Apple introduced two new iPads yesterday, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. The iPad Air 2 was a major spec overhaul, and had a slight design change, while the iPad mini 3 added Touch ID, and called it a day. What Apple didn’t tell you is that the new iPads include a single SIM card, Apple SIM.
What exactly is Apple SIM? The new SIM card allows the user to switch cellular networks without switching SIM cards. Accessible from the settings > cellular data portion of the settings, the SIM card allows you to purchase short-term cellular plans versus a 12, 24, or even 48 month service plan with your carrier.
The SIM card is currently only available in the US and UK. Supported on AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in the United States, and EE in the United Kingdom. Though carriers should follow suite and support this new SIM card in the near future.
In 2010, Apple made the change to micro-SIM cards, a smaller variant to the traditional SIM card. In 2012, Apple made yet another change, supporting nano-SIM’s. If history is any indication, the carriers will be following suite.
Can Apple revolutionize the carrier industry by using a single SIM card? Maybe embed the SIM card (similar to CDMA carriers pre-LTE), inside of their devices. The current generation iPhones currently use a single model across the board for both GSM and CDMA carriers. (The only exception is China.)
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