iPad and international carriers

[Doju]

3 questions:

1. How will the iPad work in a country with more than 1 national carrier that supports the iPhone? In Canada all of our biggest carriers support the iPhone. Will the iPad be exclusive to one? If it's not exclusive, can we just jump from carrier to carrier every month?

2. Apple set the bar really high with this phenomenal AT&T pricing. Are we getting the same deal internationally? I'd be very annoyed to have paid another $130 for the 3G and then get plans that are like $50/mo for 5GB. That wouldn't be fair.

3. What if it's only exclusive to one carrier, and they don't let us know in the beginning. Rogers in Canada could offer a plan for $5 and I still wouldn't buy it as their coverage is pathetic in anything other than big cities.

 

[melman101]

3 questions:

1. How will the iPad work in a country with more than 1 national carrier that supports the iPhone? In Canada all of our biggest carriers support the iPhone. Will the iPad be exclusive to one? If it's not exclusive, can we just jump from carrier to carrier every month?

2. Apple set the bar really high with this phenomenal AT&T pricing. Are we getting the same deal internationally? I'd be very annoyed to have paid another $130 for the 3G and then get plans that are like $50/mo for 5GB. That wouldn't be fair.

3. What if it's only exclusive to one carrier, and they don't let us know in the beginning. Rogers in Canada could offer a plan for $5 and I still wouldn't buy it as their coverage is pathetic in anything other than big cities.

Sadly I don't think anyone can definitively answer your questions at this moment.

1. I would say it's not exclusive but rather dependent on which carriers get their Microsims first.

2. Your carrier would set that price I would guess. Some iPhone plans in other countries aren't as great as AT&T's price. I would best guestimate that it will be the same prices as your iPhone's data plans.

3. They will let you know which carrier it will be. And i'm sure it will be unlocked. Again this is dependent on which carriers get Microsims first .

 

[avaloncourt]

1. I would say it's not exclusive but rather dependent on which carriers get their Microsims first.

That's the big hang-up to be sure. Presently no Canadian carrier has microSIMs. After you clear that hurdle you end up with the issue that Canadian carriers have never been known for decent data pricing. It's either too little data or too high of a price.

 

[Chundles]

The iPad 3G is sold unlocked.

You can purchase one anywhere and as long as your choice of local carrier has microSIM cards available it will work. Just buy the SIM, pop it in, activate the plan on the iPad and away you go.

The iPad 3G is only exclusive to AT&T in the US in the sense that they're the only network with microSIMs and the network frequency to support the iPad.

Down here in Australia all of our networks have the iPhone (and we can purchase outright, unlocked direct from Apple) so we will have the choice of any carrier - they just need to get the microSIM cards up and running.

So far, no news on that front....