The new Apple SIM in the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 is being locked to AT&T if data subscribers choose that carrier, according to complaints. The problem is confirmed by a new Apple support document. “When you choose AT&T on iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, AT&T dedicates Apple SIM to their network only,” the page reads.
AT&T is so far the only carrier that appears to be locking the Apple SIM, which is intended to allow people to move between providers seamlessly. In the US, for instance, iPad owners can try a T-Mobile plan one month but switch to Sprint the next, and vice versa. Apple’s support document indicates that if a person chooses AT&T, the only way to make the leap to another carrier is to buy a new Apple SIM.
Prior to the latest models, people buying an iPad had to choose a specific carrier, whether in advance or by activating an appropriate SIM card. This remains true with Verizon, which isn’t an option on an Apple SIM.
