5 ms·

I'm surprised nobody is talking about the Apple SIM which personally I feel is one of the most incredible features they've shipped this year: no more SIM cards,

I'm surprised nobody is talking about the Apple SIM which personally I feel is one of the most incredible features they've shipped this year: no more SIM cards, just pick the carrier you want in the Settings app and you're signed up. Fed up with them? Switch carrier in an instant. Going abroad? Switch to a local carrier. Just wow. I really hope they bring this to iPhone. http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad-air-2/wireless/ http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad-air-2/wireless/ (near the bottom, search for "Apple SIM")

monstermonster 12y ago
That's ok until there's a provider that they don't have in their database. This may be a big problem for the smaller virtual operators or calling card outfits.
- abc_lisper 12y ago
  But apple does update their (baseband?) firmware every now and then, right?
quinndupont 12y ago
From what I can tell, it's ONLY those US and UK carriers. So, for example, don't come travelling up to Canada :(
- GHFigs 12y ago
  If you travel to Canada or anywhere else, you take out the Apple SIM and put in your local SIM.
- hackerboos 12y ago
  In the UK only EE is participating (as of now) so you can switch from EE to...EE.
Matoso 12y ago
On the other hand I'm grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan, If the Apple SIM isn't a swappable card I doubt I'd be able to get unlimited with it. For that matter I'm also not seeing verizon listed as a participating provider, which seems to be cutting out a previously supported demographic.
eloisant 12y ago
With a regular SIM, I can put any SIM from any carrier, and they don't have to be blessed by Apple. I'm not going to let go this freedom, thank you. I'd rather have a physical operation to do than give even more control to Apple.
- evv 12y ago
  At first I was excited by this feature, but you're right. Knowing Apple, they are most likely doing this so they can get rid of the SIM slot in future devices. Of course they will tout the slim device and large battery, but it is really all about control.
- GHFigs 12y ago
  You could just take out the Apple SIM.
- Igglyboo 12y ago
  You can still do that, just replace the apple sim with yours.
- mrcwinn 12y ago
  There are greater freedoms to protect and care for. :) What's happening here is not a company taking freedom from you. It's that old balance of convenience for the many, or customization for the few who care. For most people, this will mean an increased convenience, more competition, better pricing, easier signup. That's an obvious win, in my book, and clearly a positive innovation for Apple to focus on.
- ksec 12y ago
  Well you get the best of both worlds. For majority of users, they will just use what ever network that has signed up to be used with Apple Sim. For those who really want the freedom of using what ever you want, you can always take out the sim. ( Which is a hassle in itself )
joesmo 12y ago
So can I still use a regular sim card? If not, this is truly disappointing, not incredible.
- eric_h 12y ago
  You must be able to - I don't see Verizon listed among supported carriers for the "Apple sim" (or whatever they're calling it), and my current iPhone and iPad won't connect to the Verizon cell network without a Verizon sim.
  - Selfcommit 12y ago
    In the past there were different hardware versions of Apple devices for Verizon and everyone else... I'd hate to see a trip back to that.
    - eric_h 12y ago
      Likewise, and I think Apple would agree (better for their margins). I was quite pleased to see that all of the iPhone 6s, regardless of carriers, appear to be the same (at least as evidenced by there being only one version of iOS 8 to download compared to iOS 7 and the iPhone 5/5s)
Tloewald 12y ago
Also -- am I right that this is the first iPad to be able to create a hotspot? This changes the economics of mobile -- you can grab a data plan as you like it and when you like it, and use VoIP calling and so forth. I wonder if the watch may be able to interoperate with a cellular iPad instead of an iPhone.
- elithrar 12y ago
  > Also -- am I right that this is the first iPad to be able to create a hotspot? This changes the economics of mobile -- you can grab a data plan as you like it and when you like it, and use VoIP calling and so forth. Nope, existing (my Retina Mini) iPads can do it too.
  - Tloewald 12y ago
    Thanks for the response. Being able to switch providers AND create a hotspot is pretty damn cool though.

monstermonster 12y ago

That's ok until there's a provider that they don't have in their database. This may be a big problem for the smaller virtual operators or calling card outfits.

abc_lisper 12y ago
But apple does update their (baseband?) firmware every now and then, right?

quinndupont 12y ago

From what I can tell, it's ONLY those US and UK carriers. So, for example, don't come travelling up to Canada :(

GHFigs 12y ago
If you travel to Canada or anywhere else, you take out the Apple SIM and put in your local SIM.
hackerboos 12y ago
In the UK only EE is participating (as of now) so you can switch from EE to...EE.

Matoso 12y ago

On the other hand I'm grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan, If the Apple SIM isn't a swappable card I doubt I'd be able to get unlimited with it. For that matter I'm also not seeing verizon listed as a participating provider, which seems to be cutting out a previously supported demographic.

eloisant 12y ago

With a regular SIM, I can put any SIM from any carrier, and they don't have to be blessed by Apple. I'm not going to let go this freedom, thank you. I'd rather have a physical operation to do than give even more control to Apple.

evv 12y ago
At first I was excited by this feature, but you're right. Knowing Apple, they are most likely doing this so they can get rid of the SIM slot in future devices. Of course they will tout the slim device and large battery, but it is really all about control.
GHFigs 12y ago
You could just take out the Apple SIM.
Igglyboo 12y ago
You can still do that, just replace the apple sim with yours.
mrcwinn 12y ago
There are greater freedoms to protect and care for. :) What's happening here is not a company taking freedom from you. It's that old balance of convenience for the many, or customization for the few who care. For most people, this will mean an increased convenience, more competition, better pricing, easier signup. That's an obvious win, in my book, and clearly a positive innovation for Apple to focus on.
ksec 12y ago
Well you get the best of both worlds. For majority of users, they will just use what ever network that has signed up to be used with Apple Sim. For those who really want the freedom of using what ever you want, you can always take out the sim. ( Which is a hassle in itself )

joesmo 12y ago

So can I still use a regular sim card? If not, this is truly disappointing, not incredible.

eric_h 12y ago
You must be able to - I don't see Verizon listed among supported carriers for the "Apple sim" (or whatever they're calling it), and my current iPhone and iPad won't connect to the Verizon cell network without a Verizon sim.
- Selfcommit 12y ago
  In the past there were different hardware versions of Apple devices for Verizon and everyone else... I'd hate to see a trip back to that.
  - eric_h 12y ago
    Likewise, and I think Apple would agree (better for their margins). I was quite pleased to see that all of the iPhone 6s, regardless of carriers, appear to be the same (at least as evidenced by there being only one version of iOS 8 to download compared to iOS 7 and the iPhone 5/5s)

Tloewald 12y ago

Also -- am I right that this is the first iPad to be able to create a hotspot? This changes the economics of mobile -- you can grab a data plan as you like it and when you like it, and use VoIP calling and so forth. I wonder if the watch may be able to interoperate with a cellular iPad instead of an iPhone.

elithrar 12y ago
> Also -- am I right that this is the first iPad to be able to create a hotspot? This changes the economics of mobile -- you can grab a data plan as you like it and when you like it, and use VoIP calling and so forth. Nope, existing (my Retina Mini) iPads can do it too.
- Tloewald 12y ago
  Thanks for the response. Being able to switch providers AND create a hotspot is pretty damn cool though.