that if you were to research prices for micro-SIM cards available in Denmark and count on using the best deal, you may not be able to actually buy that SIM card unless you can provide a Danish address (and possibly a Danish based credit card as another poster pointed out.) But in answer to your original question, it certainly appears that you can buy the iPad anywhere and then purchase local microSIM cards to give yourself the best deal. Christian's comment about International data roaming holds true for ANY cross border roaming, even companies like Vodaphone and T-Mobile who have operations across many borders. It still seems that purchasing individual SIM's in each country might make a lot of sense, and is not that hard to do.