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While there are certainly user benefits (like easier switching between providers) that's not the primary point of the Apple SIM. Think about SKUs and inventory

While there are certainly user benefits (like easier switching between providers) that's not the primary point of the Apple SIM. Think about SKUs and inventory. On launch day this month, Apple had 2 phones, with 3 different storage sizes, available in 3 different colors. Apple SIM is about not have to have another multiple on top of all those combination about which network the phone works on (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc). Apple SIM lets them go from 42+ SKUS, to 12. User choice is nice and Apple certainly cares about the user experience. But Tim Cook made his bones at Apple as master of supply and distribution chains. Apple SIM helps them, even if the carriers all balk on allowing users to switch providers via software.

tiziano88 12y ago
I'm not sure I follow. Can they not have 12 SKUs and then allow people to put "normal" SIMs in them?
- comex 12y ago
  You're allowed to put a normal SIM in them. But in the name of user experience, you shouldn't be required to fiddle with little pieces of plastic to get online.
kalleboo 12y ago
Why is it so hard for Americans to learn what a SIM card is? "The SIM card is your phone number". My 85 year aunt knows what one is and how to swap it out. Why do they have to be preinstalled? So Apple can shave a mm off the thickness of the device?
- pivo 12y ago
  Maybe because most people here never ever change their SIM card. You buy a phone and you're basically locked into your carrier until your contract expires, then you buy a new phone because it's the only way to justify the ridiculous monthly fees. If you venture overseas you often just put up with the stupid-high rates your carrier will charge you because it's too much of a pain or too complicated to call your carrier and get your phone unlocked. I don't think saving mm's off the thickness is a factor at all because the SIM is still replaceable. I think Apple thought it was a better user experience to be able to choose their carrier this way. And of course now they don't have to stock iPads with carrier-specific SIMs. Yes, they could sell SIM-less iPads, but that would make for a poor buying experience, at least for us SIM-shy 'merkins.
  - mitchty 12y ago
    The other problem have been the cdma carriers have been and still are the predominant cell carriers in the USA. That means most never used phones with sims until recently.
- beagle3 12y ago
  > "The SIM card is your phone number" It used to be a useful statement, but the US (and many other countries) now have phone number portability, and other stuff. I've changed my SIM to _stay_ with the same number from a different carrier in the past, after porting.

tiziano88 12y ago

I'm not sure I follow. Can they not have 12 SKUs and then allow people to put "normal" SIMs in them?

comex 12y ago
You're allowed to put a normal SIM in them. But in the name of user experience, you shouldn't be required to fiddle with little pieces of plastic to get online.

kalleboo 12y ago

Why is it so hard for Americans to learn what a SIM card is? "The SIM card is your phone number". My 85 year aunt knows what one is and how to swap it out. Why do they have to be preinstalled? So Apple can shave a mm off the thickness of the device?

pivo 12y ago
Maybe because most people here never ever change their SIM card. You buy a phone and you're basically locked into your carrier until your contract expires, then you buy a new phone because it's the only way to justify the ridiculous monthly fees. If you venture overseas you often just put up with the stupid-high rates your carrier will charge you because it's too much of a pain or too complicated to call your carrier and get your phone unlocked. I don't think saving mm's off the thickness is a factor at all because the SIM is still replaceable. I think Apple thought it was a better user experience to be able to choose their carrier this way. And of course now they don't have to stock iPads with carrier-specific SIMs. Yes, they could sell SIM-less iPads, but that would make for a poor buying experience, at least for us SIM-shy 'merkins.
- mitchty 12y ago
  The other problem have been the cdma carriers have been and still are the predominant cell carriers in the USA. That means most never used phones with sims until recently.
beagle3 12y ago
> "The SIM card is your phone number" It used to be a useful statement, but the US (and many other countries) now have phone number portability, and other stuff. I've changed my SIM to _stay_ with the same number from a different carrier in the past, after porting.