SIM

Cellular edition of Apple’s new 9.7″ iPad Pro has an integrated, non-removable Apple SIM

Tucked away on the iPad Pro Tech Specs webpage is an interesting tidbit about Apple's new 12.9-inch iPad Pro model. If you're in the market for that device and are contemplating buying a Wi-Fi + Cellular edition (Model A1674), know that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro ships with an integrated, non-removable Apple SIM.

This is the first time an Apple device has embedded the Apple SIM since its debut. The Apple SIM started shipping in October 2014 with the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 and was added last fall to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Apple working with cell providers on eSIM

The wireless industry's biggest fear—that mobile customers could one day switch service on a whim without changing their SIM card—is coming true. Following years of opposition to technologies that would allow people to easily change carrier on the fly, the likes of Apple, Samsung and others are now working with the mobile standards organization GSMA on electronic SIM cards for consumer devices.

The Financial Times newspaper reported Thursday that Apple and Samsung are “in advanced talks” with mobile telecom groups on a standardized embedded SIM card for consumer devices, the so-called e-SIM.

GigSky brings affordable mobile data at local rates with Apple SIM to 90 countries

The versatile Apple SIM is coming to more than 90 countries and territories around the world, including much of Europe, offering roaming users affordable cellular data plans and the convenience of changing carrier on their cellular iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3.

The latest expansions is the result of a partnership Apple signed with GigSky, a company that provides access to a local prepaid data service in markets around the world, at local rates.

New iPhone 6 parts reveal larger speaker, embedded Apple logo and redesigned vibrator

A flurry of photographs of the allegedly leaked iPhone 6 parts published Thursday morning by French blog NowhereElse.fr hint at several design choices Apple engineers took in order to make the device more sleeker and thinner than its predecessor.

Internal and external components like SIM trays, the Apple logo, Home buttons, the internal speaker and vibrator motor all appear to be differently designed and engineered than the comparable parts found in the iPhone 5s.

The leaked parts suggest that the next iPhone will be offered in the same silver, gray and gold colorways as the iPhone 5s while featuring an improved vibrator, the embedded logo on the back and possibly an enhanced sound system.

Leaked SIM card tray indicates iPhone 6 will be available in Space Grey, Silver and Gold

If a claimed iPhone 6 SIM card tray is anything to go by, Apple's upcoming handset(s) will be offered in Space Grey, Silver and Gold finishes, just like the current iPhone 5s lineup. Sources on Tuesday posted new images that seemingly depict claimed iPhone 6 SIM card trays in three color options as well as purported power and volume flex cables.

For what it's worth, the layout of the power/volume flex cables matches up nicely with previous reports and leaks suggesting the sleep/wake button will be relocated to the side in order to make it easier to wake a 4.7 and 5.5-inch handset from sleep with one hand...

Over 700 million phones could be vulnerable to SIM card flaw

A German security researcher has discovered a massive vulnerability—one of the first of its kind—in the encryption used by some mobile SIM cards that could potentially allow hackers to remotely take control of their host handsets.

According to a report by The New York Times, the flaw relates to cards using DES (Data Encryption Standard)—an older standard that's being phased out by a number of manufacturers, but is still used by hundreds of millions of SIMs...

Alleged golden and gray iPhone 5S Nano SIM trays

Apple's iPhone 5 is now almost seven months old so fans are expectedly setting their sights on a next-gen model, the iPhone 5S. And as we're heading toward summer, new evidence indicates Apple is now lining up its Asian suppliers to source parts ahead of the actual manufacturing phase.

This could explain why we're increasingly seeing supposedly genuine parts cropping up all over Asia, such as this Home buttons and vibrator motors. Today's leak by Japanese parts shop Moumantai is thought to represent a SIM tray for the iPhone 5S.

It's exactly the same in shape and size to the Nano SIM trays used on the current iPhone 5, with one exception: the leaked ones are in gray and gold colors. This matches up nicely with reports of a colorized iPhone 5S, mostly sourced from analyst reports and supply chain people...

This SIM card-friendly iPhone case is perfect for travelers

Do you travel abroad often? Maybe it's for business, or pleasure, or both. And if so, do you use the same unlocked iPhone everywhere you go? If you answered yes, to either question, you might want to check out the SIMPLcase.

The SIMPLcase is an ultra-slim iPhone 5 case—3mm in the center, 1mm at the edges—with a couple of cool features. In addition to protecting your phone, it can also store extra SIM cards, has a SIM tray eject tool, and more...

Apple wins key SIM connector patent related to iOS gadgets, Macs – even TVs

The United States Patent & Trademark Office on Christmas Day granted Apple a key patent detailing a SIM tray solution for mobile products which incorporates connectors that "may allow SIM cards to be easily removed and replaced". The invention - which also may be resistant to damage by an improper insertion of a SIM card and may provide reliable mechanical performance - is viewed as a strategically important patent grant "in light of the battle between Nokia and Apple over the design of future miniature SIM cards for mobile devices", explains the PatentlyApple blog that tracks Apple's trademark and patent filings...

How to use a Nano SIM in the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S

If you just purchased an iPhone 5, then you know first hand how much smaller the new Nano SIM is when compared to the already diminutive Micro SIM it replaces.

But what if you want to use the new Nano SIM in an older phone, like the iPhone 4, or the iPhone 4S? Obviously you can't just stick it in there.

Your best option is to purchase an adapter that can be cheaply had on Amazon for $1.99. That's exactly what I did, and here's the video to prove it.

How I converted my Micro SIM into a Nano SIM

Before I get this party started, I just want to say that no, I don't have an iPhone 5 to absolutely guarantee it'll work in the device, but all that's really involved is some pretty basic math.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how I cut and shaved my Micro SIM down to Nano SIM sized specifications. It's not a 100% 1:1 ratio, but the size is very comparable to what you will find in an official Nano SIM. For that reason I'm feeling pretty confident that it will work with my iPhone 5 next Friday.

Take a look inside for the step-by-step video walkthrough that shows how I converted my Micro SIM card to a Nano sized SIM card.