Does it matter which country I buy iPad in?

[stoli]

A Thai friend of mine brought an iPad from the USA,because he can access sites etc not allowed on one from Thailand. Something to so we the registration,but not sure. Anyone else know?

Apple registration is based on the country of issue for the credit card or debit card that you use when you register.

If you maintain a U.S. address, and a U.S. phone number, and a bank account in the U.S., you will be able to register on the U.S. Apple Store, which gives you access to the U.S. versions of iTunes, iCloud, and now, ApplePay. You have to set up your Apple device as though your actual physical residence is in the U.S. When you are in Thailand, or anywhere else, you are just "visiting."

If you *also* register on the Apple Store in Thailand, you can get wires crossed, as I found when I purchased a MB Air a few months ago. Apple appears to have separate systems, Apple America and Apple Asia are separate, so once I got a human on the phone, she sorted my order, billing and everything else. But there was confusion, because my debit card draws from a U.S. bank. And I was shipping to an address in Bangkok ordering from the Apple Store in Thailand. Apple actually ended up giving birth to my Mac in China, and it then traveled through Hong Kong to my home in Bangkok. I ended up handing cash to my wife and she deposited it in her Thai bank account and Apple charged her card, which worked out great in the end because she qualifies for a student discount. But we had some drama.

So my point is that an Apple device in particular depends on a valid credit card. If your card is issued by a Thai bank in Thailand, then register a Thai billing address. But be advised that you will not be able to access some sites and services in the U.S. due to licensing and other issues, because you will be considered Thai. This has nothing to do with citizenship and everything to do with the location of your bank account. For example, you may not be able to order movies or purchase music or books from the U.S. iTunes or iBooks services.

A VPN can make these complications go away, but some vendors, like HBO, are getting wise to the fact that legions of viewers are watching whatever they want, from wherever they want, when they want, and this obviously threatens the stability of the known universe, so solutions are looming.

I understand your friend registering his iPad to a U.S. bank and a U.S. residence and a U.S. phone number. I do that myself. I maintain a U.S. address for banking purposes under the Patriot Act, and so I can purchase services like NHL GameCenter Live. I spend most of my time in Bangkok. But I am just "visiting."

It can be very annoying when YouTube videos or video clips embedded on web pages refuse to play because of licensing restrictions based on residency or physical location.

Hopes this helps.

All of this talk about the Apple product linked to the credit card that you used to buy it has one flaw. I paid cash for my iPhone.

[elgenon]

A Thai friend of mine brought an iPad from the USA,because he can access sites etc not allowed on one from Thailand. Something to so we the registration,but not sure. Anyone else know?

Apple registration is based on the country of issue for the credit card or debit card that you use when you register.

If you maintain a U.S. address, and a U.S. phone number, and a bank account in the U.S., you will be able to register on the U.S. Apple Store, which gives you access to the U.S. versions of iTunes, iCloud, and now, ApplePay. You have to set up your Apple device as though your actual physical residence is in the U.S. When you are in Thailand, or anywhere else, you are just "visiting."

If you *also* register on the Apple Store in Thailand, you can get wires crossed, as I found when I purchased a MB Air a few months ago. Apple appears to have separate systems, Apple America and Apple Asia are separate, so once I got a human on the phone, she sorted my order, billing and everything else. But there was confusion, because my debit card draws from a U.S. bank. And I was shipping to an address in Bangkok ordering from the Apple Store in Thailand. Apple actually ended up giving birth to my Mac in China, and it then traveled through Hong Kong to my home in Bangkok. I ended up handing cash to my wife and she deposited it in her Thai bank account and Apple charged her card, which worked out great in the end because she qualifies for a student discount. But we had some drama.

So my point is that an Apple device in particular depends on a valid credit card. If your card is issued by a Thai bank in Thailand, then register a Thai billing address. But be advised that you will not be able to access some sites and services in the U.S. due to licensing and other issues, because you will be considered Thai. This has nothing to do with citizenship and everything to do with the location of your bank account. For example, you may not be able to order movies or purchase music or books from the U.S. iTunes or iBooks services.

A VPN can make these complications go away, but some vendors, like HBO, are getting wise to the fact that legions of viewers are watching whatever they want, from wherever they want, when they want, and this obviously threatens the stability of the known universe, so solutions are looming.

