Verizon iPad 2 Won't Be Able To Roam The World

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Some tech blogs have raised a really important issue. Apple will be offering two versions of the iPad, a Verizon version of the device with CDMA baseband tech and a version with GSM for AT&T and the rest of the world. This distinction between the two versions means that folks who buy a Verizon iPad won’t be able to use their Apple tablet in the rest of the world.

The CDMA technology used by Verizon for communication between the mobile device and the cell tower is used mostly in the United States by Verizon and rival Sprint (and before you “Well Actually” folks start up – yes, I’m aware that CDMA is used in China, South America and other places). Pretty much other carrier in the world uses the global GSM standard. This means that when you arrive in Europe with your Verizon iPad, it won’t work, since there won’t be any CDMA signals out there. And even if there is some European carrier running a CDMA network, I don’t think they have a roaming agreement with Verizon.

Since Apple now servers AT&T and Verizon, there was some hope amongst tech bloggers and Apple fans that Apple would produce a bimodal iPad that would let Verizon customers pop in a SIM card for global roaming. Not so much. As with the iPhone 4 on Verizon, you’ll be out of luck outside of the United States.

There is a precedent for bimodal phones on Verizon. They bill a number of phones as “Global Phones” or “World Edition” phones that have a SIM card for roaming overseas. But, I imagine this is Apple’s call and Cupertino probably can’t fit both GSM and CDMA baseband gear inside their devices.

No global roaming on the Verizon iPad – is this a big disappointment for some of you out there?