TechnesstivityFirst Nano-SIM Confirmed for New iPhone
Back in May, Apple won a hard-fought victory with the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) over the next SIM card standard, commonly referred to as “nano-SIM.”
As unimportant as it may seem to the everyday customer, manufacturers are forced to include more components in their smartphones, the size of a SIM card definitely matters. Even more important is the design, and this is why; Apple’s design, although simpler, is one that needs a drawer or tray to implement. RIM, Nokia and Motorola Mobility also bid for their design, which was more cost effective for them. However, Apple won the bid.
The fourth form factor (4FF) card will be 40 percent 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 Financial Times reported earlier this week that mobile carriers in Europe are already stockpiling nano-sims ahead of Apple’s new iPhone launch. Now the BGR reports;
Multiple carrier sources have exclusively told BGR that Apple is supplying nano-SIM adapters so its carrier partners can test how nano-SIMs work on their networks in standard test devices before they are widely deployed when the new iPhone is introduced. This includes AT&T.
Hard to imagine how they’ll reduce the size of a SIM card any smaller than it already is, but Apple is a company known for small products, so if anyone can do it, it’s sure to be them.