I understand your friend registering his iPad to a U.S. bank and a U.S. residence and a U.S. phone number. I do that myself. I maintain a U.S. address for banking purposes under the Patriot Act, and so I can purchase services like NHL GameCenter Live. I spend most of my time in Bangkok. But I am just "visiting."

It can be very annoying when YouTube videos or video clips embedded on web pages refuse to play because of licensing restrictions based on residency or physical location.

Hopes this helps.

I bought my iPad w cash. What then?

[Banzai99]

I use my friends Apple ID from the States, so I get iTunes Radio in Thailand, if you have an Apple account from the States, it don't matter where you are, you get the same as being in the States, but some streaming Apps wont work here, but iTunes radio, no problem.

[Nowisee]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

A perfectly legit question, followed by an off topic reply by someone trying to convince happy Apple users their product is inferior...5555

Does it matter which contry I buy iPad in?

No. They are crap no matter what country you buy them in.

Disregard "peer pressure" Think outside the box...

Go Android... Freedom...

alt=thumbsup.gif>

But I am intrigued - freedom from what?

Only a brainwashed IOS user would ask that..

Hint: Try "freedom to do" instead of "from what".

[2fishin2]

Its not the country purchased in. Its not the credit card used. Its the account that determines everything. Its up to the user what country it is registered in. The country registered determines the content that the user can use. The content registered very much determines what a media can see or use.

[peterb17]

But I am intrigued - freedom from what?

Only a brainwashed IOS user would ask that..

Hint: Try "freedom to do" instead of "from what".

Hi apologies for for my language skills.

Still intrigued.

Maybe if your original post went along the lines of:

Hi OP - see you are planning to buy an Apple product, have you considered an Android based product instead?

Here are some good reasons why you should consider an alternative to Apple.

So we are waiting to hear exactly how in your considered opinion the "freedom" would persuade the OP to change his mind.

Looking forward to your detailed and persuasive response.

[bubba]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the first poster, it will actually be a cellular model. I was just hoping I would walk into somewhere like DTAC and buy a new sim card to replace the old one. The place I stay doesn't actually have Wi-Fi and I have a dongle, but won't work on the iPad.

I looked around for a decent Android tablet but don't think any compare to the iPad at the moment. It is actually the mini I want, so the only real alternatives were the Nexus 9 and Samsung S 8.4.

I bought my iPad Air 2 in Hong Kong (cheaper than in Thailand), popped in a DTAC SIM card and it works fine.

[Banzai99]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the first poster, it will actually be a cellular model. I was just hoping I would walk into somewhere like DTAC and buy a new sim card to replace the old one. The place I stay doesn't actually have Wi-Fi and I have a dongle, but won't work on the iPad.

I looked around for a decent Android tablet but don't think any compare to the iPad at the moment. It is actually the mini I want, so the only real alternatives were the Nexus 9 and Samsung S 8.4.

I bought my iPad Air 2 in Hong Kong (cheaper than in Thailand), popped in a DTAC SIM card and it works fine.

Yep, because in Hong Kong they are Factory Unlocked, like they are in Thailand.

[hhgz]

Apple, at its discretion, can limit the iPad warranty coverage to the country in which the product was initially purchased.

https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ipad-english.html

[2008bangkok]

Actually there are some differences some countries block access to facetime at the hardware level, like dubai so check first when you buy there are no restrictions in the country

[tominbkk]

But I am intrigued - freedom from what?

Only a brainwashed IOS user would ask that..

Hint: Try "freedom to do" instead of "from what".

Had a top line Android phone for about a year and a half, about 3 years ago. Crap software.

[AlexRRR]

I bought an Ipad2 in BKK back in 2012 worked out $AU50 cheaper than back home, worked fine both in AU and Thailand, Bought an Ex the iPad1, she brought it to AU same same. worked fine, daughter now has my 2 and still works fine both before and after a reset, i bought iPad air2 in AU and used it in Thailand on last visit...all the same same the world over.

[TheAppletons]

I think the question is ... Where will you be living and use it?

Buy your devices in the country you live in ... or your warranty is worthless.

That's incorrect. My US purchased iPad was having problems while still under warranty. Took it to iCare in the KSK mall in CM - they sent it to Singapore to be repaired and, when that wasn't possible, they replaced it with a brand new iPad within a week free of charge.

Edited July 24, 2015 by TheAppletons