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

[djphat2000]

First let me start by saying this is a stupid move by AT&T. It does nothing but dissuade customers from using their service. Generally SIM cards tend to cost about $15, however most corporate owned stores for the carriers will provide them without charge if they are activating them on a plan. I would imagine that Apple will likely charge between $15 - $30 for a new AppleSIM whenever they begin to make them available.........

Source:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/09/apple_granted_patent_where_carriers_bid_for_iphone_service

-PopinFRESH

EDIT: P.S. if you are going to quote me, please spare the thread and don't quote the whole wall of text

This would be DOPE!
And so Apple like.

 

[ephemeralreason]

ATT completely sucks - I can't wait until my phone contract end to leave them.

 

[proline]

AT&T should be sliced up into smaller companies again

Are you joking!? You can't kill a T-1000 that way. The pieces melt back together after like 15 seconds. You either use molten lava or you bend over.

 

[iphone5att64]

ATT completely sucks - I can't wait until my phone contract end to leave them.

What's the big deal with getting another SIM card?

 

[Plutonius]

That can't be right. I have an AT&T SIM that I've been using on and off on the iPad, sometimes with far more than 60 days between activations.

http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013/01/prepaid-tablet-data-plans-compared.html

edit: I tried to read through AT&T agreements to see where they mentioned it but it's near impossible to figure them out . Maybe I'll try activating my AT&T sim and check again in 3 months to see if it still works. I like T-Mobile but there are many areas I go with no connectivity .

 

[avanpelt]

The next time I travel internationally, I plan on giving GigSky a try. Their data rates aren't the cheapest but their service sure seems convenient when paired with their iOS app.

 

[eekcat]

You may already know this, but Sprint still locks the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Odd, because the Verizon iPhone models have all been unlocked going back to the 5, so definitely not a CDMA issue...

Verizon's are unlocked because that was one of the FCC conditions for their LTE spectrum purchase... I think.

 

[RF9]

The AT&T sim card will permanently deactivate if not used for a 60 day period after activation. You then are forced to put a new one in your iPad and reactivate it. It was this way for the Air1 and Mini2 and it's obvious that AT&T wants to lock the card to AT&T so they can still deactivate it if not used for a 60 day period.



I really like T-Mobile (and use it) but the coverage is still poor compared to AT&T and Verizon. In my case, I might be forced to switch from T-Mobile to AT&T because I can't get connectivity in many places I travel .

All of my iPads (4 of them for the household) are parked on T-Mobile's free 200MB/month for life. It's perfect for light data use and especially locating a misplaced iPad through Apple's find iPhone or Find Friends. If I need heavier data I usually tether through the phone, find WiFi, or order 1 week or 1 month of data for the duration then returning back to the free 200MB when done.
It doesn't benefit the heavy user, but our iPad cellular use is sporadic so it's perfect. It's good for T-Mobile because I do give them business because I'm already on their SIM for the free data.
The other carriers should take a page from T-Mobile.

 

[bartolo5]

If you think it's that easy for international visitors you have no idea what you are talking about. It can be a huge hassle to get a local SIM up and running. Apart from finding one in the right physical format and understanding the available plans (with information often being only available in the local language), many require a credit card with a local billing address or even a local bank account to activate. All this stuff can take hours to resolve that you'd rather spend more productively.

+1 many times to this. Most often than not getting a local SIM is a huge hassle. You have to:

1) Find out about local offers and which ones offer data at decent prices, if they do such a thing.
2) Find a physicial store where they sell them
3) A biggie. Many countries, EU in particular, want to see local residence for SIM issuance.
4) Figure out APN settings. Hopefully the iphone/ipad configures this automatically, but smaller carriers you have to do this manually. The APN sometimes is not readily available.

When all is said and done, you've wasted a lot of time on this. If you are going to stay local in the country for a while, +1 week it may be worth it, but for shorter stays not so much. The Apple SIMs solves this problem beautifully if more carriers sign up.

 

[dan.synergy]

I can think of a workaround that has minimal inconvenience of carrying around 2 sim cards.This is from my personal experience at AT&T corporate brick and mortar locations, whom have replaced my iphone sim multiple times. Now I am confident that AT&T would not want to lose your business just because you didn't bring your own sim card.

Here you go:
1. Take out Apple provided sim from new and shiny device
2. Admire Device once more
3. Place Apple provided sim in safe place (USB drive wallet?)
4. Walk your new device into at&t and request activation.
5. Walk out with your new and shiny device/sim

Now, if you want to use another less restrictive network, you have the handy dandy provided sim at your convenience.

 

[garylapointe]

an at&t spokesperson confirmed to re/code that at&t customers who use the apple sim with at&t will need a different sim card to switch carriers. At&t did not explain why it opted to lock the sim card to its network, however, with the spokesperson saying "it's just simply the way we've chosen to do it."

All Apple has to do to stop this nonsense is to have the SIM stop supporting AT&T.

Or put a really big warning first!

