Now if only they sold the Apple SIM separately...
This begs another great question: Will they? And if you go to a Verizon store with your Apple SIM equipped iPad, they obviously load their SIM in and you keep the Apple SIM leaving you to be able to do...?
So is this like an 'unlocked' iPad? Like the Tmo iPhone model?
Meaning - tomorrow can I buy a cellular model iPad without signing a data contract?
All iPads are sold unlocked by default. Been that way since the first generation was released in 2010. If you were signing a data contract, it was to subsidize the cost of the iPad; though those deals with tablets are never good as they only subsidize $100-200 anyway and that's not worth being locked into a contract for.
I don't really see the point in having a mobile connected iPad - in what way is it more useful than the hotspot on your iPhone?
How about the fact that an iPad has WAY more battery life than an iPhone and can thusly provide data via hotspot for way longer without needing a charge?
In terms of Apple devices... they have since the iPhone 4S.
Traditionally CDMA didn't use SIM cards. But LTE is derived from GSM technology, and uses SIM cards. All Verizon LTE devices have them.
(That makes it sort of interesting that the Verizon 4S had a SIM card, since it didn't support LTE. CDMA/EVDO apparently can use a SIM card, but it's not required.)
The iPhone 4S on Sprint and Verizon had a SIM card slot because it was a world-phone. Prior to that, the iPhone 4 was not a world phone (by virtue of there being a CDMA version and a GSM version) and after that, the iPhone 5, 5s, and 5c was not considered a world phone (as they also had different versions for CDMA and GSM providers).
1) How will the Apple sim affect the T-Mobile free data for life ?
2) Sprint was requiring you to buy a Sprint iPad Air with LTE to use their network (AT&T, T-Mobile didn't care). Are you required to buy a Sprint iPad Air2 with LTE to use the Sprint network ? If not, does that mean any iPad Air can now use the Sprint network ?
3) To use Verizon on the Air2, do you need to get a Verizon LTE Air2 or just go to the Verizon store with any newly purchased Air2. What's to prevent you from putting the Apple sim back into your Air 2 after registering it with Verizon or switching back to the Verizon sim when you want to us Verizon ?
1. If you're talking about the 200MB plan, then it won't affect it.
2. There will be no "Sprint iPad Air 2". Sprint is participating with Apple SIM, therefore, any retail box model of cellular iPad that comes with an Apple SIM can be activated and used on Sprint's network. According to Apple, this is only applicable to the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3. All older Airs/minis will still be carrier-specific.
3. It sounds like there won't be a specific Verizon version of the LTE-equipped Air 2 or mini 3. Though, I'd imagine, in order to make life easier for those of us on Big Red, they could easily sell a special SKU of LTE iPad Air 2/mini 3 that had the Verizon SIM in tow instead of the Apple SIM. Either way, to answer your question about swapping SIM cards, it appears as though there's nothing to stop you from doing exactly what you described as the iPad Air 2/mini 3 is still carrier-unlocked.
You'll most likely be able to select your carrier during checkout. Apple wouldn't make the users have to go to a Verizon store for a SIM if they chose that carrier.
ATT Sprint and T-mo selections would get the Apple SIM pre-installed, while Verizon purchases would get a Verizon SIM pre-installed.
Just my take on it. BUT: Perhaps Verizon customers can register their iPad with Verizon online or in-store, with the Apple-SIM still installed. There's a few ways Apple can go about this I presume...
Yeah, I'd be curious to see how this is handled. Apple may very well just sell Apple SIM units and let Verizon sell units that have their SIM in tow...as though they were a regional provider or something. Not sure. Am very curious to find out how this all works.
and paying to get 4x5 or 8x10+ developed 
