Gobi 2000 question about switching carriers - any insight?

[underclocker]

I'll agree and confirm that a Gobi 2000 adapter is the best thing to happen for WWAN, since WWAN was introduced. However, I have a specific Gobi 2000 question.

Are all Lenovo ThinkPad branded Gobi 2000 adapters unlocked or are some locked to a specific carrier?

Lenovo's PSREF guides list Gobi 2000 adapters four ways (that I've seen so far); 1) selectable, 2) Verizon, 3) AT&T and 4) no mention of selectable, Verizon or AT&T.

I have confirmed with an X100e (model 3508-AAU) that the Gobi 2000 adapter, which was listed as selectable, can be switched among AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. It's not easy, but you can download the software for each carrier and the card will switch carrier and actually work. You can switch as much as you like.

I am wondering if the machines that are listed as Gobi 2000 Verizon, for instance, can be used with other carriers or if they are firmware locked in some way to only one carrier. Or, if perhaps, it means that the included software image only includes Verizon's software for easy connectivity to Verizon, but the card is unlocked and usable with other carriers.

If anyone knows for sure, please list the machine type and the results. I've asked Lenovo sales reps. and resellers, but they do not know for sure. I hope these are all unlocked, it would be unforturnate if Lenovo was locking WWAN cards specifically designed to be open!

[Harryc]

underclocker, I have looked into this in the past and the answer is all Gobi 2000 adapters are switchable even though they may be sold as locked to Verizon for example. As you've found out it depends on the software that you run which determines which carrier will activate. These things even run on GSM networks using windows networking.

[underclocker]

Harry, that is very good news. What about the after market Lenovo Gobi 2000 adapters? Lenovo sells the following two items;

78Y1398 ThinkPad AT&T GOBI 2000 U.S. Broadband - wireless cellular modem
78Y1399 ThinkPad GOBI 2000 Worldwide BroadBand - wireless cellular modem

They are listed on the same Lenovo page with the exact same specs, but why? Could the only difference be that the 78Y1398 is packaged with an AT&T SIM and software? There are also other part numbers in the HMMs, like 60Y3183.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 74515.html

Before buying one or advising someone on a purchase, I just want to be positive.

[SHoTTa35]

I was wondering too. My T410s came with the card and has the Verizon sticker on the palmrest (removing that soon!!) In Access connections however i saw options to Switch to AT&T (it even gave me the error, "NO SIM Card") and Sprint (as well as Verizon). So it seems they are all the same. I'll be sticking a Simple Mobile SIM card in there as it's prepaid phone services but i'll test to see if i can get it to work oneday I use a Nexus One so i can tether it no extra charge but just curious