The Apple SIM in the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 is based on an awesome idea—who doesn’t want to switch carriers with a tap of the screen? But the actual utility of the Apple SIM is pretty muddled, as evidenced by AT&T locking the SIM to its network.
“When you choose AT&T on iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, AT&T dedicates Apple SIM to their network only,” according to an Apple support document. If you ever decide to leave AT&T for another carrier, you have to buy a new Apple SIM.
The decision on AT&T’s part should come as no surprise given that the carrier has locked smartphones to its network for years. An AT&T spokesperson told Recode that only the Apple SIM is locked, not the iPad itself. So when you want to switch, a new Apple SIM is required. They are currently only available from an Apple retail or participating carrier store for $10.
Not quite as expensive needing to buy an entirely new, unlocked device, but far from the utopian dream we all envision.
T-Mobile and Sprint, the only other two U.S. carriers that support Apple SIM, do not lock the SIM to their networks. Verizon doesn’t support Apple SIM at all, which is another glaring problem for Apple domestically. EE in the U.K. is the only international carrier supporting Apple SIM right now.
Apple clearly created its SIM card with the goal of simplifying the process of choosing carriers for the customer. But unfortunately, the Apple SIM can only be as disruptive as the carriers allow it to be.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
20 responses to “AT&T locks Apple SIM in new iPads, thereby defeating its purpose”
nice going AT & T ruin a perfect great idea.
Fuck AT&T
Thats carrier marketing for you.
Easy, just don’t choose AT&T
Seemes pretty silly to me. Just remove the Apple provided sim if you must use AT&T, then you have it as an available backup if you need to use anyone else.
And this is why I will NEVER be an AT&T customer (or Verizon. No thank you to a duopoly). AT&T just have to screw up a great idea here!
It’s increasingly hard to be a fan of the hardware when the actual company are such a bunch of a-holes. Glued-in batteries in iPads, non-upgradeable ram in the new Mini, now this… And it’s all (perfectly valid) ammunition for the haters.
This isn’t Apple’s fault; it’s strictly on AT&T. Take your Haterade elsewhere.
Jeez, AT&T really is tripping over a dollar to pick up a penny. They are always looking for ways to tax the customer more for the same service instead of just being the best at providing their services. They throttle cellular data for no reason other than encouraging people to upgrade or switch to a tiered plan and they restrict tethering to a separate fee aside from the data you’re already paying for… If I didn’t have a grandfathered unlimited plan I’d be long gone to another carrier by now. They almost seem like the iPhone’s worst enemy, trying to piggy back on its data enabled features that Apple (or whatever phone maker) deserves the credit and profits for.
Ironically being the first supported carrier for the iPhone.
I know a former exec from Sprint who told me they actually had a chance to get the iPhone that first year it was out. Im not sure if it was to be along side AT&T or instead of them, but they didnt see it as the great investment it would have been and forewent it, unfortunately everything might have been different if Sprint instead of AT&T would have gotten that deal. I know they’re all trying to make money but AT&T really takes the cake for most money hungry and least client friendly.
Such sad irony, you could write several alternate history books on that topic. Who knows? Maybe if Sprint had gotten that deal they would have become the money hungry empire that at&t are today. Personally I love T-Mobile and Sprint for their no contract and unlimited data plans, cashing in on the success of the iPhone at launch may have changed them for the worse.
such an evil company they think they can do what ever they want
LMAO – that was funny. Sniff sniff…
What if you pay full price for the device? AT&T has night right to lock your SIM. I pay full price for my iPhones so that I have the ability to use any GSM SIM for service.
Last year I paid full price for my iPhone at ATT and used their GoPhone service. However, without telling me they locked my phone anyway. Then when I tried using a Thai SIM card in BKK I discovered the phone was locked. Bastards!
Doesn’t matter how much you pay. It’s a SIM function that AT&T is utilizing and has nothing to do with the hardware (other than the Apple SIM).
Sounds bad, but would this or could this prevent theft in someway? Locking the device and ensuring it can’t be used? If not, then I can understand entirely why some would be disappointed by this.
Pretty rotten, but not surprising. Eventually the locking mafia will be made to compete fairly.
Fuck att i have “unlimited” Data and when i go over 5 GB the throttle me to 2G speeds!!!