Tim SPRACKLEN said:Unfortunately not. The Verizon cell service uses a protocol known as CDMA and AT&T use the GSM standard. They are completely incompatible. In the US, Apple sell two different models of iPad with 3G - one is the AT&T model, that you have and the other is the Verizon model. They have different electronics inside them, so it's not possible to swap from one carrier to the other. You would literally have to change your iPad if you wanted to swap to Verizon.
Of course, you could just use your iPad on WiFi and not use the 3G feature - but I guess that's not what you want to do.
Tim
Zsara said:I have a blackberry storm that has a wifi option but that cost 25 dollar. I turned it off because I got it for when I was out in a very rural area where I have my boat slip in a marina. When we go to the boat we actually sleep on the boat and I wanted to have internet there. However we go mostly in the warm months and so I turned it off prior to getting my new iPad. I planned on using it with my laptop on the boat. That being said I never tested it before turning the wifi off by verizon due to non use. Verizon said i could have it turned on whenever i wanted. The only test I did was with my iPad a month ago to see if the iPad would pick up any signals. I got hits on the 3 hour trip to the marina but all required passwords. So I am still unclear the 3 g must only give limited internet? And it seems there is no way to avoid the fees lol am I right?
Zsara said:I have a blackberry storm that has a wifi option but that cost 25 dollar. I turned it off because I got it for when I was out in a very rural area where I have my boat slip in a marina. When we go to the boat we actually sleep on the boat and I wanted to have internet there. However we go mostly in the warm months and so I turned it off prior to getting my new iPad. I planned on using it with my laptop on the boat. That being said I never tested it before turning the wifi off by verizon due to non use. Verizon said i could have it turned on whenever i wanted. The only test I did was with my iPad a month ago to see if the iPad would pick up any signals. I got hits on the 3 hour trip to the marina but all required passwords. So I am still unclear the 3 g must only give limited internet? And it seems there is no way to avoid the fees lol am I right?
Just to be clear when I tested my iPad I didn't turn on my wifi via my cell phone.
Tim SPRACKLEN said:If the iPad has WiFi turned on then it will try to join any networks that it picks up - but if they're not free ones, you'll be asked for a password and possibly an encryption key. The iPad pops up messages on the screen asking you these questions. The iPad always uses WiFi in preference to 3G if it can but, if WiFi is not available, it will switch to 3G.
If the iPad goes in and out of 3G coverage - on your boat, for instance and the signal is intermittent you will move in and out of Internet access. But when the 3G signal comes back you don't get asked for a password.
So those requests you're getting are coming from WiFi networks and not 3G. The iPad should display the 'name' of the WiFi network it's picking up to help you recognise it.
Tim