Confirmed: iPad 2 will NOT be carrier-locked in Canada, or anywhere else

At first glance, wording on Apple's Canadian website would seem to imply that the iPad 2 will be carrier-locked in Canada. "The iPad model you purchase is specially configured to work with either Bell, Rogers, or Telus," the site states. "So while you don't have to activate 3G service right away, you should choose your iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G according to the carrier you prefer."

This had GigaOM up in arms claiming that the "iPad 2 is a step backward for carrier choice." The original iPad was never locked to any specific carrier, but GigaOM took the wording on Apple's Canadian site to mean that the iPad 2 would be locked to whichever carrier you chose when you bought it.

Let's be absolutely clear on this: just like the original iPad, the iPad 2 will not be carrier-locked in Canada, or anywhere else. If you buy the UMTS/GSM model of iPad 2 (known in the US as the AT&T iPad 2), you can swap out the iPad 2's micro-SIM and replace it with one from another carrier at your leisure. Unlike the iPhone, which usually is SIM-locked to a specific carrier and often requires a jailbreak in order to use it on a different carrier, the iPad and UMTS/GSM iPad 2 are both carrier agnostic out of the box.

Website iPadinCanada has confirmed directly with Canadian mobile provider Rogers Wireless that the iPad 2 will not be carrier-locked in Canada. The same site also confirmed the AT&T iPad 2 won't be carrier-locked to AT&T, as did numerous requests for info from Apple Experts, a CNET article on international roaming with the iPad 2, and my own phone call to Apple's US support center.

The only iPad 2 that is carrier-locked is the Verizon model, and it's only "locked" to Verizon because its 3G chipset won't work on a GSM network. If you buy the UMTS/GSM or "AT&T" model of iPad 2 on March 11, you will be able to use it almost anywhere in the world without having to worry about being locked to one specific carrier. It's unclear why Apple chose to word things the way it did on the Canadian site -- no other country's site contains similar verbiage, at least not in any of the languages I can read -- but both the Canadian carriers and Apple itself have confirmed that the UMTS/GSM iPad 2 won't be locked in to any specific carrier when you buy it.

Update -- Some more details on Canadian activation: Each Canadian carrier requires slightly different software (the carrier settings file). This update will not download over the air after swapping SIMs, and getting the new carrier settings file requires plugging the iPad into iTunes before its 3G service will be usable with the new SIM. Current iPads cannot connect to Canadian carriers until they are plugged into iTunes with a SIM installed and have the proper carrier settings file synced over through iTunes.

What's not clear is if this is a situation specific to Canada or not. I know I was able to switch SIMs between a New Zealand and Australian wireless provider without having to sync to iTunes before using my iPhone 4's 3G service, but this apparently isn't possible when switching between providers in Canada.

Apple's verbiage on its Canadian website seems to be addressing this limitation and attempting to avoid customer confusion by having iPad 2 buyers choose a carrier when they purchase the unit. The iPad 2 should ship to Canadian customers with a micro-SIM from their carrier of choice already installed, but the iPad 2 will not be locked to that specific carrier, despite what the somewhat confusing wording on Apple's site may appear to imply.

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Source: http://www.ipadincanada.ca/ipad-news/confirmed-ipad-2-3g-wil…

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At first glance, wording on Apple's Canadian website would seem to imply that the iPad 2 will be carrier-locked in Canada. "The iPad...

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Gopi_kv2004

I called AT&T sales team and apple sales team (1800-MY-APPLE) after iPad 2 released online orders at 4AM EST (Washington DC). Both strongly said that it will be LOCKED to AT&T.

What they say is, if u go overseas u need not pay AT&T for the duration u r away(pay as you go), but it doesn't mean that you can use any other carrier's micro sim for 3G(local or ibternational). Very sad news for me atleast, as I travel a lot and I don't want to stick to AT&T.

--
iPadist

March 11 2011 at 10:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

CDN_iPad

ok, I bought iPad first gen on launch day in Canada since I fly for a living, travelling to many places around the world (especially to the USA, South America, Europe and Asia). I was happy, at first, that the iPad is NOT carrier locked as this would allow me to buy local carriers' micro-sim cards, put them in and activate right then and there.

Well..... it's not a simple task, as Apple could have made this better.

Point in case:
travelling to the USA, (Florida) for 4 weeks vacation... Bought an AT&T micro-sim card from eBay before hand. Since I now own an iPad, I don't want to carry with me my MacBook Pro when I travel.... but first problem is, you need to sync your iPad when inserting a new carrier card into iPad. DUH!!! Without my laptop, no can do.
Second problem.... if you want to get the AT&T iPad plan, you need to sign up with a US based and addressed credit card. DUH!!! I'm Canadian with a CDN credit card and address.

So, technically, the iPad is not locked to any specific carriers, but..... I still can't take my iPad with me when I travel and simply sign up with a local carrier wherever I happen to be. VERY FRUSTRATING as one of the main reason I bought an iPad was to travel with it instead of carrying my laptop.

Because of this annoying inconvenience, I will not be buying the new iPad2 or any other versions of it until Apple simplifies this whole process by eliminating the need to also bring along a laptop to access my iTunes account.

Yes, I have read some of the workarounds to this by buying a pre-paid credit card at Walmart, then using a friend or relative's address in the USA for billing purposes, etc.... This SHOULD NOT BE so complicated and involve workarounds.

Love the iPad.... but it looks like it's only to be used in your own backyard (country)

March 07 2011 at 4:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Robert

They are most likely referring to the SIM card that comes pre-loaded in each iPad. If you want to buy a 3G iPad and sign of for Rogers service it would be a pain to walk out of the Apple store with an iPad that had a Bell or Telus SIM card in it.

March 07 2011 at 12:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jacob Varghese

So if it's not locked, I should be able to use the CDMA version on other US CDMA carriers. Sprint?

March 06 2011 at 11:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kuma

Let's be absolutely clear on this: just like the original iPad, the iPad 2 will not be carrier-locked in Canada, or anywhere else.

Let me be absolutely clear on this: You are wrong!! The iPad is locked up tighter than a nun in a medieval chastity belt in Japan. Locked to Softbank.

March 06 2011 at 8:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Kuma's comment

figshta

Yes iPad is locked in Japan. I think is was the last big reward for Mr. Son for his support with the iPhone 3G launch in Japan. IPhone success in Japan was a big deal for Apple and he held the door open...

Apple's Japanese site says nothing about it yet so, we don't know if iPad 2 will be locked or not. My admittedly optimistic guess is no, it will be unlocked.

The reason is that competition is heating up and Apple would probably want to secure their advantage in the Japanese electronics market where consumers are famously loyal to domestic brands.

March 06 2011 at 9:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jessie

I could be mistaken but I think what they're getting at is make sure you choose a gsm model if you are planning on using rogers, and (in manitoba at least) choose a cdma model if you plan on using telus or mts....

March 06 2011 at 7:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

djgigante

That's a pretty damn cool picture. Canadian goose - right?

March 06 2011 at 6:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to djgigante's comment

Chris Rawson

Honk! Honk! Honk!

Er, I mean, yes.

March 06 2011 at 7:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bryan

What about in Japan, where the original iPad IS locked?

March 06 2011 at 6:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to Bryan's comment