News - Apple rumoured to have abandoned plan to cut out iPhone carriers

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But iPad could reportedly get an integrated SIM plus slim line design.

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And this is a surprise? Apple always want 100% control over their products including how they're used. Making the sim card not replaceable like the battery is just the next step.

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The Telegraph's source reportedly said Apple would roll out integrated-SIM versions of its popular tablet in time for Christmas or in early 2011. It would appear that it might be able to sell its iPad in a way it seemingly can't sell its iPhone as the tablet is not subsidised at all by UK mobile operators.

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Erm....
Orange & T-Mobile to subsidise iPads

Anyway, this investment in time and energy wouldn't be justified by the UK market alone as that paragraph implies, just being unsubsidised until now in the UK would not be an incentive to go this route.