Guide

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Dubai Just Launched a Travel Influencer Academy

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Jobs

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When Is the Next UAE Public Holiday? Eid Al Adha 2025 Dates Revealed

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Win Cash Prizes Up to AED 300 For Every Kilo Lost With UAE's Weight Loss Challenge

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Ramadan 2025 in Dubai: List of Ramadan Markets to Explore

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Education

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How to Make the Transition to University Life Easier

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Money

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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Buying an iPad in Dubai vs USA

386

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:15

I am going to buy an iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G; the question is whether to buy here in Dubai now, or wait and buy in the US in a few weeks.

My concern is that although it may be less expensive in the US, will it be compatible with Etisalat / Du 3G services?

I know when purchasing Blackberries in the US, they need to be "unlocked" here in Dubai to use...is it the same in the case of iPads?

On the Apple site it states the 3G in the US are already configured for AT&T or Verizon - if that's the case is there a workaround when bringing it to the UAE?

Any personal experiences / knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

TIA

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2958

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 15 June 2011 - 09:09

Skype has stopped working completely on the computer, why does it work on the ipad? and whats Facetime? skype works fine with us.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 22:46

My husband had just been to US and on enquiring the price we found thats it more or less pretty much the same...better to buy in Dubai as you get the local warranty n service (when required!) The Apple warranty is international for all products.

edna.welthorpe36638

516

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 22:42

They printed in the newspaper just the other day that the only iPads that carry a warranty here are the ones bought from Virgin. That's got to be nonsense. So the iPads being sold by official Apple resellers like iStyle don't have warranties? Yeah, right. It would be simple enough to go into iStyle or Protech and ask, of course. Just to confirm what RachelA said, there is NO carrier locking going on. As long as you buy an [b'>AT&T[/b'> iPad 2 in the States, it will work on 3G [b'>anywhere in the world that uses GSM[/b'> (which is just about everywhere). If you buy a [b'>Verizon[/b'> iPad 2, it will ONLY work on networks that use CDMA, and there are far far fewer of those around. In many countries you'll find that there is no national CDMA coverage at all, it's confined to specific areas only, whereas just about every country has national GSM coverage. To contradict what I just wrote, it *is* possible to buy a carrier-locked iPad 2, but ONLY if you're buying one on a discount deal, usually from a telecoms company. These deals usually work along the lines that you sign a contract locking you in to paying X amount per month for 3G from a specific telecoms operator for Y years (usually 2), and you then get the iPad at a major discount. These companies obviously don't want you getting a cheap iPad and then switching to a different operator, so they carrier-lock it so that you can't use it on competing networks. To reiterate, though, if you go into an Apple store and buy an iPad, it is NOT carrier-locked. You just need to ensure that you buy the GSM-compatible model, which is commonly referred to as the AT&T iPad.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 22:16

They printed in the newspaper just the other day that the only iPads that carry a warranty here are the ones bought from Virgin.

7

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 21:59

Thank you all for the info! I will start looking here and let you all know if I find one! Try Protech the Apple distributor on SZR - they had hundreds the last time I was in there.

504

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 21:21

Jowel, skype is still ok on my computer - what's happened to yours?

386

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 21:18

Thank you all for the info! I will start looking here and let you all know if I find one!

1326

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 08:29

Sorry - I'm posting from Qatar, where skype does work. Facetime is an apple app for free video-calling, that only works between apple devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac).

17

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 07:54

Skype has stopped working completely on the computer, why does it work on the ipad? and whats Facetime?

1326

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 00:31

The iPads sold in the US are [i'>[b'>NOT[/b'>[/i'> locked to a carrier (unlike the iPhones, which ARE). They are configured to work either on AT&T or Verizon - which use two different types of systems for accessing the internet. If you get the AT&T version of a 3G iPad it will absolutely work anywhere in the world that uses GSM SIM cards. We have 3 iPads in our house - all wifi + 3G. Two were bought in the US, one in Qatar. Once we bought local SIM cards for them, all work perfectly here in Qatar. True that many of the devices - iPad or iPhone - sold regionally in the GCC do not have face time. And the ones that do cost about AED or QR 1000 more. We decided that as long as they can use skype - which they all can - we can live without face time. I don't know about in-store stock, but when you order online in the US there is still about a 2 week shipping delay. And the US Apple store won't ship to Shop and Ship addresses. We ordered ours and had it sent to my brother in the US, and he in turn forwarded it to my shop and ship box.

30

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 23:19

My husband had just been to US and on enquiring the price we found thats it more or less pretty much the same...better to buy in Dubai as you get the local warranty n service (when required!)

dogcatcher44047

461

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 23:10

What's face time?

587

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 23:08

I have read on this forum that the iPads available in Dubai do not have FaceTime on them. That might be a consideration for you? Not sure actually, but we use Skype.

MIRDIFMUMMY32789

123

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 23:07

hi, just to let you know that they are a bit scarce here in Dubai too! we have been looking for one (64 gb wifi) for weeks but all sold out. we enquired in all the shops in dubai mall, mirdif etc and eventually got one an hour ago in festival city. good luck with your purchase. sorry i dont know anything about buying them in usa (where would u take it if it went faulty if u bought it in usa?)

96

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:55

I have read on this forum that the iPads available in Dubai do not have FaceTime on them. That might be a consideration for you?

504

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:43

my ex is currently in the US and was at the Apple store a few days ago, he went to a couple of 'courses' (I think they're an hour each or something) they have on how to use your iPhone, iPad etc. I had originally asked him to get me an iPad while he was over there but changed my mind because of the 'lock' bit. Apparently one of the employees said it was true, the ones they sell are locked, but they could get me the one I needed with a few days' notice (not sure how this is possible, perhaps you have to prove you live abroad or something) - so could be worth enquiring.

587

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:41

DH bought the 64gb, 3G, wifi version here at Virgin, Mercato 3599 AED (also saw them in Plug Ins and online at Emirates Avenue). I think that you can use the 3g anywhere in the world. Put your money into the Dubai economy:)

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:34

The funny thing was, the guy behind me in line worked for Apple! Apparently supply is so limited, the employee store doesn't have any either! It cost me about $600 in the US, plus I bought some accessories. I'm not sure what it costs here. And no, I decided to buy it there because I figured if so many people were willing to line up at 9am to get the thing, it must be really great. <em>edited by guinness on 13/06/2011</em>

386

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:28

Wow! I didn't realize the supply would be so limited in the US! Did you decide to buy there rather than here because of difference in cost? Do you mind if I ask approximately how much you saved by buying it there?

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 22:23

I was just in the us buying an IPAD. I didn't get the 3g version because it is locked for the US market. I'm sure there is a way around it, just like for Iphone, but I didn't want to have to mess around with my new, amazing toy. The one thing is, I had to hunt around for mine in the US. The first store I checked had a thirty person line at 10am when the store opened - and they didn't have any for sale!!! The second store I went to had about 20 people in line by the time the store opened - and they had only 8 or so for sale. Luckily I was number 6!

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