There may be increased competition and good deals to be had in the wireless markets, but the major carriers will still try to lock you in…
Per Re/code, wireless carrier AT&T has apparently taken advantage in the change to the SIM card found in the new iPad, which apparently allows customers to designate which wireless carrier they’d like to use it with, by essentially locking its customers in to the service, requiring the customer to purchase an entirely new SIM card to change their provider.
AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel confirmed to Re/code that customers who use the Apple SIM on AT&T will need another SIM card to switch carriers, but stressed that the device itself remains unlocked.
“With us you can change carriers with this iPad any time you want,” he said. “It is an unlocked device. … All [you] have to do is switch out the SIM in the device so it works on another carrier.”
As for why AT&T is locking the SIM card to its network while other carriers are not, Siegel said that “it’s just simply the way we’ve chosen to do it.”
While the ability to change carriers with just the switch of a SIM card tends to be more open than most devices sold in the U.S., AT&T’s move is still raising eyebrows and drawing questions as to why the company is doing this.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
One reply on “AT&T confirms Apple SIM card lock, says customers will need to buy new SIM card to change carriers”
Just got an AT&T sim card for my iPad Air 2 and saved the Apple sim card. It was free with signup and can be turned on and off. You are charged $1+ to put it in a holding pattern until you need it. Then buy one month ($30 for me)