While the news of Apple's
iPad having 3G wasn't exactly a surprise, the move to a new format for the SIM certainly was. The
SIM -- that tiny card that holds your contact info and account information that you find in your GSM handset -- is a 15 x 25mm plastic card whereas the new Micro SIM (also known as a 3FF SIM) is a diminutive 12 x 15mm, about 52% smaller. Needless to say, it's not physically compatible with your current phone. This card was developed by the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) to offer things like more storage space on-chip for provider applications, increased control and security functions -- over what, we don't know -- and the new smaller form factor allows it to fit in tiny devices. Frankly, we wouldn't call the iPad "tiny" and we have absolutely no clue what justification Apple had to switch to it other than a desire to be different -- this is the company that pioneered
Mini DisplayPort, after all -- but the long and the short of it is that you're going to have a hard time finding a carrier offering Micro SIMs in the short term since the GSMA doesn't appear to be actively spearheading a mass conversion. In fact, from AT&T's perspective, this is better than a software lock in some ways -- you're not going to be able to download a hack that gets you on another network, so you're totally at the mercy of your carrier at choice for providing a compatible card. Intentionally evil? Perhaps not -- all standards have to start somewhere -- but it's an awful pain in the ass.
Update: T-Mobile (in a partnership with Lok8u GPS devices) announced they were bringing the 3FF SIM to US shores back on January 6th of this year. See the source link for more info.
[Thanks, Brian]
posted January 27th 2010 8:45PM
I was thinking about the microSIM. Is that what will be used by LTE Terminals? Is it compatible with the USIM for CDMA carriers? If so maybe they are thinking about the future which might not have AT&T exclusivity or maybe Verizon will make a microSIM for use with their apple products.
So much for verizon getting this. Lol!!!!!
It must be the network.
AT&T will now have more than triple the amount of 3g plans than verizon. So much for there's a map for that commercials. Verizon sprint tmobil. U have failed. Now u r in a low clas just like boost metropcs cricket etc.
@logic thinker how does having more 3G plans benefit consumers? It just means that I'll pay an extra $30/month for lousy 3G coverage than I do already. AT&T must be paying Apple a bundle for their exclusivity deal. I doubt they'd have as many customers if they didn't have the deal.
This micro sim will not work on verizon or sprint for at least another two years. Lol!!as for iPhone never! Lol! Talk about being left in the dust. Ouch
What's a droid?
Lol
Droid does.
Not
I think it's pretty easy to figure out why Apple did this. To make it more difficult to unlock the device and use it on another carrier, such as T-Mobile. Stupid as it stop sales and will be unlocked and usable for T-mobile at some point.
Apple has made a good market research project for Palm. Now Palm could step in, soak in the the learning and go back to the drawing board. Then come up with something that "bad o bad Steve" did not. Imagine... WebOS on a 9+ inch screen..
this is stupid, why change something that works perfectly well?
The point of SIM cards is portability, you can just put it into a different phone and continue using whatever services you paid for (except if you live in the US). I have had my current SIM card since 2003 and it was in 4 different phones during this time, why complicate matters and break the compatibility?
And storing provider applications? I can put my SIM card in a Symbian phone, an iPhone, an Android phone or whatever else, they're going to have to load A LOT of different apps on it if they want to make everybody happy. And whatever they put on it will be terribly obsolete by the time the customer is done using the SIM card which might be after 10 years or more (very plausible since i have been using mine for 7 years already and i have no reason to change it)
The change in size is partly to stop people moving an iPhone sim back and forth between the two devices. You have to spend more with AT&T
OK, how long do you think before some company creates an alternate SIM tray for the iPhone to hold this thing? It's got the same circuitry, just with a bit cut off the edges.
I own a ipod touch but havent used it since i got an iriver P7, i like mbile video and the touch's codec support sucks. I was disappointed to see ni improvement in this respect for the Ipad as it would be ideal for video.
Just cut the SIM card like this to get a micro SIM card:
http://iforce.co.nz/i/iwqau41b.jpg
And cut an adapter card (normal SIM card sized) where you can put in the micro SIM card. Attach some sticky tape on the back to hold it in place.
@Fussel
Won't work, it's not compatible.
They did it because Apple don't want to have a grey import to Europe and other countries. They want to sale it officially through their cell phone companies and don't want to people import them to Russia, China and etc from U.S, this way they think they will make more money, but in the end they will loose in this fucked up game that Steve Jobs started.
SPRINT... listen up! This is your chance to steal customers away from AT&T. If you package an Overdrive 3G/4G hotspot and service with the basic iPad (wifi only), you can start pulling away customers who don't want to pay for a limited 3G plan just for an iPad. Your hotspots could serve an iPad, iPod, laptop, etc. (up to five). This makes the proposition of buying Sprint products to support Apple products a phenomenal incentive. Sprint, start talking to Apple about volume pricing now! Who needs a SIM card when you have a mobile hotspot...
i an tell you why....so they can say that its "unlocked" but still force you to stay on at& freakin t
It's a ball-and-chain. They don't want people to even TRY to crack it. OMG what if you unlocked it and could place voice calls on ANY network? :P
It should probably be pointed out that Mini UICC (Micro SIM) is a new form factor and the electrical interface is backward compatible with UICC. In fact you can take a pair of scissors and trim most UICC cards down to the Mini UICC's form factor because the actual chip smaller than the electrical pad on the UICC. SIM unlock adapters sometimes require physical modification of the UICC in order to accommodate their ICs.
If you take a look at the following image you can see a SIM card capable of accommodating all 3 UICC form factors. Believe it or not they use to make phones that would accept the credit card size UICC.
http://www.comprion.com/files/image/Products/3G_64K_JTest_U_SIM_1.8V-Mini-UICC.jpg
Why Micro SIM? For one, it prevents me from trying to stuff the regular SIM from by RAZR with AT&T data plan which I pay $12.99/mo, into an iPad. I am holding on to my RAZR as a great 3G tethered modem for my Netbook for as long as I could.
Recessed headphone flashback?
GUYS GUYS GUYS
I'M SORRY I CALL BULL SHIT ON THAT!!
Not true with the "micro SIM" dude,,,,
a "micro SIM" is essentially a SIM card withthe same "date surface" but less i dont know plastic or other material ... so you can get another SIM cut the useless top mart and there you go... a "Micro SIM"
THERE YOU GO....
@Lo0ods, but then what do I do when I want to use another phone? Until other phones start using Micro SIM (not likely since the Mini SIM is the current standard for every other device, including the iPhone), then the scissors approach is useless. I still need to get a separate account to use 3G on the iPad.
Micro SIM isn't new, nor is its annoying size. That's the same size that you have to cut a regular SIM to fit into the duoSIM adapters for using two accounts in one phone. They could make both the same size with different backing color, but then you wouldn't have to buy a new device or adapter.
SIM size is all about marketing. Even if your smart phone can handle the new features on a microSIM, you still have to buy an adapter or new phone. T-Mobile [they had this chip first in Europe] customers who want an iPad: Apple "forgot" to include your 3G frequency. Ooops!
just made a laser template to cut a micro sim from a mini sim. will test it in a couple of days...
http://brandonshigeta.com/blog/2010/02/10/laser-cutting-micro-sims/
BOYCOTT!
I propose a boycott of the iPad until Apple allows Flash onto it and enables multitasking, which it seems to me are the most common & reasonable complaints that folks have been having about it. There lots of other changes that I'd like to see, but these could be done immediately and would sway me back to buying the machine.
If you agree, please help spread the word.