A recent recall of some iPads from Verizon (News 
- Alert) Wireless had customers panicking before the Father’s Day gift rush, but both Apple and Verizon assured the public that it’s only a precious few and yes, there will be plenty to ship.
Apple (News - Alert) recalled some of its iPad 2 devices on the Verizon Wireless network due to a technical glitch that may prevent them from connecting to Verizon's wireless network.
The affected devices reportedly have identical MEIDs, or mobile equipment identifiers, which are suppose to act like electronic serial numbers. But every mobile device needs a unique MEID in order to be activated and used on Verizon's data network. Two devices cannot have the same MEID – Verizon’s network will think one is already active and the end result is not being able to connect to Verizon's 3G network at all.
According to TIA, the MEIDs are unique 56-digit identifiers that are used to help in mobile equipment tracking and shipping. At the request of the network, a 14-digit hexadecimal is capable of being transmitted over the air.
According to Reuters, only a few tablets shipped via FedEx are part of the recall, and many if not all were intercepted before being sold.
The good news is that the Apple iPad 2 units in the recall are being replaced with new devices.
The Apple rumor site 9to5 Mac first reported the news late Thursday night.
In an updated post, the site quotes an Apple store employee:
“Apple has given all the stores a list of serial numbers to scan, if it’s a match we were told to set aside and ship back to Apple, these are only for Verizon iPads. This was to be done on Monday and continue to scan all shipments thru June 11. I had over one hundred to send back.”
Apple's discussion boards feature reports from customers that Verizon iPad 2s they've ordered have been inexplicably intercepted and sent back to Apple.
From the boards:
“ipad2 makes it all the way from CHINA to within 40 miles of our house and they are returning it to the sender!! In Elk Grove!” 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?”. She went on to say that it should be delivered to us in “1-2 days”.
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Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
