New ‘Apple SIM’ Preinstalled on Cellular iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3

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Posted October 16, 2014 at 8:17pm by iClarified

A new 'Apple SIM' will be shipping with the cellular iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3, letting customers switch cellular providers with ease.

While the cellular versions of iPads have always been unlocked, customers would have to pick their cellular providers at time of purchase to ensure that SIM card would be pre-installed. With the new Apple SIM, one SIM card will work with multiple US and UK carriers. Customers can now switch back and forth between cellular providers, depending on which provider suites them best at that moment.

The new Apple SIM is preinstalled on iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi + Cellular models. The Apple SIM gives you the flexibility to choose from a variety of short-term plans from select carriers in the U.S. and UK right on your iPad. So whenever you need it, you can choose the plan that works best for you — with no long-term commitments. And when you travel, you may also be able to choose a data plan from a local carrier for the duration of your trip.

US Carriers AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are all supporting the Apple SIM. Verizon is not participating in the Apple SIM Program, so those customers must visit a Verizon store if they wish to use a cellular iPad with Verizon.

New ‘Apple SIM’ Preinstalled on Cellular iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3

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Bill - October 18, 2014 at 5:53am

Totally agree with all the comments here Verizon is the new Woolworths, they will never learn. Until they hit bankruptcy.

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Techno - October 17, 2014 at 6:45am

Decision will be costly in the end. Consumers will hesitate to consider them especially when most use phone a data for tablet. No tablet option, no phone....goodbye verizon.

AlfredEnewman - October 17, 2014 at 5:47am

Verizon is the worst. When will they ever learn

GenesisDH - October 17, 2014 at 12:36am

Do I understand correctly that one can still remove the SIM on the new models? If so, then that's not really as big of a deal if one uses VZW.

RWR - October 17, 2014 at 3:51pm

the point of it is to make it easier for the customer, not impossible.

iDood - October 17, 2014 at 12:00am

Verizon seems to think highly of themselves since they have the best network out of the four carriers. I personally don't have them as my provider but I think that is where they are coming from and to thinking they are not a follower but a leader. I just wish they made the right judgement and choices. I think its a great move by Apple to have multiple carriers involved and making it easier for consumer to choose the best data provider for the iPads this time around. I am not planning to get one since I don't feel the need of having another device. Macbook pro and my iPhone 6 gets me by.

gamerscul9870 - October 16, 2014 at 10:56pm

Looks like Verizon has accepted the facts and quit giving the "best" of tablets. No wonder others are trusted easily but some here are decent work to listen to.

Jacob - October 16, 2014 at 9:15pm

Your saying the number carrier in the U.S. Is going to be left behind by a product that continue to drop in sales. A product in which most of it sales are of used models. Verizon is not going to lose sleep over this.

Techno - October 16, 2014 at 10:00pm

Oh yeah they will when a few millions switch due to this simple fact.

it's pointless though cause you can pay your phone plan AND a tablet plan, OR just use t-mobile and pay $80 for unlimited talk text and internet (no throttling) and 3 GB (they may have changed it to 5GB) of wifi hotspot from your phone. the 3gb plan is $30 and the 5gb plan is $40. so you save $130 upfront AND $30-$40 each month if you just get the wifi only. i find the 4g models pointless. you may argue that t-mobile service sucks, but living in a major city, I would have to disagree with you.

stevenlacross - October 16, 2014 at 8:49pm

Stupid Verizon, they are going to be left behind