Lenovo Gobi 2000 locked/unlocked?

[brianoes]

Hey folks, so I just ordered my new X201 (first new laptop ever after 3 used purchases through the years, always X-series) with the Gobi 2000 module, and I've been unable to find an answer to my question - for those who ordered their module with the SIM slot (AT&T), is it locked to AT&T, or to GSM for that matter?

I'm going to be traveling overseas quite a bit this summer, and I'd like to have access to the 3G networks while doing so, but now I'm not sure if I'll be able to use the internal card! If anyone has any direct experience with this, or can stick the SIM from a T-mobile modem from any Lenovo laptop with the Gobi 2000 card to confirm, that would be great...

Brian

[aau007]

According to Lenovo, if you get the GSM version, it is locked to ATT.

[bill bolton]

I'm going to be traveling overseas quite a bit this summer, and I'd like to have access to the 3G networks while doing so....

I have no idea if the Gobi 2000 card is locked or not, but even if its not, you should keep in mind that accessing 3G services in a variety of national environments is a quite an adventure at the best of times. This is due to the wide variation across markets in capacity provisioning, and in the commercial offers for actually getting hold of a SIM for the service concerned.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[xthinker]

I found it was not locked to any network. I live in Australia. When I plugged in a SIM card from my mobile phone provider Optus, I could connect to mobile network right away (3G).

[bill bolton]

I live in Australia. When I plugged in a SIM card from my mobile phone provider Optus, I could connect to mobile network right away (3G).

If you had plugged in a Telstra Mobile Broadband NextG SIM it would have been a similar experience, but if you had plugged in a Telstra Bigpond NextG SIM you would not have been able to connect.... not because of your WWAN card, or because of the way the Telstra 3G (NextG) network is configured in terms of global 3G standards, but because of the way the BigPond NextG service is commercially provisioned by Telstra (its a different market offer than the Telstra Mobile Broadband offer).

This is just one specific example of what happens in numerous national markets, where different service brands may have quite different access characteristics. There is much more to achieving 3G access than just an unlocked WWAN card.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[GrandMasterKhan]

If one buys the card after purchase and buys it from Lenovo, is it still locked?

[VipFreak]

Can these things be used in a x200 Tablet?

[GrandMasterKhan]

Usually I use this with a short term SIM card when traveling and when home just plug the USB modem into it. It has numerous telcos listed. See Zoom 4506. Size is a pack of cigs. You just need an unlocked modem.
The battery is about the same as for most DSLR cameras and it holds at least a 3 hours charge with strong WIFI. You might consider it. Cradlepoint also makes a modem but you wont get better compatibility nor feature set for a reasonable price.
http://www.zoomtel.com/products/mobile_ ... ravel.html

The best thing about this device is if you are using a WIFI enabled Blackberry or iPhone and staying at a hotel where there is free LAN but not WIFI, you just plug in the LAN cable and can use your handset for free as far as email and data.