Redmond Pie: AT&T to lock iPads with Apple SIM to its network once activated

[Bateluer]

http://www.redmondpie.com/att-will-lock-apple-sim-to-its-network-on-new-ipads-after-activation/

Turns out, the ability to switch carriers on the go on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 may not be as simple as Apple foresaw it. AT&T has announced that it for one will not be playing second fiddle to Apple, and will lock the Apple SIM to the AT&T network once an iPad connects to it. Apple is currently shipping all GSM-enabled iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 tablets with the Apple SIM.

Unveiling the iPads last week, Apple also mentioned that all new iPads that were GSM enabled would come with the Apple’s own universal SIM card included. Apple SIM allows users to switch networks on the move, without needing to switch the SIM itself. Apple SIM currently works for the T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T networks.

Hmm. Seems like the opposite of the original intend. The Apple SIM is embedded, non-removable, and was designed to be nearly universal. Kinda defeats the point.

Better be sure you want to activate that LTE iPad on AT&T's network, and likewise take care if you're looking to pick up one used.

 

[notposting]

It has a removable SIM card, and can be swapped to another carrier with no problem. Would be best to use the Apple SIM for other carriers, and a dedicated AT&T SIM though.

edit: no problem, meaning, get another SIM from that carrier...or the alternative like I mentioned.

 

[gorcorps]

Hmmm... I wonder if this is really AT&T purposefully doing this, or that their activation process naturally does this and they would have to change how their system works to allow it to be changeable. Since this whole universal sim thing is new, I'm actually leaning towards AT&T not being setup to handle it yet... and if you're AT&T, why would you spend extra time and money to support something that doesn't benefit you?

I dunno, I don't want to look like I'm letting AT&T off the hook but I just get the feeling they're being made to look like they're sabotaging Apple's idea when they may just haven't bothered making the changes to support it yet. Why prioritize making those changes when they wouldn't help you?

 

[jpeyton]

The entire point of the Apple SIM was to be programmable and switchable between networks.

If AT&T is locking the Apple SIM, Apple should remove AT&T from the drop-down list of options for use with an Apple SIM.

 

[npaladin-2000]

It also doesn't work with Verizon or Sprint, does it?

 

[gorcorps]

It also doesn't work with Verizon or Sprint, does it?

Based on the images it worked with ATT, T mobile and sprint (that's what was on the list)

Edit: you don't even have to look at the pictures, it's in the OP

 

[cpacini]

I still don't understand what the point of the universal Sim is in the first place. Why is being able to reprogram the sim better than just putting in a new Sim when you switch carriers?

 

[paperwastage]

I still don't understand what the point of the universal Sim is in the first place. Why is being able to reprogram the sim better than just putting in a new Sim when you switch carriers?

Cause its convenience...since the hardware is the same, it'll work across all networks (theoretically)

With a universal Sim, you can decide to jump to another network immediately without the need to hunt for another sim cad and switch

Also, I think sprint is still pulling the whole ' we didn't sell it, so the iPad imei isn't in our system and we can't activate it ' thing even with universal sims

 

[gorcorps]

Cause its convenience...since the hardware is the same, it'll work across all networks (theoretically)

With a universal Sim, you can decide to jump to another network immediately without the need to hunt for another sim cad and switch

Also, I think sprint is still pulling the whole ' we didn't sell it, so the iPad imei isn't in our system and we can't activate it ' thing even with universal sims

All of the service providers have stores all over the place, and you can just walk in and ask for a new sim and they'll give it to you. That's what AT&T did when I bought a new phone on craigslist. I walked in, said "my sim card doesn't fit this new phone" and they gave me the sim that did. No extra charge, no problems.

There's extra convenience in not having to go to a store, but that situation has happened once in the entire time I've owned a smartphone.

 

[Eug]

Around here, SIMs cost $10 each, and it's a PITA to have to carry these things around. It's like having to stick in a new floppy disk to dial a new service provider.

 

[eelw]

Guess Apple will have to provide warranty replacement cards.

 

[JEDIYoda]

All of the service providers have stores all over the place, and you can just walk in and ask for a new sim and they'll give it to you. That's what AT&T did when I bought a new phone on craigslist. I walked in, said "my sim card doesn't fit this new phone" and they gave me the sim that did. No extra charge, no problems.

There's extra convenience in not having to go to a store, but that situation has happened once in the entire time I've owned a smartphone.
__________________

That will not be the case this time around...$$$$

 

[paperwastage]

All of the service providers have stores all over the place, and you can just walk in and ask for a new sim and they'll give it to you. That's what AT&T did when I bought a new phone on craigslist. I walked in, said "my sim card doesn't fit this new phone" and they gave me the sim that did. No extra charge, no problems.

