One SIM. Many options.

[Bimwad]

silvarios wrote:
This doesn't make any sense. Unlocked devices are traditionally sold SIM free. The different SKUs generally reflect color, capacity, supported radio frequencies, etc. If the new iPad is a universal device, why not simply sell one model and have the consumer pick up the necessary SIM?

What doesn't make sense? Have you ever purchased a cellular iPad? Prior to this, each one had a pre-installed carrier-specific SIM. Take each color, capacity, and multiply by a factor of three different models, one for each carrier. The user had to select which carrier model before purchase. They aren't sold like unlocked phones with no SIMs.

Now, there is single model for each configuration with a programmable SIM where the user has the convenience of selecting the carrier during setup, instead of procuring their own SIM from the carrier.

How is that less advantageous, for either Apple, or the user, unless they're a Verizon subscriber?

What's the consumer benefit here. As a SIM user for over a decade, this "improvement" is lost on me. Especially since not all carriers are participants in the program. Notice there are no MVNOs or smaller carriers listed, in addition to the absence of Verizon.

The users receive a marginal benefit of a smaller or thinner device. Argue that all you wish. Apple gets to eliminate the physical SIM tray assembly, and treat it as just another chip on the logic board.