philltx

I'm taking my ipad2 to taipei. do i need to worry about having it unlocked to be able to use a pre-paid sim card for data? could someone please confirm this?

thanks in advance

pdxer

ipads are unlocked.

Danthecran

As pdxer said all ipads are unlocked but make sure you have the AT&T version if you want to use the GSM network.

adambadam

Yes, good point, the Verizon iPad will not let you easily switch in a new SIM card when you travel abroad as it does not even have a SIM slot, I believe, as it works on the CDMA network.

BonzoESC

No SIM, and I don't know if you can get it reprogrammed to work on foreign CDMA networks.

jdn

Please note the iPad uses a "MicroSIM" which has a different form factor than a regular SIM. The technology is the same, and apparently you can just cut a regular SIM to fit... just be prepared.
http://www.solutios.com/simcutting/

Sierra Kilo

Yes, you can try the DIY approach to cutting down a SIM card, or get a ready-made cutter on Amazon (which is what I used to make my US T-Mobile card work in my unlocked iPhone 4).

Fact is, since the iPhone 4 uses microSIMs and iPads are getting rather ubiquitous globally, it's not difficult to find prepaid microSIMs ready to drop in your pad in many countries.

I don't have any experience with this in Taiwan, but I've found these in Singapore, UK, Netherlands and Bahrain so far. With luck, you can probably get one from a mobile operator at the airport.

N1120A

The one issue with the GSM version you have to look out for - make sure the local 3/4G network is on the same bands as AT&T. T-Mobile has the superior network, but iPhones/iPads are not on their bands and will only work up to EDGE speeds.

Big_Dutch

1) The iPad and iPad 2 don't work on a 4G network. Also, it supports all global 3G bands, UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Its not a factor of a different frequency with T-Mobile (they also transmit on 1900 and 2100 MHz, but rather use a different protocol HSPA and HSPA+.

2) Did you seriously just write that with a straight face?" I'm quite the ATT basher myself, but that assertion is just asinine. There is a reason ATT is buying T-Mobile and not the other way around.

Easy Victor

No. Not possible. GSM uses completely different circuitry than CDMA.

Danthecran

That is correct, so if you have the verizon ipad you will not be able to use it on most of the networks in the world.

juelzkellz

The AT&T version is GSM and therefore carrier unlocked. The Verizon version is CDMA and not unlocked. If you want the unlocked version, go with the AT&T version.

marktwothousand

Its unlocked but you MAY need to connect it to iTunes with the SIM card of the carrier you want to use before it will work. That is because in some cases, the iPad will keep the APN settings (those are the settings used to connect to the internet) of the SIM card you activated it with.

If you don't, you should get the APN settings for your preferred carrier and be prepared to enter them manually in the iPad for it to work, if that is an option for you in network settings.

You can also go to www.unlockit.co.nz and email the carrier profile to yourself, and make sure to open the email with the profile right away (but do not install the profile) so you can access it without being connected to the network if needed, to install the profile of the carrier of your preference.

ghfatw

Also:

1. carry a paper clip or pin with you so you can easily switch SIM cards.
2. plan how/where you are going to safely store the SIM cards you are not using (I typically have about 10 with me when I travel)