I received an iPad2 as a gift. It says AT&T in the corner. I have Verizon as my wireless service. Can I swith this on the iPad? Or do I just buy the data plan from AT&T...without having them as a carrier? Please advise.

Thank you!

Totally separate. You can just get the plan monthly and cancel it any time, but it doesn't matter who your regular wireless carrier is.

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Sent from my iPad using iPF

The AT&T iPad has different innards from the Verizon iPad. You cannot use an AT&T iPad on a Verizon plan.

AT&T is GSM. Verizon is CDMA. If you want to stick with Verizon, best ask whoever bought you the iPad to do a return and buy a Verizon model.

Be aware if you do switch to a Verizon iPad that it doesn't have a sim card. The AT&T model does and is great for traveling and you can just swap out the sim wherever you travel to and stay connected with 3G. The choice is yours.

Sent from my iPad using iPF

If travel abroad is a concern, check which countries you visit mostly frequently against GSM. Some countries offer one or the other, or both. If you visit a CDMA-only country with a GSM iPad, you will need wi-fi or my-fi for access.

Originally Posted by 33gags33

I received an iPad2 as a gift. It says AT&T in the corner. I have Verizon as my wireless service. Can I swith this on the iPad? Or do I just buy the data plan from AT&T...without having them as a carrier? Please advise.

Thank you!

You can't change your iPad 2 service from AT&T to Verizon. You would have to exchange the AT&T iPad 2 3G + wifi for a Verizon 3G + wifi iPad 2.

Sent from my Tricked Out, Sparkly Pink Black Verizon 32GB iPhone 4 using iPF

If you need/want Verizon coverage and you're unable to return your AT&T model, you do have one other (albeit more expensive) alternative. Purchase a mobile hotspot device from Verizon with its own data plan and deactivate the AT&T data plan for your iPad. You can then use the iPad with the hotspot whenever you like. This does give you the option of 4G/LTE internet access, MUCH faster than the 3G alternative.

On the downside, however, the battery life of a hotspot is about 30-40% less than the iPad and the cost of a monthly contract for the hotspot is more than the native 3G plans available for the iPad, though the data ceilings are considerably higher and the per GB rate is lower.

Originally Posted by jsh1120

If you need/want Verizon coverage and you're unable to return your AT&T model, you do have one other (albeit more expensive) alternative. Purchase a mobile hotspot device from Verizon with its own data plan and deactivate the AT&T data plan for your iPad. You can then use the iPad with the hotspot whenever you like. This does give you the option of 4G/LTE internet access, MUCH faster than the 3G alternative.

On the downside, however, the battery life of a hotspot is about 30-40% less than the iPad and the cost of a monthly contract for the hotspot is more than the native 3G plans available for the iPad, though the data ceilings are considerably higher and the per GB rate is lower.

So this is like purchasing 4G wifi from Verizon? How is this different from having a device that is supposedly 3G only and unable to work with a regular 4G data plan?

Sent from my Tricked Out, Sparkly Pink Black Verizon 32GB iPhone 4 using iPF

Originally Posted by tlbaker

So this is like purchasing 4G wifi from Verizon? How is this different from having a device that is supposedly 3G only and unable to work with a regular 4G data plan?

Sent from my Tricked Out, Sparkly Pink Black Verizon 32GB iPhone 4 using iPF

Yes, it's exactly as if you purchase a 4G/LTE device (phone or hotspot). Since it is a hotspot device, however, there is no "voice" plan, only a data plan (although the device does have a phone number.) A "3G only" device such as an iPad or a 3G only phone will work fine with a 4G hotspot. It simply views the 4G hotspot as a wifi access point. I use my wifi only iPad with my 4G/LTE hotspot whenever I'm away from my home network. An iPad 3G would operate the same way. Simply use the wifi and don't activate the AT&T 3G data plan.

The confusion here may result from the term "3G only device." This phrase refers to the capabilities of the cellular radio in the device (i.e. iPad), not to the entire device. As long as an iPad can get a wifi signal, it doesn't matter whether the device providing that signal has a 3G capable radio, a 4G radio, or a wired connection. It's just a modem on one side and a wifi broadcaster on the other.

So, the bottom line is that you can assure yourself 4G access with your iPad (even if its technically a 3G model) by simply using a mobile hotspot. But also keep in mind that the cost of this option is significantly more than an iPad 3G data plan unless you use more than 4Gigs per month. That's the break even point (assuming you use your cell access at least to some extent every month.) Beyond that point, the 4G hotspot (or tethering to a 4G phone) is actually less expensive than the 3G iPad. Confused yet?