The Apple SIM promised the ability to switch carriers with a few taps on the tablet. But an AT&T spokesman confirmed Friday that it will lock down the SIM cards found in the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. A new iPad purchased at a T-Mobile store will also include a SIM pre-set to the carrier, according to a person familiar with the carrier's plans. In both cases, if a customer wants to switch, the person needs to physically change out the SIM (subscriber identity module) card.
An iPad purchased at an Apple store or other third-party retailer such as Best Buy for use on T-Mobile's network, however, will remain open, and users can switch to another carrier on the fly, the person said. An AT&T iPad purchased at an Apple store will not.
The back-and-forth on Apple SIM underscores the differing priorities between Apple and the carriers. Apple wants to make the process of purchasing and choosing an iPad and carrier partner as easy as possible, while the carriers want to maintain some control over the customer.
AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are listed as part of the Apple SIM program, which is a single SIM that can handle all three carriers. At least at the Apple store, a salesperson and customer can easily choose between the three carriers. Verizon Wireless is not a participant in the program.
While AT&T locks down the SIM itself, the carrier argues that it remains easy to change services.
"You have always been able to switch," said AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel. "The issue is how you switch."
He added that the iPad is an unlocked device that has long been able to run on multiple carriers.
T-Mobile, meanwhile, believes that it is more convenient to pre-configure the iPad for its service in its stores, since the customer would presumably want to get a T-Mobile iPad, the person said.
A Sprint spokeswoman declined to comment.
An Apple representative referred CNET to an Apple support page, in which the company confirmed: "AT&T dedicates Apple SIM to their network only." However, the page noted that if an Apple SIM gets dedicated to a specific network, a user can buy a new Apple SIM at an Apple store to switch plans.
Recode earlier reported that AT&T would be dedicating new iPad models on its network.
The Apple SIM cards inside the cellular models of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, which went on sale this week, are a change from older iPads, which require buyers to pick their carriers at the time of purchase and to physically swap out SIM cards if they switch to a different carrier.
The emergence of the Apple SIM comes as all four major wireless carriers are in a heated battle to gain and retain customers, with smaller upstarts T-Mobile and Sprint cutting prices and offering more data to lure in new users. The universal Apple SIM card could have helped save users money and provide them with more convenience by cutting out the step of buying a new SIM card and physically swapping it into a tablet to change services. But that doesn't appear to be the case.
Theoretically, when traveling, users should be able to pick a short-term data plan from a local carrier through the Apple SIM, instead of getting a separate international SIM. The UK carrier EE is the only other Apple SIM partner that Apple mentions.
The capabilities of such a universal SIM card could bring about big changes in the wireless world, especially if it ever makes it into Apple's iPhone smartphone. Still, it's possible carriers would add restrictions for a phone, as well.
Source:http://www.cnet.com
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