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Apple. SIM question

R

RMSko

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 3, 2010
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I have the new 9.7 iPad Pro and have an AT&T SIM installed in the SIM slot. It's all working fine, but I'm going to be traveling internationally soon and so want to also select an additional plan with the Apple SIM. I have unlimited data and so I want to be very careful with this. So, when I go into Settings > Cellular, under choose a data plan, it currently says "AT&T SIM Card" and below that it says "Add a New Plan". I have two questions:

1. If I add a new plan, will this just be using the Apple SIM and be an additional plan, i.e., I definitely don't want to replace my current unlimited data plan and so I would only want an additional plan where I could freely move between the plans?

2. Which plan would be best for international usage? T-Mobile has a $10 plan that's good for 5 months, but I assume it's only for the US? While there is a GigSky option, it only allows me to add plans for the US and Puerto Rico (I guess because I'm in the US?).
 
D

dyt1983

macrumors 65816
May 6, 2014
1,365
165
USA USA USA
edit: to remove possibly personally identifying information no longer relevant to the thread.
 
Last edited:
Wentzelg

Wentzelg

macrumors member
Jun 12, 2014
70
18
the iPad pro 9.7 has an imbedded sim that will allow you to sign up for a temporary plan once you get to you destination. Once you do that you will see 2 carriers under cellular data. Adding a new plan won't mess with your ATT plan. I would however remove the ATT sim before you get to your destination to be sure it doesn't try to connect and you get hit with international roaming charges. The OP is giving you good advice, wait till you get there. It will be much cheaper. I was in Hong Kong a while back and the local data was super cheap and available everywhere. With the embedded sim all you should need is a Credit Card to set it up right from the iPad. I prepaid before I left on a trip to scotland and it worked fine, but was way more expensive than if I had waited and bought local.
 
burgman

burgman

macrumors 68030
Sep 24, 2013
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2,368
Wentzelg said:
the iPad pro 9.7 has an imbedded sim that will allow you to sign up for a temporary plan once you get to you destination. Once you do that you will see 2 carriers under cellular data. Adding a new plan won't mess with your ATT plan. I would however remove the ATT sim before you get to your destination to be sure it doesn't try to connect and you get hit with international roaming charges. The OP is giving you good advice, wait till you get there. It will be much cheaper. I was in Hong Kong a while back and the local data was super cheap and available everywhere. With the embedded sim all you should need is a Credit Card to set it up right from the iPad. I prepaid before I left on a trip to scotland and it worked fine, but was way more expensive than if I had waited and bought local.
Click to expand...
According to my Apple store this isn't true, just a sim in the slot like before. Can anyone confirm there is a non removable sim in addition to the slot?
 
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jbachandouris

jbachandouris

macrumors 603
Aug 18, 2009
5,916
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Upstate NY
burgman said:
According to my Apple store this isn't true, just a sim in the slot like before. Can anyone confirm there is a non removable sim in addition to the slot?
Click to expand...
Than your Apple Store is not properly trained. The embedded SIM was mentioned during the Keynote. Apparently no one pays attention.
 
R

RedOrchestra

Suspended
Aug 13, 2012
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burgman said:
According to my Apple store this isn't true, just a sim in the slot like before. Can anyone confirm there is a non removable sim in addition to the slot?
Click to expand...

From Apple

"Apple SIM. The ultimate travel partner. All iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular models are unlocked, so you can pop in a SIM card at any time to get connected. Apple SIM for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available for purchase at most Apple Retail Stores. And the 9.7-inch iPad Pro with an embedded Apple SIM is available all over the world."
 
burgman

burgman

macrumors 68030
Sep 24, 2013
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RedOrchestra said:
From Apple

"Apple SIM. The ultimate travel partner. All iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular models are unlocked, so you can pop in a SIM card at any time to get connected. Apple SIM for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available for purchase at most Apple Retail Stores. And the 9.7-inch iPad Pro with an embedded Apple SIM is available all over the world."
Click to expand...
Again can an owner confirm an embedded sim exists, not just regurgitating the marketing.
 
Wentzelg

Wentzelg

macrumors member
Jun 12, 2014
70
18
burgman said:
According to my Apple store this isn't true, just a sim in the slot like before. Can anyone confirm there is a non removable sim in addition to the slot?
Click to expand...
I have a pro and have two data plans operating off the internal and one operating off the external. So yes it exists and works.

