AT&T Locking Apple Interchangeable SIMs in iPad Air 2 and Retina Mini 3

Apple’s new Apple SIM card in the iPad Air 2 and the Retina iPad mini 3 is designed to be universal, usable across a variety of wireless carriers in the US and UK, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and UK’s EE. According to user reports in the MacRumors forums and on Twitter, AT&T is not supporting this interchangeability and is locking the SIM included with cellular models of the iPad Air 2 and Retina iPad mini 3 after it is used with an AT&T plan.

Image via John Legere
A newly posted Apple support document details what happens to the SIM when it is activated on US carriers.

Using Apple SIM, you can choose from different cellular carriers and their various programs. The data plans vary by carrier. For instance, in the United States, you can choose a domestic plan from either Sprint or T-Mobile and also pick an alternate plan from the other carrier as needed. When you choose AT&T on iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, AT&T dedicates Apple SIM to their network only.

If your Apple SIM becomes dedicated to a specific network and you want to choose from other carrier programs, you can purchase a new Apple SIM from an Apple Retail store.

Apple introduced this universal SIM along with the iPad Air 2 and Retina iPad mini 3. It is the first SIM provided by Apple that is designed to work across multiple carriers.