AT&T Locking Apple Interchangeable SIMs in iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 [Updated]

[gwenaellp]

Big surprise

Really ?????

I chose tmobile because of this kind of BS from AT&T and Verizon , I don't know why people are still giving their money to crooks like them

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O-k, Sprint and T-Mobile it is.

The big two must think they're invincible.

They do , because too many idiots still sign up with them

 

[garylapointe]

I bet it's only for iPad Air 2 customers? I've never had T-Mobile so it could also mean new customers only.

Yeah, but right now they're getting $0 a month from me for their free 200MB (which I rarely use), wouldn't I be a good person to target for this offer (which appeared to be limited) and they could get some money from me (and possibly get me hooked).

I couldn't even find this T-Mobile deal ($10 for 5GB with 150 days to use it) after a Google search, you think they'd be promoting this more before people get locked to ATT.

UPDATE: I just Googled today, and I do see some mentions of the offer, appear to be iPad Air 2 only (again, why not offer it to everyone?) and looks non-renewable. Looks like it's tied to the new AppleSIM (it might be on the new mini too).

Gary

 

[MYB]

I hit cancel when I saw it!

 

[MYB]

Walked in to ATT and got a new ATT sim with no problem. Glad I read this before activating the data on the new Ipad.

To transfer, you do need the cellular number for your data account, so be sure to take it with you.

Popped the ATT sim in the new Air 2 and it worked perfectly and is indeed the same account with unlimited plan.

Saved the Apple sim.

Unnecessary and moderately irritating but took less than five minutes.

So, is your unlimited data on your phone? Or do you have unlimited data on your iPad and another unlimited data account for your iPhone?

If you are using your phone's unlimited data plan on your iPad, please tell me how you managed that??

 

[Rigby]

UPDATE: I just Googled today, and I do see some mentions of the offer, appear to be iPad Air 2 only (again, why not offer it to everyone?) and looks non-renewable.

The fineprint on the iPad says this: "Available on select devices as one-time offer at activation only."

 

[Apple II]

So, is your unlimited data on your phone? Or do you have unlimited data on your iPad and another unlimited data account for your iPhone?

If you are using your phone's unlimited data plan on your iPad, please tell me how you managed that??

No, they just transferred my ipad data account (with unlimited) from my old device to a brand new SIM. Would not issue a new SIM without linking it to an account.

 

[wjereb]

Seems to only apply to activating a new Smartphone unless you are referring to another program.

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/100-dollar-credit.html#fbid=

I received the $100 bill credit when I activated my new iPad Air 2 today.

 

[rmatthewware]

You are missing that AT&T locks the Apple SIM even when you buy the iPad directly from Apple at full price.

AT&T has NO RIGHT to claim that SIM as their own, and frankly this should be illegal. It's basically property damage. You literally have to buy a new SIM to restore the previous functionality.

I agree 100%. This is the kind of garbage the FCC and the FTC should be investigating.

 

[iSayuSay]

So basically AT&T destroys the very basic idea behind Apple SIM? Well understandable I mean the concept is great but software based SIM is making way too easy for customers to switch carriers, which also means it becomes too easy for a carrier to lose a customer.

Apple SIM should have more clear control and bring the balance of benefit for both customers and carriers. For example once you choose your carrier, you can enjoy a free trial period for 3 or 4 days and if you decide to stay then you cannot switch for at least 12 months. After that you can reset and choose another carrier if you want, or not. Rinse and repeat. No need for this frivolity by AT&T. And no need to bring it to Apple to "switch SIM". Everybody happy

 

[KPandian1]

DCMA in the USA!

I agree 100%. This is the kind of garbage the FCC and the FTC should be investigating.

This is my point - I had already asked twice in this site why ATT hacking Apple's SIM is not a violation of the DCMA - the same tool they used until this year to keep our phones locked to their network, and fighting any attempt to change that practice in the USA!

Yes, only USA - where the person who makes the call and the person who receives it get charged! Contrary to telecommunications practice before these Cellular goons forced such an action down our throats - the elected officials taken care of with their PACs!

And how cable companies take care of the members of the local Public Service Commissions!

Remember the days of six second billing! Or search "missed calls donations for charity" to see how the rest of the world operates!

Capitalism by a few, for a few ... is autocratic, fascist dictatorship!

The Feds and the Interpol! May be they should get involved in this - start with the SIM and break the syndicate!

 

[Yebubbleman]

That is the solution at the moment i guess...but said solution defeats the point of the apple sim ...

Apple Sim works on 4 carriers atm
ATT (US)
TMobile (US)
Sprint (US)
EE (United Kingdom)
as ATT Locks it in it really only works on
Tmobile/sprint/EE

If you have att and get a sim card to save your apple sim you are likely not using sprint or tmobile as they both overlap with att... and if you are just going to switch your sim when you switch to them why not switch to a tmobile sim or sprint sim not the apple sim

Same problem with ee ... yes you could stick the apple sim card back in but the point of the apple sim was to make it easy to switch among carriers on the go, if you are switching out the sim when you visit the UK why not just pop in an ee sim card

The problem here is a lack of apple leverage or lack of there willingness to use it... and the lack of cooperation (if they got android on this too it would be adopted far more)

Goal: Stick a sim in then never have to switch it just go into settings and pick a plan and go (perhaps future plans include an unremoveable sim or one built into the casing so there less structural weakness or something, as of now it saves apple lots of money and gives business travels a service comparable to the double sim phones samsung and others are pushing)

Reality:
Use it at att and it becomes a useless att sim <--- Completely makes apple sim worthless and popping out an att sim for apple sim is the same as popping out an att sim for tmo/sprint/or ee

Use it at tmo or sprint and you can swap between them or ee when you need to <--- The goal, will not gain much traction in the us unless it is adopted elsewhere or apple refuses the new models to carriers who dont accept apple sim ... this would hurt apple but i seem to remember att living it up when they were the only iphone suppliers and i image sprint and tmo would welcome the fleeing att/verizon subscribers with open arms

The list of supported carriers for Apple SIM will surely increase. Given that, I'd still say that it probably makes sense to preserve the Apple SIM. Also, it's not like AT&T universally overlaps with Sprint and TMo in terms of coverage and speeds.

