What is the impact of Apple SIM on the industry?: SIM Kusen

IPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, a new iPad product released in October.At first glance, it is a specification change that may be considered a minor upgrade version of the previous model, but in fact, the cellular compatible model released in the United States and the UK comes with a special SIM called "Apple SIM".

　"Does Apple intervene in the choice of career by the user?"Where is Apple's aim?I would like to organize and consider the information once again.

What is Apple SIM?

　通常のSIMカードには電話番号だけでなく、利用可能なネットワーク（ドコモ、au、米AT&Tなど）の情報が書き込まれています。また、各キャリアに対応したSIMカードは、それぞれのキャリアから入手するのが普通です。これらの情報は書き換わることはなく、例えばSIMフリーiPadを持っているユーザーがドコモでSIMカードを入手後、ソフトバンクの回線に切り替えたくなった場合は、ソフトバンクショップで新たにSIMカードを入手する必要があります。

　However, if you use Apple SIM, you can switch your career freely when you want to go to the store.In other words, it is a "free SIM card".

　Currently, this Apple SIM is included only in celluler -compatible iPads (models with Touch ID) released in the United States and the United Kingdom.However, as will be described later, even if you purchase at a carrier shop in the United States, the conditions will change.If you purchase the corresponding model in the UK and American Apple Store (online offline), you will receive an Apple SIM.You can also purchase Apple SIM card kits separately in the UK and American Apple Store.

　Now, launch the iPad of this Apple Sim and select "Mobile Data Communication" from the configuration app, the career selection screen will be displayed as follows.

　Users can choose your favorite career and plan from here without going to your career shop.For example, we usually operate only with Wi-Fi, contract T-Mobile for only one week on a business trip, and when traveling to the UK, we signed a local carrier EE for only one week.Without going to the shop, it is possible with one SIM.

What is Apple's aim?

　GREG Joswiak, a senior vice president in charge of Apple's product marketing, asked if he would use Apple Sim on the iPhone in an interview with the US IT Media RE/Code.

　If you receive this answer at face value, you can say that you have introduced Apple SIM for the convenience of the user.

　In addition, it was three years ago, but 90 % of the tablets sold in the United States were Wi-Fi-only models.Because of the telephone function, unlike a mobile phone that always requires connection, it can be seen that there is no problem with Wi-Fi operation with a good tablet that only needs to be connected when using it.

　Meanwhile, the existence of Apple SIM, which can contract a mobile line very flexibly, has a merit for his career.

Ideal and reality over Apple SIM

　That said, Apple Sim is a completely new attempt.There seems to be a temperature difference in how to receive US carriers.

　In the case of Japan, it is three major carriers, but the United States has four major carriers, in the order of share.

1. ベライゾン
2. AT&T
3. スプリント
4. T-Mobile

　It is.

　このうち、Apple SIMが対応するのはAT&T、スプリント、T-Mobileで、1位のベライゾンはApple SIMに賛同していません。

　Ideally, you should be able to freely come and go between these three companies, but there are actually the following restrictions.

　Also, if you purchase an iPad from a carrier shop, it will be more complicated.

　Only T-Mobile, the fourth largest share, has completely driven Apple's requests.

　If you think about the aim of Apple, it is a career by providing flexible career changes to increase the sales ratio of celluler models that sell only 10 %, and use your career plan even in the short term.It can be said that it contributes to sales.

　On the other hand, as a career, there is a risk of further price competition, and you may want to escape from Apple's more control.

　At present, the claims of these companies are mixed, and it has become a very complicated mechanism.

　Apple SIM is currently being trial and error.I can't read future developments yet, but it may be the desired technology in Japan, which has been lined up by the three major carriers.

　Also, although there is no direct relationship with Apple SIM, the sale of SIM -free iPhone 6/plus has stopped as of December 10.In other countries, it continues to be sold, and it is only in Japan.Not only online shops, but also at real stores such as Apple Store Ginza.

　The reason is not clear, but it has been rumored to be a sudden depreciation of the yen.

　I was curious, so I compared how much the price in other countries was different at the rate on the 10th (the price at the Apple Online Store, all excluding tax).

　First of all, the lowest price iPhone 6 16GB model.

　Next, the most expensive iPhone 6 Plus 128GB model.

　How!In other countries, it was found that $ 200-300 was expensive than the United States in Japan.I'm happy as a Japanese user, but it's too unbalanced.

　Apple has been reducing prices and raising prices to absorb the fluctuations of exchange rates, and it is not unusual to change the selling price.However, this time it is a "suspension of sales", whether it takes time to determine the price, whether to wait until the yen is strong, whether it is a completely different reason, or when it will resume....

Related keywords

Apple | SIMカード | iPad Air 2 | iPad mini 3 | モバイルネットワーク

関連記事

関連リンク

Copyright: (C) NTT Resonant Inc. All Rights Reserved.