Gemalto embeds DVD-compliant optical disc into WIND SIM card

Movies on flash drives aren't looking like the next big thing, but Gemalto reckons its approach to getting DVD content on smaller surfaces is different enough to get noticed. In an admittedly bizarre release, the digital security firm has announced a new Smart Video Card for Italian carrier WIND, which "embeds a DVD-compliant optical disc into the card body of a regular SIM card." The card can store practically any digital content (including video, software or URLs) and can reportedly be played back on any DVD drive. So what, we buy a new SIM card each time we're looking for a new batch of miniaturized content? Fabulous!

[Via FashionFunky, thanks Bob]

[JR @ Sep 15th 2008 7:57AM]

Any DVD drive? Surely we're missing part of the picture here?

[broli @ Sep 15th 2008 8:06AM]

Is this too much for your brain to handle maybe?

[BigD145 @ Sep 15th 2008 12:15PM]

Yes. Either it has a pseudo disc it fits into or it just unbalances the motor in your DVD drive, thus shortening its lifespan considerably.

[James @ Sep 15th 2008 2:19PM]

"WIND will use Smart Video Card to deliver software to allow wireless Internet access from a PC. Once WIND subscribers have connected their mobile phone to their computer, in order to enjoy the whole range of Internet services from their PC, such as e-mails or web browsing, all they have to do is introduce their Smart Video Card in the DVD reader of their computer and download the software from it. "

So basically, it's just a DVD containing the software to use a normal mobile phone (not a 3G USB modem) as an internet tether. Not all that exciting.

[aMac @ Sep 15th 2008 8:04AM]

I hope that a) no one tries this with a slot-loading drive, and b) they at least break off the the whole SIM-side of the disk so it's a uniform shape.

There's just so many ways this could go wrong!

[telepheedian @ Sep 15th 2008 8:14AM]

Maybe it could be used to store 3G modem drivers?

[Mia @ Sep 15th 2008 10:44AM]

Not a bad idea, but the 3G modems I've played with actually have the drivers on the device themselves. When it is attached via USB 2 devices are detected. One is the actual 3G modem and the other is a emulated CD drive with the drivers.

Very neat idea. No tiny DVD to loose. :)

[Mikey @ Sep 15th 2008 2:08PM]

or for holding owners manuals/contracts...

[Adderz @ Sep 15th 2008 8:29AM]

This is obviously just a company trying to get noticed. This has to be the most impractical, useless thing.

[andrea @ Sep 15th 2008 8:30AM]

I've never trusted non standard size/shape optical media.
I'll never tried them on MY drives: you know... just to be sure, I'll try them on my friend's drives ;)

[dave @ Sep 15th 2008 8:31AM]

nice idea i guess dont see much use for it. would be handy for installing carrier specific stuff but cant really think of anything carrier specific that id want to install.

also why put 3g modem drivers on it, i jus got a new 3g usb modem yesterday installs its drivers and software itself.

[Russell @ Sep 15th 2008 8:35AM]

I can see movies moving to a storage medium that possibly looks like high-capacity, credit-card-sized smart cards. The form factor would already be familiar to most people, and they'd have the necessary printing real estate.

[Russell @ Sep 15th 2008 8:36AM]

I can see movies moving to a storage medium that possibly looks like
high-capacity, credit-card-sized smart cards. The form factor would
already be familiar to most people, and they'd have the necessary
printing real estate.

[Viakenny @ Sep 15th 2008 9:01AM]

tray-loading drives may go crazy. slot-loading ones will just swallow it.

[Maxx @ Sep 15th 2008 11:46AM]

It doesnt look balanced..... not in my drive.......

[mattkenny @ Sep 16th 2008 1:56AM]

"...has announced a new Smart Video Card for Italian carrier WIND, which "embeds a DVD-compliant optical disc into the card body of a regular SIM card." "

Umm, no. It doesn't embed it into a regular SIM card. It embeds it into the plastic card that the SIM card is attached to for delivery. This has nothing to do with SIM cards. Credit-card sized DVD's/CD's have been around for ages - this one just happens to have a SIM card attached to one side.

[Ru @ Sep 16th 2008 10:28AM]

new end-user oriented solution - "video-spam" :-)

[nomad1984 @ Sep 24th 2008 3:41PM]

Actually movies are being released on flash drive soon.http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/09/03/ghostbusters-2gb-usb-flash-drive-yes-with-movie/