I think so....I was happy to do it just to make sure it worked. You only have to use it (pay for) one month...which is like $15.

Thanks!

Just to clarify, one has to subscribe to the AT&T plan, which then makes the iPad capable of receiving the GPS signals? And then one has to buy the appropriate SIM card for each country?

I was so sure that the SIM card alone would allow the iPad to have the roaming capabilities...take a look at this article from the NYTimes:

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/...pad-to-europe/

I have puzzled over this at length, eks, searching the Internet and only finding confusing information. But, from all these sites, the prevailing opinion is that you don't need to pay for AT&T US service to use a foreign micro SIM card in Europe.

The AT&T international plan allows roamimg but at a price. You can buy European SIMs with toaming but they tend to be expensive. Did you see this thread: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-roaming.cfm?

As for GPS, if you have cellular, you have GPS: www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

I have only used my iPad in Europe with its wifi capability. But my understanding is if u have the model with AT&T 3G capability then all u need to do is get a SIM card in the country to where you will be using it. you do not need to pay the AT&T data charge. This is what the people at the Apple store told me last year.

Thanks to you both! This is one of those topics that continue to confuse me. I think I've got it now, though!
In any case, my several-months-old iPad will take its first European trip in late summer and I will be sure to report back in great detail!

I take my IPAD 1 to Italy on every trip, sign up via AT&T for an international plan for a month (in my "settings" on the IPAD) and have never had a single problem accessing the internet. It's not cheap, but it's easy. I have never added a SIM card. I have seen information about getting a SIM card, but I'm not very technically advanced. :)

Hr

Susan: I think the consensus (from what I've learned from the incredibly patient posters here) is that if you have the newest iPad, you can either sign up with AT&T, OR buy the appropriate SIM card, which might be the less costly option...

It could be Apple just wanted to toss some business AT&T's way -- because I must admit, after driving all over Italy and using the included GPS maps plus being able to check things out on the web on the fly while away from our hotel or flat was SO nice, that I have kept the AT&T (local not international) service to use here. Sometimes the wifi service at the 2-week rental we had in Umbria was a bit flaky, and the TIM service was always available with a strong signal.

uhoh_busted - could you give me an idea of what your costs were using AT&T in Italy?

I didn't use AT&T's international service. I bought their local service. I cancelled it when we went to Italy for a month. I bought a mini-sim for my iPad at TIM, along with a card for our unlocked phone. I think it all cost less than $50. I did top off the iPad card with another 10Euro at a TIM store in Lucca on the way to Cinque Terre because we used it a lot more than anticipated during our 2 weeks in Umbria (the week in Rome, most usage was wifi@ our hotel).

This was keeping pretty much in line with what my response (way earlier in this thread) indicated I planned to do. Maybe it really wasn't necessary for me to get the AT&T local service...hence the comment about Apple possibly just tossing them some $, but at $15/mo, I find I like to use the GPS app I purchased, and to have availability on the road guaranteed when wifi isn't available.

I have found that no matter what I ask ATT, they will say I can't do it without paying them money. Not true!

For an AT&T iPad, the data plans are reasonable, if you want to use it here and there for street maps, museum information, etc. If you're going to be driving, you might want more data and consider a local SIM card. iPads are not locked. AT&T pricing information is here: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/int...ing.html?tab=2
I used my iPad walking around in Italy. However, I'm leaving soon for Poland and the Baltics. It looks like an AT&T plan will work for Poland, but I'll need a local SIM card for Lithuania.

I used an ipad sim card in Italy in 2014. Got it at TIM at the central station in Rome. (Or at TIM through Italy). Was processed quickly and efficiently. Got one for 30 days. Greatprice and worked even on bus tours through remote areas. Very pleased.

Referring again to my comment above. Your ipad is not like a phone where you need a plan, perhaps through your home provider. Ipads don't work via a plan in the first place. So just buy the sim card for your ipad either online for the country you are travelling to, or when you get there as I did for Italy. We were travelling on our own first before joining a tour. Nothing like having your son face time you
from Western Canada as you are walking down a hillside on the Amalfi coast.

Bookmarking for future if we feel we need more.

Although we used our iPad in Paris & Vienna in Sept. With the wifi in our apt. & pension. We sent photos & messaged with our friends & family. Didn't feel the need for more than that, And we certainly didn't carry it around during the day.
No charge for any off that.