Sagem Orga's SIMFi merges WiFi with SIM cards at long last, turns any phone into a hotspot
By Chris Ziegler 
posted February 12th 2010 12:14PM
posted February 12th 2010 12:14PM
Thought WiFi spectrum was congested now? You ain't seen nothin' yet, because SIM card provider Sagem Orga has hooked up with Telefonica to develop a marvel of modern technology called "SIMFi" that combines -- you guessed it -- WiFi with a run-of-the-mill SIM card like you'd slip in your cell. In practical terms, this means that you're able to turn virtually any phone (or "classic handsets," as the company calls them) into a WiFi hotspot accessible by authenticated laptops, MIDs, and miscellaneous wireless gadgets in the immediate vicinity. Frankly, the concept is downright brilliant in its simplicity -- never mind the fact that we had no idea you could fit WiFi circuitry into a 25 x 15 x 0.76mm footprint -- and we're excited for what this means for the future of tethering, assuming carriers can keep up with the spectrum demands. MiFis and Overdrives of the world, you're on notice. Follow the break for Sagem Orga's full release. World premier: Sagem Orga and Telefonica turn the SIM card into a Wi-Fi hotspot
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress 2010
Smart card expert Sagem Orga (Safran group) and Telefonica, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, are enhancing mobile broadband services by offering "SIMFi," the first SIM card with integrated Wi-Fi. Using the SIM as a hotspot is expected to have the potential of becoming the next killer application.
Millions of subscribers are using netbooks and notebooks to surf the Internet while on the move, and this has become a strategic market for mobile operators. To enable Internet access, all of these mobility devices use the USIM card to authenticate the user on High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) networks, but there are some drawbacks that are slowing down market penetration. These include complex 3G modem and driver set-ups the user must perform, the use of accessories and cables such as USB modems, PCMCIA modems, handsets and certain software, and the complexity of service use.
By turning the SIM card into a Wi-Fi hotspot, Sagem Orga and Telefonica have developed a solution without all these hurdles. An embedded WLAN modem in the SIM card, driven by the SIM toolkit applets running in the SIM, will enable Telefonica to broadcast High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) Internet access through Wi-Fi to notebooks and netbooks. The new generation USIM card "SIMFi" can be inserted in any type of classic handset to act as a universal and interoperable HSPA/Wi-Fi router for any device.
"We strongly believe that SIMFi, with its unprecedented functionality for wireless access, will significantly improve the user experience," explained Remy Cricco, Technology Innovation Manager at Sagem Orga. "If customers can connect their notebooks to the Web anytime and anywhere by simply using what they have with them most of the time and what is the most trusted secure device – the SIM card – adoption can be expected to be enormous."
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress 2010
Smart card expert Sagem Orga (Safran group) and Telefonica, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, are enhancing mobile broadband services by offering "SIMFi," the first SIM card with integrated Wi-Fi. Using the SIM as a hotspot is expected to have the potential of becoming the next killer application.
Millions of subscribers are using netbooks and notebooks to surf the Internet while on the move, and this has become a strategic market for mobile operators. To enable Internet access, all of these mobility devices use the USIM card to authenticate the user on High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) networks, but there are some drawbacks that are slowing down market penetration. These include complex 3G modem and driver set-ups the user must perform, the use of accessories and cables such as USB modems, PCMCIA modems, handsets and certain software, and the complexity of service use.
By turning the SIM card into a Wi-Fi hotspot, Sagem Orga and Telefonica have developed a solution without all these hurdles. An embedded WLAN modem in the SIM card, driven by the SIM toolkit applets running in the SIM, will enable Telefonica to broadcast High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) Internet access through Wi-Fi to notebooks and netbooks. The new generation USIM card "SIMFi" can be inserted in any type of classic handset to act as a universal and interoperable HSPA/Wi-Fi router for any device.
"We strongly believe that SIMFi, with its unprecedented functionality for wireless access, will significantly improve the user experience," explained Remy Cricco, Technology Innovation Manager at Sagem Orga. "If customers can connect their notebooks to the Web anytime and anywhere by simply using what they have with them most of the time and what is the most trusted secure device – the SIM card – adoption can be expected to be enormous."
There goes any last battery life I was saving up...
Also, this seems like it might make the sim card really hot. Not sure why, I just have that feeling.
@Mr Oos
Although I must admit...this is a pretty awesome idea.
brilliant! goodbye mifi....in a couple of years....if this makes it to the public.
@alchmyman
Shouldn't Wifi Direct be able to turn your phone into a hotspot with ease? I think it will be officially released this summer and Broadcom is supposed to be demoing some Wifi Direct next week.
I want one... NOW!
I've been wifi tethering just fine all this time without a sim card on the Pre =)
@Azlo How does that work? Without the SIM card and all...
