iPad 3G works on T-Mobile, can be hacked to send text messages

Here's a pair of interesting iPad 3G hacks for your lazy Sunday -- first, Apple's tablet is apparently unlocked out of the factory, so trimming a T-Mobile SIM to micro SIM size will get you up and running on EDGE with no further hassle. Not terribly useful in the States, but good news for Europeans who'll have several carrier options right out the gate. Secondly, MuscleNerd of the Dev Team has discovered it's apparently possible to send text messages from a jailbroken 3G iPad using a T-Mobile or non-iPad AT&T SIM -- the stock AT&T SIM restricts SMS and calls, apparently. Check videos of both hacks after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[thisisit Posted May 2nd 2010 3:54PM]

Nice!

[ac2913 Posted May 2nd 2010 3:57PM]

@thisisit

ew ur avatar hahaha

[fowenati Posted May 2nd 2010 4:16PM]

@thisisit
please change your avatar. Being the first comment, i have to burn my eyes when i scroll down. Megan Fox would be a nice alternative :)

[Stevenk Posted May 2nd 2010 4:22PM]

@thisisit Yes, PLEASE change your Avatar!

[StewieGriffin Posted May 2nd 2010 5:09PM]

@thisisit puke!!! can someone pass me an ipad!

[AppleDrank Posted May 2nd 2010 5:33PM]

@thisisit

How the fak is this important?

The thing was unlocked anyway

[phoomp Posted May 2nd 2010 6:35PM]

@thisisit
They probably thought they could use the micro-SIM as a hardware lock.

Cue a software lock in the first update.

[rutter9 Posted May 2nd 2010 6:35PM]

@AppleDrank

You can use google voice with itim for free text messaging. For calls you just need voip.

[Kiron Posted May 2nd 2010 6:47PM]

@AppleDrank

Sim unlocked, but only supports ATT 3G bands in US, which is the same thing as locked for Americans.

[think before you react Posted May 2nd 2010 6:48PM]

@phoomp
actually Apple unveiled it as unlocked. All you need is a micro sim.

Also, no hack is needed to txting- just get whatsapp messenger or some other messaging srvc. Now u hve txting.

[blenderman345 Posted May 2nd 2010 7:29PM]

@AppleDrank : The thing is, T-Mobile doesn't make micro-sims, and what has been done is that the T-Mobile SIM Card has been cut, trimmed, if you will, to microSIM size.

[felipedeeznuts Posted May 2nd 2010 7:34PM]

@thisisit is that your lady? I frakkin' hope not, for your sake.

[liekalopt Posted May 2nd 2010 9:08PM]

@phoomp Actually musclenerd has also released a jailbreak for the ipad. And that one has a cydia. Impressions. http://j.mp/ipad-jailbreak-reactions

[deliteguy Posted May 2nd 2010 9:30PM]

@Kiron
T-mobile can be better, since you could possibly use the $10 data plan:) .... and steve jobs thought $30 was a good deal.

[salochoa Posted May 3rd 2010 1:18AM]

@fowenati "please change your avatar. Being the first comment, i have to burn my eyes when i scroll down. Megan Fox would be a nice alternative :)" I was laughing so hard, I cried...haha.

[AlfaCat Posted May 3rd 2010 5:20AM]

But is it still magical if you use it with an operator not approved by Steve?

[ThEuNdYiNg1 Posted May 3rd 2010 7:17PM]

@rutter9
and a microphone of course

[Dpierre Posted May 2nd 2010 3:56PM]

But can it make calls?

[elvinu Posted May 2nd 2010 4:04PM]

@Dpierre Via Skype? Yes. ..i think

[packy17 Posted May 2nd 2010 4:12PM]

@Eli Haj

I'm pretty sure you could use the iPhone headphone/mic thing. I'm sure that's what anyone with any sense would do if this thing is hacked to make calls. That, or a bluetooth headset.

[mariocdl Posted May 2nd 2010 4:16PM]

@Dpierre it would be like holding an Ngage to your face all over again :)

[r3loaded Posted May 2nd 2010 4:18PM]

@Eli Haj That's straight out of Trigger Happy TV! :D

[Dpierre Posted May 2nd 2010 4:38PM]

I was just joking...I have a phone to make calls *and* send SMS. I played with the ipad in the store the other day and walked away full of "meh". There's a lot of potential for next gen ipads though, and I may still buy one for my mom.

