Apple today added Japanese mobile operator KDDI to its list of carriers that support the Apple SIM for the iPad, expanding Apple SIM availability to Japan for the first time. The Apple SIM can now be purchased in Japanese Apple stores in addition to retail stores in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the United States.

The Apple SIM, introduced in 2014 alongside the iPad Air 2, is designed to allow users to easily switch between different short-term data plans from a number of different carriers. The Apple SIM is particularly useful for traveling abroad, allowing users to switch carriers as needed.

applesimpartners
During the early days of availability, the Apple SIM was limited to the United States and the United Kingdom through a partnership with carriers AT&T, EE, Sprint, and T-Mobile, but in June, a partnership with GigSky expanded availability of data plans to more than 90 countries.

The Apple SIM is available for cellular models of the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, and iPad mini 3.

Top Rated Comments

134 months ago
It's amazing that Apple can even convince one Japanese carrier (Japanese wireless carriers are worse than US). Hopefully more will come on-board.
Thing is, many carriers outside the US offer post-paid contracts for tablets as well, so it might be a high mountain to climb for Apple to convince everybody.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
134 months ago
Why the heck doesn't Apple use these in iPhones?

With a universal "Apple SIM" in the iPhone, Apple could sell ONE set of SKUs that works on most carriers. No more issues with one carrier being out of stock at the store; any phone of the right capacity/color/size will do.

It seems like using these in iPhones would benefit Apple and the customer several times over compared to their use in iPads.
The carriers have to agree to it. It's a lot less of a risk for the carrier to allow it on the iPad than on the iPhone.

Heck, it probably translates to more sells for them on the iPad, since the iPad can be bought with or without cellular. People who feel like they might swap carriers in the future wouldn't want to get a carrier specific iPad so would go for the wifi model, except with Apple SIM, they might be more willing to buy cellular knowing they can easily swap later when they change carriers.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChristianVirtual Avatar
134 months ago
Some old measurement

Test Date: Sep 28, 2015 11:03 PM :D
Download: 4.16 Mbps
Upload: 9.96 Mbps

Right now I got :mad:
Test Date: Nov 19, 2015 10:13 PM
Download: 0.51 Mbps
Upload: 11.43 Mbps

Too many people streaming :confused:

Update from this morning:
Test Date: Nov 20, 2015 7:24 AM
Download: 1.62 Mbps
Upload: 25.39 Mbps
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Apple Watch 15 Tips Every Owner Needs to Know Feature

Apple Watch: 15 Tips Every Owner Needs to Know

Thursday February 19, 2026 7:38 am PST by
Apple Watch is now eleven generations in, and packed with useful features that are easy to miss at first glance. To help you get more out of your new device, we've rounded up 15 practical tips you might not have discovered yet, including a few that long-time users often overlook. Bounce Between Two Apps On your Apple Watch, double-press the Digital Crown to see a deck of all currently...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...