Apple confirms Verizon iPad2 technical glitch leaving customers fuming

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 7:56 PM on 13th June 2011

New and improved? Some of Apple's iPad 2s using the Verizon network have been hit by technical glitches

Apple has recalled a number of iPad2 tablets that are designed to run on Verizon's network due to connectivity issues, the company confirmed today.

Each device is hardcoded with a unique MEID code - which stands for mobile equipment identifier.

This works like a serial number for accessing the wireless network service.

The code is sent out to the carrier, which then allows the tablet on to the network.

However, Apple said some iPad2 devices destined for the Verizon carrier were given the same MEID code, which meant one of them would not be able to go online.

'Duplicate MEID codes were flashed onto an extremely small number of iPad units for the Verizon 3G network,' an Apple spokeswoman said.

She refused to say how many were affected by the issue but said that the devices would be replaced.

Verizon have declined to comment.

MEID, which stands for mobile equipment identifier, is a unique number that is used to identify a mobile device when it connects to the network. Two devices cannot have the same MEIDcode.

Rumours of a problem first arose last week, with reports that Apple was intercepting the tablet computers shipped from China by FedEx.

However, it appears the message was not passed on to Apple's customer services team, leaving customers fuming.

A user called HLS77 told the official Apple Forum: 'ipad2 makes it all they way from CHINA to within 40 miles of our house and they are returning it to the sender!!

'I called Fedex and they said it was an Apple request. Apple says it's a fedex problem - and I quote "why would we ask to return your ipad that you have been waiting for?"'

Apple employees have been scanning the serial codes on newly delivered devices? to see if they carry the problematic codes.

One employee in a U.S store told 9to5mac.com said he sent back over one hundred devices.

It is not the first time that the iPad2 has been hit by a technical glitch.

Apple revealed in April that some Verizon iPad 2 users were having to restart their iPad each time they disconnected from their 3G network.

They said this was because the AT&T iPad and Verizon iPad used different chipsets. The issue was later fixed through a software update.

View the original article here

Verizon iPad2 Silent Recalls Coming

 By Ridge Shan
Epoch Times Staff Created: Jun 10, 2011 Last Updated: Jun 10, 2011  A Customer tries out the latest Ipad 2 at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York, March 11. (Emmanuel Dunand/Getty Images ) A prominent Mac blog site indicates a recall of Verizon’s 32 and 64 gigabyte iPad 2’s is on the way. In statements given to 9 to 5 Mac, a website that tracks news on Apple products, consumers who have pre-ordered iPads being shipped to homes have been suddenly turned around and returned to sender.

According to 9 to 5 Mac, the recalls may be related to 3G connectivity issues.

One user said the “Verizon iPad 2’s aren’t being sent back due to engraving. If someone activates a cellular connection on the device, then wants to view or edit account information, they can’t. They receive a message that it is activated, and that’s it. I saw someone open at least 6 looking for one that didn’t do it. It’s device specific, not software.”

Another employee has stated that stores are being given instructions to scan each iPad 2 they receive for certain unit serial numbers which are to be shipped back to Apple.

Representatives of Apple were not immediately available for comment.

Apple has had a history with quiet recalls. In July of last year Apple issued a silent recall for its iPhone 4 in order to fix an antenna issue that was dropping calls and losing reception when gripped. Apple also ordered a silent recall on the lithium-ion batteries used to power its Mac Books back in 2006. ?

View the original article here