Hi I'm looking to buy a USA 3G iPad am I able to put my uk sim in and this will work?

Sorry u prob heard this 100 times but iv searched and cannot get a straight answer x

Originally Posted by Michelle Scotland

Hi I'm looking to buy a USA 3G iPad am I able to put my uk sim in and this will work?

Sorry u prob heard this 100 times but iv searched and cannot get a straight answer x

Welcome to the Forum. I hope you enjoy your time here.

If you're going to buy an iPad in the USA and then use it in the UK there are a couple of things you need to be aware of: -

(a) In the US there are two different 3G models available - the AT&T and the Verizon (these are US carriers). Only the AT&T iPad will work in the UK.

(b) You need to 'initialise' your iPad 3G data service in the US before returning to the UK. You can do that by purchasing a pay-as-you-go SIM in the US and then using the iPad temporarily there. Once you get back to the UK you'll be able to remove the AT&T SIM and put in a UK SIM and they'll be no problem. But you do need to do this step. You won't be able to use the iPad in the UK with a UK SIM card unless it's been 'initialised' in the US.

(c) If you're trying to do a price comparison with purchasing an iPad in the US or the UK, remember that, when you return to the UK you'll have to pay 20% VAT and Import Duty when you come into the country. You'll have to exit via the 'Red Channel' and you'll need to present the receipt for the iPad and then Customs and Excise will charge you there-and-then the appropriate taxes.

Other than that, you'll have no problems. Apple have a world-wide service network should you encounter any problems and your warranty will be valid in the UK.

I hope you enjoy your trip to the US and that you have a great time with your iPad. Stick around in the Forum and tell us of your experiences in purchasing your iPad in the US.

Tim
Scotland

Hold on I brought an iPad to my cousin last summer, and some how he used it in Russia with 3G. He hadn't an AT&T sim. How?

Originally Posted by gray_mouse

Hold on I brought an iPad to my cousin last summer, and some how he used it in Russia with 3G. He hadn't an AT&T sim. How?

Several possibilities - which country was the iPad purchased in? If it was, for example, bought in the UK then it is not SIM-locked and you could use it in Russia without any problem.

The iPad might have been initialised in the US, if that's where it was purchased (I've seen your other posts) - by inserting an AT&T SIM.

I've seen your post about using your iPad in Russia - have you tried putting a local SIM in? If it worked for your cousin, why do you expect to have any problems yourself? Were your cousin's iPad and the one that you have now bought in different countries?

Tim
Scotland

USA never initialized. I'm gonna cut a sim today and stick it in to test.

Originally Posted by gray_mouse

USA never initialized. I'm gonna cut a sim today and stick it in to test.

It will be great to hear how you get on because several members have been having problems with this...would appreciate it if you keep in touch.

Many thanks

Tim
Scotland