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Apple Still Fighting for Smaller SIM Card Standard for Future iPhones

Tuesday March 20, 2012 10:03 pm PDT by Arnold Kim

Current micro-SIM (bottom right) punched out of a mini-size SIM card (top right)

The Financial Times reports that Apple is up against rival smartphone makers over the next industry standard for miniaturized SIM cards. (via Engadget).

In May 2011, we reported that Apple had submitted a proposal for a standardized SIM Card design smaller than the micro-SIM currently used in the iPhone 4S and iPad. A smaller SIM card design would allow Apple to create smaller and thinner devices.

Other companies including Motorola, Research in Motion, and Nokia are pushing their own standards for these so-called "nano-SIM" cards.
Micro-Sims are already common in the latest generation of smart devices, such as Apple’s iPhone 4S and Nokia’s Lumia. The nano-Sim is thinner and about a third smaller than the micro-Sim, and would allow more space for other functions.
Apple is said to be already backed by "most of the European operators". Apple has reportedly taken some controversial steps to gain more votes in the final decision on proposals next week.

One of Nokia's objections to Apple's proposal is the use of a "drawer" to protect the nano-SIM card. The drawer design is seen on the iPhone 4S and iPad, allowing the user to eject the SIM from the side of the device.

[ 156 comments ]

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mobilehaathi
99 months ago
I want the internal sim card where i can switch carriers at will without swapping any parts.
Rating: 25 Votes
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arn
99 months ago

I want the internal sim card where i can switch carriers at will without swapping any parts.


Apple apparently proposed this (eSIM), but carriers said no.

arn
Rating: 22 Votes
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Inakto
99 months ago
Smaller sims are the way to go. Make way for more battery!
Rating: 17 Votes
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rols
99 months ago

Because Apple wants a PATENT on it which will force everyone to pay Apple even more money.

Basically, Apple wants *ZERO* competition.


Where does it say that Apple wants it patented? I didn't see that in the article.
Rating: 16 Votes
Avatar
mobilehaathi
99 months ago

Apple apparently proposed this (eSIM), but carriers said no.

arn


Yep, that's what i was thinking of, alas I can still hope....
Rating: 14 Votes
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Crzyrio
99 months ago

So basically, Apple wants another frivolous patent and demand a crap load of money from *every single* OEM for every sold phone. Another means of control and monopoly, just like Microsoft back in the day. Someone should put an end to this horse hockey. I used to love Apple.. but that was 10 years ago, before Apple brainwashed everyone with the iPod marketing.

Apples business model: Take something, cut away the plastic, patent it, demand money and sue everyone.

My respect for Apple is decreasing every day.

Why are companies deciding the standards and not regulations bodies?


Because it pretty much was a standard until Apple tried to have its own way. You can thank Apple for this debacle.

Note: I expect this comment to be downranked into oblivion because any criticism against Apple on this forum is seen as some kind of mortal sin. That said, I'm not sorry for what any and every Apple zealot needs to hear. Why is this mindless devotion to a brand of such importance to so many??? I'm sure Guy Kawasaki would appreciate this kind of reality check.


Not down ranked cause of your critism but because your simply wrong.

Have you looked inside of an iPhone? Do you see how tightly packed everything is?

Even the a space of .0001 cms makes a huge difference to the designers and engineers. As technology progress's things are going to become smaller, what the point of making something sleeker and give it more funcinality if you have something as simple as a card size holding you back.

If anything this should have been done a long time ago, most of the sim card is a waste of space. The only part that is require is the golden part on the card. So why include the other useless plastic? For fun?
Rating: 13 Votes
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spillproof
99 months ago

Where does it say that Apple wants it patented? I didn't see that in the article.


In the actual Financial Times article it said:

All handset makers would be able to use the design chosen under licence but the Apple-led proposal has caused some concern among its rivals that the US group might eventually own the patents


making wikus correct in his judgment.
Rating: 12 Votes
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coolfactor
99 months ago
I find it ironic that they want to make a smaller SIM card, but then require a drawer to hold it, effectively making the required space larger again. Bizarre.
Rating: 9 Votes
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lilo777
99 months ago
From a technical standpoint, why should a drawer be part of a SIM card standard? Does anybody think this makes any sense? If you want a drawer - use it. Others may prefer different design. The card should be compatible with all of them - just like it is now. The only reason for Apple to push for this stupid standard is to eliminate the design advantage that many competitor phones have now. With replaceable batteries, they obviously do not need any drawers. Apple does. If you want to have a replaceable battery AND still have to have a SIM card with a drawer, you introduce unnecessary parts to your design. And the way Apple is trying to achieve it - by buying seats in European Telecommunications Standards Institute - is just disgusting. Clear abuse of market power. 1984 anybody?

Rating: 9 Votes
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root42
99 months ago
First of all, a full sized SIM card is the one shown *left* in the image. A mini SIM card is the one broken out of it, and Apple made a micro SIM card by again braking something out.

Second, a SIM card has its merits. If I travel abroad or maybe do some sports activity, where my iPhone might break, I might want to take some other phone compared to my iPhone with me. I can easily equip that other phone with my SIM card. Yes, this would also be possible with an electronic SIM, but just swapping a piece of plastic is a very simple thing that even non-tech savvy people can do.
Rating: 6 Votes

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