One SIM. Many options.

[Bimwad]

MGS_forgot_password wrote:
I'm guessing Apple gets a cut of what you're paying for data. So they're doing what they need to do to keep you from swapping SIMs.

Apple doesn't get a cut, and there's nothing to prevent the user from swapping SIMs.

The pre-installed "Apple SIM" can be configured for any participating carrier.

Presumably, Verizon users will have to swap it out for a Verizon SIM, though it's not clear whether that will occur at the Apple store, or users will have to do it on their own.

From Apple's point of view, they can dispense with the complexity of carrying SKUs for each carrier, and ship just one model for each capacity and color, instead of three. The Air 2 hardware is universal, and unlocked. just as it was for the Air.

Since cellular iPads aren't sold primarily as subsidized devices, Apple can ignore the carriers and do what they like, such as selling all of the hardware unlocked, and eliminating the removable SIM, just as they wanted to do with the iPhone. They haven't done the latter, yet, but there's little reason to think they Apple would purposely do that to limit the user's choices.