Apple SIM Allows Users To Swap Data Plans On New iPad Air 2

Yes, Apple's recent iPad event was one of the dullest launches that the company has ever hosted. After allowing Craig Federighi to finish his 30-minute discourse on iOS and OS X news, Tim Cook finally came onto stage to unveil the new thinner and lighter iPads: the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3.

However, there was one important development from the event that wasn't given enough attention: the beginning of the end of the SIM card as we know it. Apple announced the Apple SIM, which is an embedded-SIM that can be re-programmed.

In the US and UK, the LTE versions of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 will ship with this reprogrammable SIM card.Thanks to this, users can switch to different carriers via the Settings menu in iOS. In simple words, this allows you to switch between your current contract and perhaps a better deal from another carrier, to get the best of both worlds.

The concept of a software-programmable SIM is quite fascinating and will allow tablets to ditch the removable SIM card and its tray mechanism. In its place, the manufacturer can solder a SIM card permanently onto the device.

Apple is showing a clear interest in this new standard and there is a chance that we might see it included in future versions of iPhones and iPads.

In short, Apple has always had it in for the SIM card and this new standard will help the company do away with that clumsy little piece of plastic that we've been carrying around in our devices for the last decade or so.

-technostorm