Apple just introduced a SIM that you don’t have to replace when you switch carriers

Apple didn’t announce this during its event today, but it has created a SIM that makes switching carriers as easy as a few taps without having to visit a physical carrier store.

The Apple SIM that ships in the new iPad Air 2 just made switching carriers and traveling abroad about a hundred times easier. Instead of having to replace a SIM every time you want to connect to a new carrier, the Apple SIM lets you choose carriers in both the US and UK from the Cellular Data setting in the iPad.

This is what Apple says on it’s iPad Air 2 page about the new feature:

The Apple SIM gives you the flexibility to choose from a variety of short-term plans from select carriers in the U.S. and UK right on your iPad. So whenever you need it, you can choose the plan that works best for you — with no long-term commitments. And when you travel, you may also be able to choose a data plan from a local carrier for the duration of your trip.

While this is great for the iPad, the Apple SIM could make its way into the next iPhone and make SIM swapping a thing of the past. For anyone with an unlocked phone or that travels internationally, this is some pretty stellar news.

Apparently T-Mobile CEO, John Legere is a fan of the Apple SIM:

#Apple‘s SIM w/ the new #iPad is huge benefit to all customers, smart ones will bring it to the #datastrong network. #amiright?!

— John Legere (@JohnLegere) October 16, 2014

How other carries react and whether the technology behind Apple SIM will carry over to other smartphone platforms is yet to be seen. Currently AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile support the feature in the US. In the UK, it is supported by EE.