 

[garylapointe]

The fineprint on the iPad says this: "Available on select devices as one-time offer at activation only."

As I said, "why not offer it to everyone?" (once), the point is to get people hooked, right? I'm sure their computers can keep track that I only use this option once.

And it appears to only be the new AppleSIM (on new apple iDevices), not a T-Mobile SIM (but from the descriptions, I can't be sure the T-Mobile SIM was a new activation).

Gary

 

[sracer]

T-Mobile, here I come.

Someone should come up with an infograph outlining what companies Apply fans should boycott. It's getting a little complicated.

 

[praetorian909]

what exactly are you "just saying'..."? Informing people how to take a screen shot? I'm not sure how that is relevant to the thread. Would you care to elaborate?

-PopinFRESH

Oh, just referring to the photo in the OP. It was taken with a camera (or iPhone, I didn't check the meta data) because there's lots of glare from lights at the top left corner.

 

[kwikdeth]

They do not throttle on unlimited plans I have 4 phones on my account that regularly use over 20GB each a month with no problems

i can unequivocally tell you that they do. maybe you're in an area where there's not enough congestion to warrant it, but ive watched the speedtest results make a clear drop. simply because you havent experienced the same phenomena does not automatically mean its not happening to other people.

 

[Rigby]

As I said, "why not offer it to everyone?" (once), the point is to get people hooked, right? I'm sure their computers can keep track that I only use this option once.

I was just letting you know what the fineprint says. I'm not John Legere and have no idea what's going on in his head. Perhaps they want to use this as part of a promotion for the new iPads once they have them in stock.

And it appears to only be the new AppleSIM (on new apple iDevices), not a T-Mobile SIM (but from the descriptions, I can't be sure the T-Mobile SIM was a new activation).

It seems that all iPad Air 2 sold by T-Mobile will come with an Apple SIM (pre-locked to T-Mobile though according to a tweet by Legere).

 

[krewger]

One phrase! Douche-tastic!

 

[ellsworth]

Stuff like this happened because Apple is allowing it. If Apple gave these carriers stricter standards into order to sell or be a selected carrier for their products, none of this would happen.

C'mon Apple. Do something about this.

 

[rjohnstone]

Stuff like this happened because Apple is allowing it. If Apple gave these carriers stricter standards into order to sell or be a selected carrier for their products, none of this would happen.

C'mon Apple. Do something about this.

Unfortunately Apple has little recourse here.
Carriers are the ones who determine what SIM cards are permitted on their network.

Sure Apple could drop support for AT&T, but that would be shooting themselves in the foot as they would have to intentionally block the carrier and/or its frequencies on the iPads themselves.
A simple software update could take care of that, but does Apple really want to go down that route over a SIM card?

 

[ellsworth]

Unfortunately Apple has little recourse here.
Carriers are the ones who determine what SIM cards are permitted on their network.

Sure Apple could drop support for AT&T, but that would be shooting themselves in the foot as they would have to intentionally block the carrier and/or its frequencies on the iPads themselves.
A simple software update could take care of that, but does Apple really want to go down that route over a SIM card?

I beg to differ. I believe Apple initially signing up with AT&T to be the exclusive carrier of their iProducts was the first finger of control for Apple. Apple can easily do something about this... and no, I don't believe it's only about the SIM cards. it's about the data throttling, the spotty customer service, the pricing, the packaged offered, etc. Apple knows they're dealing with the devil but I guess in this business, it's choosing the least of two evils. Apple will eventually get their wish to have all of their products be carrier-less. It's going to take a decade or two but they'll get there.

 

[rjohnstone]

I beg to differ. I believe Apple initially signing up with AT&T to be the exclusive carrier of their iProducts was the first finger of control for Apple. Apple can easily do something about this... and no, I don't believe it's only about the SIM cards. it's about the data throttling, the spotty customer service, the pricing, the packaged offered, etc. Apple knows they're dealing with the devil but I guess in this business, it's choosing the least of two evils. Apple will eventually get their wish to have all of their products be carrier-less. It's going to take a decade or two but they'll get there.

This is not 2007 and their products are by definition "carrier less" as they will now work with any carrier or no carrier at all. (WiFi).
SIM cards have always been the under the control of the carrier, not the device manufacturer.
Sure AT&T wants to make it harder to leave, but it's their prerogative.

The only way Apple can control the network aspect of it is to become their own carrier. But even then, they will still have to support other carriers at the risk of losing customers who refuse to switch.

 

[ellsworth]

This is not 2007 and their products are by definition "carrier less" as they will now work with any carrier or no carrier at all. (WiFi).
SIM cards have always been the under the control of the carrier, not the device manufacturer.
Sure AT&T wants to make it harder to leave, but it's their prerogative.

The only way Apple can control the network aspect of it is to become their own carrier. But even then, they will still have to support other carriers at the risk of losing customers who refuse to switch.

I agree. There's no winning.