nano-SIM

As the leaves change from green to orange and brown, and children go back to school, it could only mean one thing: the iPhone 5 is a-coming. The rumor mill is swirling with speculations of a release date, what it'll look like, and whether it'll be joined by an iPad Mini. Oh yes, the zombie unicorn rumor that never dies.

Recent rumors suggest that an iPad Mini screen is already in production, leading some people to believe that this jibes with a fall release. Who knows! Apple always has tricks up its sleeves.

Also this week, sightings of … Read more

Translated by Google, tech lifestyle Web site nowhereelse.fr (via 9to5Mac) has posted photos of what appears to be the soon to be released iPhone's nano-SIM card tray. The photos come from China where many of the iPhone's parts are manufactured and assembled.

As you can see in the photos, the nano-SIM tray knocks a little off the micro SIM tray's width. In the world of mobile devices, especially ones that Apple produces, every bit of extra space counts.

Though Apple's design for the nano-SIM has been approved for use by ESTI, no official word has … Read more

According to a report by the Financial Times, mobile operators in Europe are stockpiling nano-SIM chips in anticipation of Apple including the new technology in the next iteration of the iPhone.

Though actions like this would suggest an impending launch, no official word has come from Apple as to when we can expect to actually see the iPhone 5 (or the new iPhone?)

The nano-SIM design was approved by the mobile phone industry's standards group earlier this year and should allow Apple to save even more space in its tightly designed iPhone interior.… Read more

An Apple design did indeed prevail in a standardization struggle over a design for next-generation SIM cards, the tiny chips that let mobile phones identify themselves to wireless networks.

Apple had been duking it against Nokia, Research in Motion, and Motorola over the design of a fourth-generation, smaller SIM (subscriber identity module) card. On Friday, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) settled on the design for this fourth form factor (4FF) SIM card, but it didn't say whose design won.

In an interview today, SIM card maker Giesecke & Devrient said Apple's design, unchanged since last year, is … Read more

Some of the most prominent mobile companies in the world are working on a new standard for SIM cards. The only issue is, they can't seem to come to an agreement. But three of those firms yesterday tried to get one step closer to an accord.

According to The Verge, citing sources, RIM, Nokia, and Motorola yesterday unveiled a new concept design for the nano-SIM standard. The card itself looks similar to its elders, featuring a rectangular design with a notched corner. However, like other nano-SIM design concepts, the latest from RIM, Nokia, and Motorola is extremely small, potentially … Read more

Apple has been on a patent frenzy as of late.

According to Patently Apple, which follows the company's intellectual property, Apple has filed for a patent that relates to how SIM cards are removed and replaced in devices, and how the cards are kept safe from harm in the process. The blog says that Apple is trying to patent a "plunger"-like system for ejecting a SIM card, and use nonconductive material to safeguard the SIM. The patent includes a host of other embodiments that attempt to achieve the same goal.

Apple has been focusing quite heavily … Read more

A decision on what will be the next SIM card technology for smartphones and other portable devices has been delayed following a spat between competing hardware makers.

In a statement today, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) said that it is postponing its decision on what's come to be known as nano-SIM until the end of May.

"The committee decided to delay any vote on the subject in the interest of trying to achieve a broad industry consensus, which is in keeping with the preferred decision making process at ETSI," the group said in a statement.

The … Read more

Research In Motion has accused Apple of trying to unfairly sway the vote on an upcoming vote on new SIM card technology standard.

The Cupertino company is trying to skew the results by having company representatives change their company affiliation when they cast their proxy votes, according to a letter RIM sent to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the standards group deciding the issue.

The letter (see below), filed yesterday, alleges that three Apple employees had registered as representatives for Bell Mobility, KT Corp., and SK Telekom. RIM also claims they should not be allowed to participate in the … Read more

Apple's nano-SIM technology, which could eventually become the new SIM card standard in mobile devices, might be one step closer to approval.

According to FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller, citing a "perfectly reliable source," Apple last week sent a letter to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), saying that if its nano-SIM technology is approved by the organization, it would offer its patents to fellow mobile device makers at no cost. That stands in stark contrast to many other essential technologies in the mobile space that are only provided to companies for a fee.

That said, Apple did … Read more