SIM Card

Motorola and RIM submit a Nano SIM compromise

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 18, 2012

Earlier this month, we showed you Apple's revised Nano SIM proposal the company submitted ahead of the final vote tally. The solution adds a small amount of plastic around the edges of the electrical contacts, making the upcoming tiny SIM card just long enough so that it can’t be forced lengthwise into an incompatible socket.

As you know, Research and Motion, Motorola and Nokia are pushing for their own variant. Both RIM and Motorola just submitted a Nano SIM compromise which borrows about 80 percent design solutions from Apple...

Apple’s modified Nano SIM gets a showing off ahead of the final vote

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 9, 2012

An Apple-proposed variant of the upcoming Nano SIM card standard is being shown off at the International CTIA Wireless show. Apple modified the design around Nokia's concerns and ahead of the final vote tally, which is mere days away. Voting for members of The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) began last month and wraps up in mid-May.

According to SIM card maker Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), the revised variant is being "driven by a supplier", in this case Apple. So, how has Apple changed the original design to counter Nokia's concerns? With a slight 'how come I didn't think of it' tweak, that's how...

Straight Talk: the silent iPhone partner

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Carrier options for US iPhone customers have dramatically multiplied over the past two years. The handset, which was once only available from AT&T, is now offered on nine wireless providers across the country.

Actually, 10 carriers if you count Straight Talk. You may or may not know this, but the nationwide prepaid provider is compatible with the GSM iPhone. You don't even need to unlock your handset to switch to it...

Apple’s SIM connector patent explained and why it matters for Nano SIM

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2012

As Apple fights rivals Nokia, Motorola and Research In Motion for the upcoming Nano SIM card standard, a new patent filing indicates the company is thinking beyond smartphones. The iPhone maker already holds an important Nano SIM patent and now we've learned they're researching a universal SIM card connector solution.

Yes, it would require a "drawer" and devices would need to be engineered with this in mind, but the benefits offset engineering hassles. Apple's SIM card connector solution could let you transfer a SIM card from one device to another. Plus, it is reliable and resistant to damage by an improper insertion of a SIM card.

It even works with Integrated Circuit Card found in credit cards, broadening potential uses to e-commerce applications. And if this patent filing is an indication, Apple's universal SIM connector could be coming to a MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple television near you...

RIM accuses Apple of dirty tricks as ETSI postpones vote on Nano SIM

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 30, 2012

Apple's push for a new SIM card standard dubbed Nano SIM is in troubled waters as BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has sent a letter out suggesting that foul play may be afoot. Meanwhile, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has postponed vote on Nano SIM due to a dispute between Apple and Nokia over Nano SIM patents.

RIM's letter claims Apple's own personnel register themselves as working for the competition in order to try and rig a vote that will decide the outcome of a bid to make the Nano SIM a new standard.

The Canadian firm believes that members of Apple's team have registered to vote claiming to work for Bell Mobility, SK Telekom and KT Corp. If true, Apple may have some answering to do...

Nokia threatens not to license essential patents if Apple “imposes” its Nano SIM variant

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 28, 2012

Handset maker Nokia is increasing pressure on Apple ahead of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s (ETSI) ruling on the emerging SIM card standard, due later this week. The latest in the ongoing power struggle includes Nokia issuing another statement accusing Apple for bending unwritten rules and misusing the standardization process "to rubber stamp its proposal".

All that jazz for a smaller SIM card standard? Color me skeptical, but I'm questioning Nokia's motive here. Is the other Nano SIM variant backed by Nokia, Motorola and RIM really so much better than Apple's, which requires a tray (seen in the above shot)?

Apple granted Nano SIM-related patent that Nokia is “not aware” of

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 27, 2012

Once again, the Finnish cell phone giant Nokia is opposing Apple's proposal for a new requirement related to the emerging Nano SIM card standard, dated back to 2011. According to a rumor yesterday, Apple wants to license its version of the Nano SIM to others royalty-free in exchange for any Nano SIM-related patents held by other companies.

Today, Nokia said in a statement it does not know of any Apple patent related to the iPhone maker's Nano SIM variant. Essentially, Nokia just slammed Apple's recent strides aimed at promoting its Nano SIM variant ahead of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's (ETSI) ruling later this week...

If approved, Apple will license its Nano SIM to others royalty-free

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2012

Last week, we told you about two opposing proposals concerning the emerging Nano SIM standard. An Apple-backed solution requires a tray so phones would need to be re-engineered with this in mind. It is largely believed to benefit the ultra-thin design of a sixth-generation iPhone.

The other proposal is led by Nokia and backed by Motorola and RIM. It calls for a Nano SIM variant that doesn't require a tray and is even smaller than Apple’s. The two camps had tabled their proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and now a report has emerged claiming that Apple's solution, if approved, will be offered on a royalty-free basis to any industry player...

Nokia says Apple’s Nano SIM card proposal is no good

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 22, 2012

Espoo, Finland-headquartered Nokia is officially opposing Apple's requirement for an emerging mobile industry standard basically calling for a miniaturized SIM module roughly a third smaller than the Micro SIM used with the iPhone 4/4S. A proposal put forth by Motorola, RIM and Nokia has some technical advantages over the Apple-backed nano SIM that requires a “drawer” to protect it.

As a result, cell phones would need to be re-engineered with this in mind. Nokia says its variant of the Nano SIM doesn't require a tray and is even smaller than Apple's. Both camps have tabled proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). With 92 votes, Nokia is the largest ETSI voting body, so no wonder Apple has filed multiple membership applications in order to increase its voting power.

Nokia has explained its stance in a lengthy statement issued to The Verge just this morning...

Apple imposing Nano SIM standard on Motorola, RIM and Nokia

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2012

When Apple was designing the iPhone 4, the company had adopted the smaller Micro SIM format for space constraints. Smaller in size compared to the standard Mini SIMs, Micro SIMs do the exact same job while using less space. But with mobile devices getting even slimmer these days, even Micro SIMs waste too much valuable space inside thin mobile gadgets.

Apple thinks smaller is better so last summer the company submitted a new requirement to the European Telecoms Standards Body for the use of even smaller SIM cards in mobile phones (AT&T followed suit). But the battle over the upcoming Nano SIM standard has put Apple once again on a collision course with its rivals in the smartphone space, namely the opposing group led by Android maker Google and joined by the ailing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion and Nokia of Finland, reports the Financial Times (subscription required)...

R-SIM SIM interposer unlocks your iPhone 4S on iOS 5 and 5.0.1

Cody Lee ∙ February 17, 2012

Even though we are still waiting on an iPhone 4S software unlock from the Dev Team, there are a couple of hardware unlock solutions available. Just last week we told you about the TPSIM SIM interposer, and now another one has surfaced.

The R-SIM is a turbo SIM card for your iPhone 4S that will unlock your handset, allowing you to use it on any compatible GSM network in the world...

New SIM interposer promises to unlock iPhone 4/4S on a number of basebands

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Unlocking is not nearly as important to iPhone users as it once was. Over the last couple of years, Apple has opened up its popular handset to hundreds of new carriers, and has even started selling its own factory unlocked models.

But if you don't want to spend $650 buying the unlocked version of Apple's new iPhone 4S, you have a few other options. One, you could wait for the iPhone Dev team to release its unlock for the new handset. Or you can pre-order one of these...