UPDATE: Apple has confirmed a limited recall of Verizon iPad 2 units due to connectivity issues, according to Reuters.
"Duplicate MEID [mobile equipment identifier] codes were flashed onto an extremely small number of iPad units for the Verizon 3G network," an Apple spokeswoman told Reuters, which explains "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."
The spokeswoman did not say how many units were recalled but said that the affected units will be replaced with new ones.
PREVIOUSLY:
Reports are surfacing that Apple may be recalling some Verizon iPad 2s, intercepting them mid-FedEx shipment while the devices make their way from China.
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:
ipad2 makes it all they 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".
An Apple representative was not immediately available for comment.
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