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You can put a different SIM in it. The device (in this case the iPad) itself isn't locked to a carrier. The Apple SIM was only an additional convenience in that you didn't even have to put in a new SIM in it (i.e. the same SIM could be used on multiple carriers) to change carriers.

However, that's currently effectively limited to 3 carriers now (2 US and 1 UK) with AT&T effectively making it non - reprogrammable SIM if activated on AT&T).

> US carriers are so silly. People can easily use unlocked phones in Europe and - this might shock them - the sky hasn't fallen!

People in Europe are paying $20/month for plans that are better than what americans are paying $70/month. It is not the US carriers that are silly. It is the US customers.

Americans are not against this. The phone companies who hold oligopolies are against this.

> the sky hasn't fallen! The usual duopolies are still the same duopolies as they were a decade ago

Prices have definitely dropped though. Mobile telephony in Europe is usually cheaper than in the US.

Except when you leave your home country.