Why do so many applications try to get the SIM and network operator name?

I understand [what Android permissions mean](https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/38388/what-do-android-application-permissions-mean) and I have a specific question about two telephony permissions. I've been using [XPrivacy](https://github.com/M66B/XPrivacy) for a while and noticed that many apps that ostensibly have nothing to do with the low-level telephony features, nevertheless make repeated calls to [getSimOperatorName()](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.html#getSimOperatorName()) and [getNetworkOperatorName()](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.html#getNetworkOperatorName()) . MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter is one such app. What need would ordinary apps have to call these methods? For example, why would MyFitnessPal care I'm using AT&T or Verizon, when the app could be running just fine on a Wi-Fi only device?