Following the news surrounding Apple’s proposed nano-SIM format – which is essentially a mico-SIM stripped of all unnecessary “bevel” plastic – it appears that European mobile carriers are preparing for the launch of the next-generation iPhone by stockpiling on nano-SIMs. Given that the standard was proposed by Apple (while they aren’t named exactly, it’s evident that the approved design is at least heavily based on their proposal) – and subsequently approved by ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute) – it’s fairly safe to assume that they will be using it in their next-generation iPhone.
By removing all of the unnecessary plastic, the new nano-SIM format is roughly 40% smaller than the existing (and already minuscule) micro-SIM. It measures in at 12.3mm wide by 8.8mm high, and 0.67mm thick. In creating this new format, there was a fair bit of tension amongst mobile manufacturers. Motorola, Nokia, and RIM all disagreed the design which was initially put forward by Apple, arguing that the design was more prone to causing causing handset damage when answered than their own designs. Interestingly enough, both Apple’s design and a recent Motorola and RIM design shared the same dimensions, though the latter includes an extra notch so that the cards can work fine in phones that lack a SIM tray.
That being said, I wonder whether the latest revised design has support for the more “outdated”, tray-less “push-push” SIM slots.
On another note, it’s interesting how just last month, an image surfaced depicting the alleged SIM tray of the next-generation iPhone. It was extremely similar to that of the 4S and supported micro-SIM. If true, it means that either Apple has no plans to adopt the new format, or perhaps they took a radical change in course now that it’s official and are producing proper trays for nano-SIMs. The latter would make sense; even though it was their proposal, why invest money without certainty that it will be adopted?
Whatever the case might be, it will all be cleared and settled in the coming months when Apple unveils the next iPhone this fall along with the final version of iOS 6.
(via MacRumors)
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