Apple internal document introduces Apple SIM card: one card with multiple numbers

After the launch of the new iPad in October, Apple quietly built an "Apple SIM card" into the 4G iPad, but did not publicly announce this detail. Recently, according to a report from the foreign technology blog 9to5mac, Apple released an internal document to retail store employees explaining the situation of the Apple SIM card.

Apple has designed a new universal SIM card for the latest iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, which is compatible with multiple mobile operators, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile in the United States and EE in the United Kingdom. When users purchase these two operator versions of iPad tablets, they can get a universal SIM card called Apple SIM. In the United States, using this SIM card can save the iPad from the trouble of switching operators and can be used in areas where the original operator's signal coverage is poor.

In the UK, EE is the only operator that supports Apple SIM. Therefore, in theory, British users cannot freely choose between several operators like American users. Supporting EE is just convenient for American users who roam in the UK. EE in the UK is one of the first operators to support Apple SIM cards, and perhaps more operators will support Apple SIM in the future.

The document confirms that consumers traveling between the United States and the United Kingdom can switch data networks between operators at will, eliminating the hassle of buying local SIM cards or changing plans in their home countries.

Apple SIM cards also support use by UK users when roaming in the United States. Users can simply select the T-Mobile data network through settings.

This SIM card is not only released with the new iPad, but users in the United States can also purchase the Apple SIM card separately at Apple retail stores.

Currently, T-Mobile and Sprint in the United States both allow users to switch, but some operators do not cooperate. Verizon Wireless has not joined Apple's project. AT&T is the only operator that locks the "Apple SIM". Once users switch to the AT&T network, this card will be locked to this network and cannot be switched back to other networks.

Apple SIM card is not a technical innovation. Chinese users are familiar with this type of SIM card. In China, a few years ago, there was a way to "use multiple numbers on one card" to write several SIM information into one SIM card. Apple did not clearly announce the original intention of the design of Apple SIM card, but it is obvious that they want to save users the trouble of frequently changing SIM cards and realize the function of "switching to whichever network is better".

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.