ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, has announced the specification for a new type of mobile phone SIM card, widely known as the nano-SIM. And the design is one proposed by Apple.
The new card will be 40% smaller than existing cards, measuring 12.3mm x 8.8mm x 0.67mm, though the electronics inside will take up significantly less room than that. The nano-SIM will be backwards compatible with existing SIM card designs and will provide the same function – to allow an network operator to ensure you can only use your phone on their network.
While ETSI refused to confirm the origin of its final specification, PCWorld spoke German SIM card maker, Giesecke & Devrient, which was present at the meeting where the decision was made and identified Apple as the proposer.
Apple’s proposal was opposed by Nokia, Motorola, and RIM, who were worried that Apple would try and control what is supposed to be an open standard. To alleviate those concerns, Apple offered to provide royalty-free licences for patents it owns and which are used in the nano-SIM, provided other companies do the same.
Meanwhile, mobile phone users continue to wonder why we need SIM cards at all.
