Apple Still Fighting for Smaller SIM Card Standard for Future iPhones
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.
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Top Rated Comments
Apple apparently proposed this (eSIM), but carriers said no.
arn
Where does it say that Apple wants it patented? I didn't see that in the article.
Yep, that's what i was thinking of, alas I can still hope....
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?