It's one of those things that's makes so much sense yet you've never thought about till now.
@NiGHTS Its a logical progression from the EyeFi, but I think the lack of previous progress could be attributed to the "who would'a thought they could make it that f'n smal!l" effect.
On a related note, AT&T's network just threw up a little in its mouth......
@KAL326 +2
I've been wifi tethering just fine all this time witout a sim card on the Pre =)
@Azlo
Shazbot! Apparently the Pre doesn't help me comment any better... Feel free to downrank
@Azlo Tribes FTW!
I thought any WinMo phone has been able to do this for ages.
@Ducman69 You're right. HTC phones have this built in, or you can buy WMWiFIRouter, or try the free ICS Control on xda-developers.
The difference is that all the circuitry is built into the SIM card which, given that it already fits into an SD card, isn't that much of a miracle. It would be amazing to be able to put the SIM into a dumb phone and convert it into a MiFi.
@ZSX Can this be done with a AT&T Tilt from the factory? Its the HTC Kaiser II, but hell I had to unblock the ability to USB tether through a registry hack on the AT&T 6.1 Firmware.
@ZSX
I read "classic handset" as dumb phone, but my Nokia flip got all offended.
@KAL326 Not sure it will work with an AT&T-locked Kaiser. You could try it out.
HTC's app is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4170499
ICS control is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=377047
@Ducman69 Any WM phone with wifi (though if I remember correctly WMWifirouter works with SD card wifi as well).
The advantage here is that it's built directly into the SIM, so any GSM device could potentially be converted into a hotspot.
Woo hoo!! More strain on the network
Take that, AT&T, and your ridiculous "no tethering" policies.
@n00neimp0rtant
Telefonica is some sort of AT&T twin brother where Telefonica is the evil one.
@magallanes
Telefonica is more like the Comcast of Spain.
@n00neimp0rtant
How exactly are you going to get this SIM card to work on AT&T's network without their permission?
@joquarky Most likely you won't be able to, since the SIM ID is not in their database as a usable SIM. Unless, AT&T and T-Mobile are making a move to buy them up and charge out the ass for legit tethering.
Will the circuitry fit into a microSIM? Or is this only for miniSIM cards?
How in the hell do they pack a WiFi transmitter into a SIM card? Insane
How does this make any phone into a hotspot and the wifi built into the phone itself does not? I realize the carrier would need to offer, or not.. and or a rooted/jailbroken phone would be needed.. but I sort of thing this would really BE SOMEWHAT SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and BOOM! all of a sudden all of the networks move over to that micro sim that the new iPad has that no carrier is using in any phone!
now what?
The SIM card has to be programmed, or rather the network programmed for the SIM card. You're not going to be able to sneak this past the wireless provider.
@dougdeep
I don't think that will stop anyone. It isn't difficult to clone a SIM card. As long as you don't need a special kind of phone for this then it will be used. I'm just hoping my non-smartphone that has an unlimited data plan can use it.
@Gamecheater
Actually, it is. The cloneable sim cards are all pretty old. Typically, service providers will just issue you a new one if you come to them with "I lost my old phone but I've got this one with a sim card" woes.
The ORGA SIMfi
I'm going to wait for it to sink in...
@Nik17
...that's what she said?
@Nik17
Aye, the company name is a bit odd.
Sagem Orga
I was gonna go for rearranging the letters into Age Orgasm but I think your comment is better.
@Pingles
Holy crap, i did the same thing.
@aoi tsuki no you didn't ! ;-)
@Nik17 Sex sells. Subtle innuendos subtly boost sales.
Brilliant!
i hope the big 4 pick these up soon.
@bohoy2k You mean the Big 1 (AT&T) and Much Smaller, BUT Still Kinda Medium 1 (T-Mobile)? Cause, I'm sure Verizon and Sprint, bieng non-SIM CDMA carriers will be *all over* switching to GSM...
Well, Verizon might in a couple years, when they roll out LTE.
Let me get this straight -- because this is a SIM card, the only way this will come to the US is if AT&T or T-Mobile start offering it as an option.
Gee. What are the odds...
@Cactus Maybe you could take the SIMFI to your local T-Mobile kiosk and ask them to transfer your service.
@Cactus
My thoughts exactly. You are still gonna pay for the privilege either way you go.
AT&T is never going to offer these things.
Awesome idea but I don't see any carrier (at least in the U.S.) would offer this kind of SIM card just to put more strain on their already overloaded network. I really hope I am wrong though.
I'm curious how this will be customizable as far as security is concerned, particularly with basic phones. Will everyone's phone be an unprotected hotspot in the future? with the same ssid?
Verizon and Sprint have already announced that this SIM card will work in any of their phones that run on any of their domestic GSM phones!!
@THJ
Haha - you're funny. . .verizon and sprint!
@THJ Haha, that's good man!