Apple proposes smaller SIM cards

Written by Paul Goodhead

May 23, 2011 | 11:50

Tags: #handset #ipad #iphone #mobile-phone #phone #sim #sim-card #size #slim #smallest #smartphone #tablet

Companies: #apple

Apple is currently pushing the mobile industry to develop smaller SIM cards, enabling the creation of even thinner mobile devices in the future, Reuters reports.

The plans were revealed by an Orange executive who said that the network operator would be supporting Apple’s proposal.

These plans were then confirmed by the European Telecoms Standards Body (ETSI), which says it's been approached by Apple regarding the new SIM specification.

However, a spokesman for the standards agency was quick to warn that a decision on whether or not the proposal would become an industry-wide standard could take ‘up to a year or more…if there is strong disagreement between industry players.

That said, the spokesman went on to state that ‘the process can be accelerated to a number of months’ if there is broad consensus between the major industry players.

Meanwhile, Anne Bouverot, head of Orange’s mobile services, confirmed that the company was pleased to see Apple attempting to push the industry forward.

We were quite happy to see last week that Apple has submitted a new requirement to ETSI for a smaller SIM form factor,’ she stated. ‘They have done that through the standardisation route, through ETSI, with the sponsorship of some major mobile operators, Orange being one of them.

Bouverot was also bullish about the time frame in which we were likely to see devices based on the new standard hitting the market, saying that we could see them as soon as next year if the industry accepted the standard.

Are you craving a slimmer smartphone? Do you think it’s practical to make SIM cards any smaller? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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