Despite lackluster support from major carrier partners, Apple’s carrier-agnostic Apple SIM demonstrated its potential today with the announcement that GigSky — “the first global mobile network designed for travelers” — will offer short-term iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 cellular data plans in over 90 countries and territories. “Now there’s no need to pick-up a local SIM, hunt for Wi-Fi, or travel in fear of excessive data roaming charges,” GigSky explained. “iPad users can choose a GigSky data plan upon arrival right from their iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 with Apple SIM installed, and easily connect to family and friends, stay in touch and share their travel.”
GigSky’s list of countries notably covers much of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with patchier offerings across South America, Asia, and Africa. Data prices vary dramatically by location. For instance, plans for Puerto Rico include 40MB/3 days ($10), 200MB/7 days ($25), 400MB/14 days ($35), and 1GB/30 days ($50), while data packages are markedly lower (20MB/80MB/120MB/250MB) for the same prices and durations in Canada.
According to GigSky, Apple will make Apple SIM available in 10 additional countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey “over the coming weeks.”
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That’s pretty damn cool.
It would be great if Apple just built Apple Sim into all product lines. Use it or not it would simplify their hardware line and you’ll just always have that option available to you.
I think somewhere down the line we won’t even buy “phones.” I mean what is a phone anyway? If you take the cellular out of the picture they are just pocket, camera computers. If the Apple watch ever gets cellular it could effectively take over being the connected device that people always have on them.
Ultimately, we should be able to have any combo of devices and just decide which one it makes sense to act as the internet hub for the rest.
wow, 10$ for 20MB that’s a steal. In a lot of countries you might be better off getting your own SIM card.
Indeed. As cool the service might sound, but the prices are just hell expensive. Just go to a local store.
To easily find local providers store use local sim app from appstore
Way too expensive to even consider. Nice idea though.