The Apple SIM is the latest breakthrough from the California-based technology giant to hit the markets. Currently available only in the UK and US, Apple has created an application that involves the use of a SIM card for the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3. The application that has been dubbed as the Apple SIM allows users to switch between service providers without physically having to change SIM cards. This application was formulated in collaboration with various service providers in the US and UK. iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3. The application that has been dubbed as the Apple SIM allows users to switch between service providers without physically having to change SIM cards. This application was formulated in collaboration with various service providers in the US and UK.iPad mini 3. The application that has been dubbed as the Apple SIM allows users to switch between service providers without physically having to change SIM cards. This application was formulated in collaboration with various service providers in the US and UK.
With the Apple SIM users will effectively be able to subscribe to multiple service providers while utilizing a common SIM card. This will give the users the advantage to be able to subscribe to short-term data plans from different service providers. Users will be able to select plans as per their requirements and without any long-term commitments on a pro-rata basis.
The Apple SIM will be beneficial to people who travel frequently within the US and the UK as it will allow them to pick up local plans just for the duration of their trips and will not force them to take expensive roaming plans oor the time bound local plans.
Apple has currently tied up with AT&T, sprint and T-mobile in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the Apple SIM can only be used with EE.
While the Apple SIM is currently available only on the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 currently apple eventually hopes to roll it out to their handsets as well. Typically most users purchase their mobile phones through carriers which keep’s them contractually bound to that service provider for the duration of the contract. With the introduction of the Apple SIM in the iPhone users will be able to select and change services providers at their whim from the comfort of their homes.
With the array of possibilities that the Apple SIM opens up, one can’t help but wonder why Apple CEO Tim Cook left it out of his Keynote speech. One possible reason could be to maintain a healthy relationship with the service providers, the iPhone contributes to almost two-thirds of Apple’s profits. These iPhones are heavily subsidised by these service providers, the Apple SIM would mean that users would have to purchase the unlocked versions of the phone, which would increase the upfront cost to almost 850$ against the 350$ for the carrier bound version.
That’s why the Apple SIM flew under the radar during Thursday’s launch event. Apple’s relationship with carriers is still vital to its most important business, and in the midst of its desire to take more control of handset distribution, it needs to play nice with AT&T and Verizon.
However, this still marks a step in a good direction for users, who will be allowed cherry-pick the service provider they want to use on an ios device for the first time. We can only hope that Apple works out an economically viable solution with the carriers and roll out the Apple SIM in the whole range of ios devices.
Image credit : http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/16/apple-sim-details-and-potential/
The iPhone Help
The iPhone Help