For the OP that has the failed imbedded sim, I would take it back and ask for a replacement.
 
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Channan

Channan

macrumors 68030
Mar 7, 2012
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New Orleans
burgman said:
Well a typical jerk response,an Apple employee said it didn't I don't own one so there you are. Now an owner verified.
Click to expand...
Apple says the iPad Pro 9.7 has an embedded SIM and you don't believe them. Random person on the Internet says their iPad has an embedded SIM and that's enough confirmation for you?
 
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Night Spring

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,791
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burgman said:
Well a typical jerk response,an Apple employee said it didn't I don't own one so there you are. Now an owner verified.
Click to expand...

When official Apple webpage and random Apple low level store associate contradict each other, then you should assume the low level employee is misinformed.
 
burgman

burgman

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Sep 24, 2013
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Channan said:
Apple says the iPad Pro 9.7 has an embedded SIM and you don't believe them. Random person on the Internet says their iPad has an embedded SIM and that's enough confirmation for you?
Click to expand...
Yes and the problem is? Do you feel better, I hope so :). At any rate it seems in the USA it's use is limited to one carrier and can be disabled by other carriers, so no use to me.
 
Chupa Chupa

Chupa Chupa

macrumors G5
Jul 16, 2002
14,835
7,396
RMSko said:
I have the new 9.7 iPad Pro and have an AT&T SIM installed in the SIM slot. It's all working fine, but I'm going to be traveling internationally soon and so want to also select an additional plan with the Apple SIM.
Click to expand...

This may have changed since last year, and also be different w/ embedded SIMs, but when I was in London last year I tried to buy a local plan via the Apple SIM but it would not activate b/c the carrier required a UK credit card.

Before I left for the trip I bought the top ATT International Roaming plan for my iPhone. A bit pricey but did the trick for data and most importantly could still be contacted on my U.S. phone number. I just used my iPad w/ hotel WiFi.

On previous trips I have bought prepaid SIM cards in the country to save $ but it gets to be a time waster as in a lot of countries you can't just buy a prepaid plan off the shelf, you have to have a clerk help you, sometime show ID, etc.
 
Wentzelg

Wentzelg

macrumors member
Jun 12, 2014
70
18
burgman said:
I agree why would Apple limit its use to one carrier in the US?
Click to expand...
They don't. There is another thread here that explains it fully but in a nutshell here is what I belleve to be the details:
1. Verizon purchased iPad pro 9.7 has the embedded sim disabled and is sold like all new iPads with an unlocked external sim.
2. ATT iPad Pro 9.7 if activated in store or when purchased online are said to have the embedded sim slot locked to ATT and the external unlocked to be used just like all the new iPads.
3. Apple purchased iPad pro 9.7 (and I can verify this by owning one) have both the embedded and external open and usable.

4. I have read that T-mobile and Sprint do not lock the internal to their network if purchased from them.

There are some international versions that are locked (maybe japan... google it or read the other thread) to the various carriers but as far as US centric iPads the above is the current state of how they are sold.
 
burgman

burgman

macrumors 68030
Sep 24, 2013
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2,368
Wentzelg said:
They don't. There is another thread here that explains it fully but in a nutshell here is what I belleve to be the details:
1. Verizon purchased iPad pro 9.7 has the embedded sim disabled and is sold like all new iPads with an unlocked external sim.
2. ATT iPad Pro 9.7 if activated in store or when purchased online are said to have the embedded sim slot locked to ATT and the external unlocked to be used just like all the new iPads.
3. Apple purchased iPad pro 9.7 (and I can verify this by owning one) have both the embedded and external open and usable.

4. I have read that T-mobile and Sprint do not lock the internal to their network if purchased from them.

There are some international versions that are locked (maybe japan... google it or read the other thread) to the various carriers but as far as US centric iPads the above is the current state of how they are sold.
Click to expand...
Just read that on TechCrunch, thanks.
 
xraydoc

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
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Anyone know the cost of a new Apple SIM? Can't find a price online and Google turns up nothing.

They go for $13-$20 on eBay.
 
O

off_piste

macrumors 6502a
Oct 25, 2015
762
479
xraydoc said:
Anyone know the cost of a new Apple SIM? Can't find a price online and Google turns up nothing.

They go for $13-$20 on eBay.
Click to expand...
I thought I read on here that someone walked into an Apple Store and got one for free. I have no personal knowledge though.
 
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