There's extra convenience in not having to go to a store, but that situation has happened once in the entire time I've owned a smartphone.

only if you live in a metropolitan area...

rural areas might not have (corporate) stores within a 30-minute radius

I'm actually more disappointed at Apple... They should have nixed the sim since verizon (and essentially AT&T) won't be using that feature

 

[npaladin-2000]

Based on the images it worked with ATT, T mobile and sprint (that's what was on the list)

Edit: you don't even have to look at the pictures, it's in the OP

Isn't Sprint refusing to let them on the network unless they have the IMEI on file and give the user a Sprint SIM? That's what I heard. Something about a bug in their network software. That they aren't in a hurry to fix, particularly.

 

[Bateluer]

I thought the Apple SIMs were embedded? Or is that a future goal for their proprietary SIM?

Either way, sounds like the US carriers are going to make a simple thing needlessly complicated. Again.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

http://www.redmondpie.com/att-will-lock-apple-sim-to-its-network-on-new-ipads-after-activation/



Hmm. Seems like the opposite of the original intend. The Apple SIM is embedded, non-removable, and was designed to be nearly universal. Kinda defeats the point.

Better be sure you want to activate that LTE iPad on AT&T's network, and likewise take care if you're looking to pick up one used.

Is this even true? I haven't played with the Air 2, but everything I read shows that its removable. Please don't spread FUD around when the post below yours contradicts your information.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I thought the Apple SIMs were embedded? Or is that a future goal for their proprietary SIM?

Either way, sounds like the US carriers are going to make a simple thing needlessly complicated. Again.

Who cares? In many places around the world you just swap SIMs and you're good to go. People are NOT switching carriers every other week. Even if you are, then you should probably be using PAYGO SIM cards like people do around the world, in which case, does it matter that you have a universal SIM? The concept of swapping SIMs is not foreign in other countries, so I don't get why there's a big deal about the Apple SIM to begin with.

Plus, of the 2 carriers in the US, T-Mobile and AT&T are the only GSM carriers. Whoopdedoo considering Verizon makes you whitelist the device via IMEI and all that.

 

[Bateluer]

Who cares? In many places around the world you just swap SIMs and you're good to go. People are NOT switching carriers every other week. Even if you are, then you should probably be using PAYGO SIM cards like people do around the world, in which case, does it matter that you have a universal SIM? The concept of swapping SIMs is not foreign in other countries, so I don't get why there's a big deal about the Apple SIM to begin with.

Plus, of the 2 carriers in the US, T-Mobile and AT&T are the only GSM carriers. Whoopdedoo considering Verizon makes you whitelist the device via IMEI and all that.

Is this even true? I haven't played with the Air 2, but everything I read shows that its removable. Please don't spread FUD around when the post below yours contradicts your information.

Wasn't spreading FUD. The initial reports from Verge on the Apple SIM were that it was to be embedded and non-removable. I was not aware that Apple was delayed on their plans. Apple doesn't manufacture a different SKU for every country, they make 1 or 2. And when Apple moves to embedded SIMs in future iProducts, they'll need that SIM to be universal across all skus.

Don't be an ass.


Also, here's John Legere's tweetstorm explaining how US carriers kinda fvcked it up.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/26/...re-takes-to-twitter-to-explain-the-apple-sims

 

[akugami]

only if you live in a metropolitan area...

rural areas might not have (corporate) stores within a 30-minute radius

I'm actually more disappointed at Apple... They should have nixed the sim since verizon (and essentially AT&T) won't be using that feature

Chicken and egg. Someone's gotta take the first step in supporting it. Writing is on the wall. It won't happen overnight but I believe in a few years practically every mobile device will use "universal sims" that can be used anywhere. On the plus side, this can help with stolen devices since on top of the IMEI, the universal sim would be another way of identifying any stolen devices.

 

[podspi]

Is this even true? I haven't played with the Air 2, but everything I read shows that its removable. Please don't spread FUD around when the post below yours contradicts your information.

I also thought the Apple SIM was non-removable. I thought that was the point. A 'virtual' SIM that was switchable.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I also thought the Apple SIM was non-removable. I thought that was the point. A 'virtual' SIM that was switchable.

No, its removable. Even the Verge article Bateluer claims to have said wrote about non-removable SIMs mentions that it IS removable, but that Apple did toy with the idea of non-removable SIMs.

This is certainly idiotic of AT&T, but at the end of the day, its not a big deal when people swap SIMs with different carriers now. Would it be nice to have a global SIM that can work with any carrier? Sure. But SIM cards are free on AT&T last I checked and sure its a $10 fee on T-Mobile, but how often do you need a new SIM card anyway? Just keep them around.

 

[Mopetar]

I also thought the Apple SIM was non-removable. I thought that was the point. A 'virtual' SIM that was switchable.

That only works if you reach a point where every single carrier is on board. As soon as you run into one that isn't, it becomes unfeasible. It's doubtful that someone like Verizon will ever want to get involved, but I can see why T-Mobile would be okay with it.

It's a nice idea, but good luck getting all the carriers to agree to play along.

 

[cronos]

1. Design a tablet with non-removable SIM, that allows user to switch carriers, presumably making it easy for users to move to different carriers without switching SIM cards.
2. Allow carriers to lock the tablet to their system.
3. Both users *and* the tablet are now stuck on that carrier.
4. (high fives behind the scene)

Genius!