Gary

 

[RF9]

__

 

[scottwoelfel]

That's why T-Mobile

Left AT&T for T-Mobile a year ago and regret not a thing. Call quality is better, data speed tremendous (30-50GB downstream in Atlanta), no data caps, good customer service, and CHEAPER! Oh, and I ordered my iPhone 6 Plus a day after it was announced and still got it the first weekend. My brother ordered the same from through AT&T the same day and they told him he won't get it until possibly Thanksgiving.

Take the hint, folks. Leave AT&T.

 

[rigormortis]

I have two or three SIMs from ATT for free.

I don't know if it matters but they are used in GoPhone (pay per use minutes, etc.) phones. I stick them in old iPhones, turn off cellular data, and give then to my young nieces and nephews.

except for that new iPad 3 deal???

AT&T go phone sims do not work in iPads. because they are sold unactivated. and
you have to dial #s to pick a plan to activate the sim, because the iPad has no dial pad, because it has no phone, you can't activate go phone sims in an iPad

I've tried. fry's let me return it.

if you need an AT&T sim for an iPad , the AT&T store will give you a free one a long as you bring your device and activate it in the store

let me explain deactivated.. when you put a go phone sim in an ipad, it won't even talk to the towers. when i tried got NO SERVICE and in order to get signal strength you have to dial codes to select a plan. that is why go phone sims do not work in iPads. do not waste your $15 unless you have an iPad 3. and thats another thing i don't understand. why pay $15 for go phone iPad 3 when u can get a free sim with iPad 3 ?? i guess its simply because you can fund your iPad with cash??

 

[Lazy]

People seem to be confusing the difference between locking a device and locking a SIM.

Most likely they're not. But you and a few others are misinterpreting the sometimes imprecise wording people are using to express their irritation or anger over this as them not understanding the difference.

However... for many completely non-technical people who don't know what a SIM card is or that they can swap it, locking the card would in effect lock their device. I'm sure AT&T is well aware of and counting on that.

----------

I'm starting to think the purpose of the Apple SIM was never customer convencience, but solely to simplify Apple's inventory management. That's probably why they didn't even mention it at the keynote.

I'm sure it's the latter that mainly motivated it, but Apple also has to be pleased about getting the former too.

 

[Gizmotoy]

"it's just simply the way we've chosen to do it."

"we just simply decided we can continue to be hostile to our customers and you will have to take it because you have no other choice."

 

[rigormortis]

Until T-Mobile gets better coverage, the big two can do anything they want. Thus, why im on Verizon. I want a phone that works anywhere, not just in a city.

i guess until t-mobile gets better coverage you are refusing to get 200 mb of data for life on your iPad? did i mention that $10 a month on an iPad on t-mobile gives you free unlimited music streaming just like if you paid $50 on an iPhone???

when t-mobile gives you free music for $10 or 200 mb of iPad data for free the whole t-mobile vs verizon coverage dispute seems wishy washy, like who cares. get your free music

how much data does $10 get you on verizon???

 

[pubwvj]

Click Cancel for freedom.

 

[c.s.]

I didn't realize the carriers could do this. I thought the sim was a proprietary Apple thing. That solves it for me - I'll just get wifi model and tether.

 

[JoseSF]

Irony

ok

 

[avanpelt]

"we just simply decided we can continue to be hostile to our customers and you will have to take it because you have no other choice."

They want the customer to think they have no other choice. The customer will learn...and so will AT&T, eventually.

 

[noiceT]

Typical AT&T move

 

[mw360]

It's funny that people are angry at AT&T for locking a SIM but these same people have no problem with Apple's closed ecosystem or the requirement to have a mac device to watch product launches. Some of us use products from multiple vendors. A locked SIM is no big deal compared to some of Apple's restrictions.

I just switched back to an iPhone and some of these comments make we wonder about Apple fans. This site is much more fanboyish than when I visited back 6 years ago.

How do you know its the same people? Is everybody on the internet the same to you?

 

[Batman89]

It's funny that people are angry at AT&T for locking a SIM

The SIM isn't from AT&T.

A locked SIM is no big deal compared to some of Apple's restrictions.

Everything that Apple "locks" is from Apple. If Google wants to limit the online viewing product launches of Androids to those on the Chrome web browser that's their business.

But AT&T locking a SIM that is from another company, after this other company made the SIM for the PURPOSE of being UNLOCKED, is a huge issue.

 

[Plutonius]

i guess until t-mobile gets better coverage you are refusing to get 200 mb of data for life on your iPad? did i mention that $10 a month on an iPad on t-mobile gives you free unlimited music streaming just like if you paid $50 on an iPhone???

when t-mobole gives you free music for $10 or 200 mb of iPad data for feee the whole t-mobile vs verizon coverage dispute seems wishy washy, like who cares. get your free music

how much data does $10 get you on verizon???

I have T-Mobile and like T-Mobile but, there are many areas I go where I have no connectivity . It doesn't matter how cheap it is or if you get free radio if you can't connect.

If you can connect with T-Mobile, it's the best plan. If you have spotty connections, it's not.