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New Nano-SIM Standard Approved, 40% Smaller Than Micro-SIM

Friday June 1, 2012 6:16 am PDT by Eric Slivka
As noted by The Verge, the European Telecommunications Institute (ETSI) today announced it has adopted a standardized design for the next-generation "nano-SIM". The new design is 40% smaller than the current micro-SIM standard.
Today's SIM card designs take up a significant amount of space inside a mobile device. This space is more and more valuable in today's handsets which deliver an ever increasing number of features.

The fourth form factor (4FF) card will be 40% smaller than the current smallest SIM card design, at 12.3mm wide by 8.8mm high, and 0.67mm thick. It can be packaged and distributed in a way that is backwards compatible with existing SIM card designs. The new design will offer the same functionality as all current SIM cards.
The design selection was heavily contested, with a proposal from Apple being opposed by a number of other mobile phone manufacturers despite Apple having the support of many European carriers. As the selection process continued, Apple slightly tweaked its design while the opposing carriers made changes to their own proposal that brought their design much closer to Apple's.


Prototype of Apple's proposed nano-SIM design inside outline of a mini-SIM card (Source: The Verge)

The Verge notes that by the time final selection was made the only difference in external design between the two proposals was a notch included in the side of the card proposed by the coalition of manufacturers opposing Apple. And with the ETSI yet to publish any other details on the approved design beyond overall measurements, it is not yet clear which design won out.
Unfortunately, both Apple's design and the more recent Motorola / RIM compromise design are exactly the same exterior dimensions — the only difference is that the update submitted by Apple's competitors includes an extra notch to enable so-called "push-push" mechanisms in SIM slots that wouldn't necessitate a tray. Until ETSI publishes the specs, we won't know which of the two was chosen.
The ETSI specifically refused to comment on which group's design was chosen, noting only that a collective decision by the industry yielded the final standard.

Update: IDG News Service reports that Apple's design was indeed the winning standard.
Apple has won a battle over the standard for a smaller SIM card, use of which would leave more room for other components in future phone designs. [...]

ETSI isn’t releasing any further details of the vote or the winning specification, only saying that the decision had been made, according to a spokesman at the standards organization. The proposer of the winning specification was identified by card maker Giesecke & Devrient, which had a representative on the committee.


[ 132 comments ]


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sachamun
95 months ago
Try not to inhale when installing it.
Rating: 67 Votes
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Oletros
95 months ago

You taking your SIM card out frequently?


I go frequently to France and Italy so I have 3 SIM's, this two and the Spanish one.

So yes, the smaller the SIM the easier is losing it
Rating: 29 Votes
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roadbloc
95 months ago
Hooray! Another small item for me to lose.
Rating: 28 Votes
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basesloaded190
95 months ago

I go frequently to France and Italy so I have 3 SIM's, this two and the Spanish one.

So yes, the smaller the SIM the easier is losing it


I guess in Europe its a whole different ball game than in the states.
Rating: 24 Votes
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basesloaded190
95 months ago

Hooray! Another small item for me to lose.


You taking your SIM card out frequently?
Rating: 23 Votes
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roadbloc
95 months ago

You taking your SIM card out frequently?


Of course. When I go abroad.
Rating: 17 Votes
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AustinIllini
95 months ago

Hooray! Another small item for me to lose.


You're going to lose it in a smart phone?
Rating: 11 Votes
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SirChadwick
95 months ago
Micro... Nano...
The next smaller size of Pico SIM is going to kick ass.
Rating: 9 Votes
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Mad-B-One
95 months ago

Of course. When I go abroad.


Well, keep in mind that with current trends in air travel, you might have to pay $50 extra for carrying too much luggage when using a FF3 SIM.

And my non-sarcastic tip would be: get one of these little SD card boxes and shuff them all in there. That usually has a wrap-lock and fits perfectly in your wallet with your change.
Rating: 9 Votes
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needfx
95 months ago

Try not to inhale when installing it.


Comment of the Week Award!
Rating: 8 Votes

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