Hackers have been keeping busy with the new iPad 3G this weekend. The result: a proof of concept that a (jailbroken) iPad 3G can send SMS text messages, and work with other wireless carrier’s networks.
Apple says the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G comes without a carrier lock on AT&T’s network; however, because of the network differences, if you want to use your iPad 3G with T-Mobile, you will only get EDGE speeds.
To use a T-Mobile data contract on an iPad, you will have to do some DIY hackery and trim a traditional SIM card with a scissor (without cutting the gold contact). Here are a couple of guides, for the more adventurous type.
Also, because of the 3G chip inside the new iPad, hackers have been able to prove on video this weekend that the tablet can send SMS messages too. Apparently, this video from the Dev Team shows a jailbroken iPad 3G, used via terminal commands.
In the video (embedded below) an AT&T SIM plan is used to send SMS text messages to an iPhone. As this feature is in very early development stages, there is no visual interface to send text messages from the iPad, but we can expect a proper (Cydia) app for jailbroken iPads soon.
With the 3G iPads also come 3G video restrictions. AppAdvice is reporting that Netflix and YouTube will work over 3G data connections, but only with lower resolution quality versions of the videos.
ABC’s app requires Wi-Fi only connections, and the report says it’s most likely just a temporary measure (like low-res versions for Netflix and YouTube), to avoid network congestions on AT&T — given that one hour use of iPad Netflix over 3G can weigh in at 250MB (coincidentally, the same amount included in AT&T’s $15 iPad data plan; unlimited plan $30).