Is the iPAD 3G really locked to AT&T & can I use a US 3G iPAD in EU?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Is the iPAD 3G really locked to AT&T & can I use a US 3G iPAD in EU?

I will leave the US in May to move back to my home country, the UK. I would like to buy an iPAD 3G from the US before I leave since I had heard it was not locked to AT&T & I could simply replace the AT&T micro sim card with a micro sim card from one of the EU iPAD 3G providers (such as Orange). Is this true & should I buy in the US. An Apple store worker told me that the US iPAD 3G will be locked to AT&T & therefore I should buy it in the UK when released. There seems to be much confusion on whether the iPAD is truly locked to AT&T or not. Thanks for any help or clarification here.

iMAC, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Apr 19, 2010 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 19, 2010 6:50 PM in response to Gordo9

Call 1-800-APL-CARE. They will give you the right answer.

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Answer 2

Gordo9 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2010 9:15 PM in response to Merged Content 1

I did & got confirmation - the iPAD is LOCKED to AT&T in the US.
Best to buy one in the UK!!!

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Answer 3

Apr 20, 2010 9:20 PM in response to Gordo9

Thanks - should I get another i'll have to get it there. Then I can use Orange and the like?

yes?

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Answer 4

Ashka

Level 4

3,885 points

Apr 20, 2010 9:28 PM in response to Gordo9

The US 3G iPads have an ATT sim card inserted.
I will be buying one from the US and will remove the micro sim card with the included sim card remover that is in the iPad box.
A new micro sim card (and data plan) will be purchased locally and inserted.
A local plug will also be used for the charger 🙂
Have fun.

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Answer 5

Apr 29, 2010 2:24 AM in response to Gordo9

Just spoke to apple and the ipad will NOT be locked to any network that is y they r using micro sims

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Answer 6

Apr 29, 2010 4:33 AM in response to Gordo9

Gordo9 wrote:
I did & got confirmation - the iPAD is LOCKED to AT&T in the US.
Best to buy one in the UK!!!

The iPad is NOT locked to AT&T. It uses the bands that AT&T uses so it is effectively locked to AT&T in the US. You can get a microsim from another country and use the iPad there with no issues (once they support the iPad that is).

Glor

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