[Dpierre Posted May 2nd 2010 4:40PM]

*off topic* whatever happened to trigger happy tv?? Is it still on??

[DoctarPeppar Posted May 2nd 2010 5:01PM]

@Dpierre
Hopefully someone will figure out how to make gsm calls from this using either speakerphone or a bluetooth or USB headset.

[proffesoranator Posted May 2nd 2010 6:02PM]

@Dpierre

i dont know but i already got pants with big enough pockets for it, so it will be both my phone and computer.

[Dsi2play Posted May 2nd 2010 8:48PM]

@Dpierre
so its more like an iphone 3gs than an 1touch?
but it has no camera

[Dsi2play Posted May 2nd 2010 9:43PM]

@Dpierre
so its more like an iphone 3gs than an 1touch?
but it has no camera

[SolidSnake Posted May 2nd 2010 3:57PM]

God bless Geohot/ MuscleNerd....

[marsmissions Posted May 2nd 2010 3:57PM]

too bad the whole country can now view that guys dirty house..

[iHakr Posted May 2nd 2010 3:57PM]

Yay...? This should now be named the iPad EDGE.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted May 2nd 2010 4:04PM]

@iHakr Or the "iPad 1G for less functionality than a $300 netbook". Not quite as catchy as 3G though.

[marsmissions Posted May 2nd 2010 4:15PM]

@engadgetcomexcludeengadget 2g, not 1g

[JimJam707 Posted May 2nd 2010 5:22PM]

Yeah, 1g is radio signals.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted May 2nd 2010 6:13PM]

@marsmissions How did you not get the the 1G meant money, as in 1 grand or $1000? I even compared it to $300 for a netbook.

[jeff181995 Posted May 2nd 2010 7:51PM]

@iHakr Only on T-mobile

Its actually 3G on AT&T

[ZeroHour682 Posted May 2nd 2010 3:58PM]

AT&T sim resrTicks calls and text. Man what ever happened to companies giving you there best.

[SolidSnake Posted May 2nd 2010 4:00PM]

@ZeroHour682
*Grammar Nazi mode activated*
Man, I don't know where to start....
*gives up*

[fowenati Posted May 2nd 2010 4:09PM]

@SolidSnake
I don't even understand what its supposed to mean...

[schultz Posted May 2nd 2010 4:34PM]

@ZeroHour682

Did you mean:
" AT&T sim cards restrict calls and text? Man, what ever happened to companies giving you their best?"

Its hard to tell, seeing as how I speak English.

[mr waffles Posted May 2nd 2010 4:54PM]

@SolidSnake Try using the Mark II to decipher the message...

[Wes Steele Posted May 2nd 2010 3:58PM]

The title makes it seem like you can get 3G reception through T-Mobile on the iPad.

[iHakr Posted May 2nd 2010 4:02PM]

@Wes Steele I thought that at too. If it did, then I would buy one... well wifi tether works good enough.

[TonyMontana2367 Posted May 2nd 2010 4:07PM]

@Wes Steele

dumb bastards

[Luxury Guy Posted May 2nd 2010 4:02PM]

I'd hope so considering you're paying a for text messages on a T-Mobile plan.

[One Love Posted May 2nd 2010 4:03PM]

Feel sorry for apple customers who always have to hack and fight for the features they want in their products. The iPad is pretty and has some awesome apps but all of this feature lock-down business sucks.

[WinRulez Posted May 2nd 2010 4:08PM]

ask AT&T

[MRCUR Posted May 2nd 2010 4:23PM]

@One Love - I'm not sure why anyone would be "fighting" to get their iPad running on T-Mo's EDGE network. Apple didn't carrier lock the iPad like the iPhone is, so again, don't see any reasonable "fighting for features" going on here.

[tracdoor Posted May 2nd 2010 4:28PM]

@One Love seriously dude, you think SMS is an important feature in a MULTIMEDIA device like the iPad?

Who would buy an internet tablet expecting it to be able to sends texts?

That's what a PHONE is for. If you're stupid enough to buy an iPad then I can guarantee you that you will have a phone, which have been able to send texts since 1992.

[MattsZ Posted May 2nd 2010 5:00PM]

@One Love

maybe you've never had to root your Android to use basic functions like me