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Apple Still Fighting for Smaller SIM Card Standard for Future iPhones

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micro sim
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

mobilehaathi Avatar
mobilehaathi
186 months ago
I want the internal sim card where i can switch carriers at will without swapping any parts.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
arn
186 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
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
Inakto
186 months ago
Smaller sims are the way to go. Make way for more battery!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
rols
186 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.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mobilehaathi Avatar
mobilehaathi
186 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....
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Crzyrio
186 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?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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