Apple
announced the iPhone 5 at a press event in San Francisco on
Wednesday and as expected the new phone will be using the recently
approved nano-SIM standard. As there is a lot of confusion surrounding
this new SIM card standard, we have compiled all the details about the
nano-SIM cards.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI) introduced the Apple designed nano-SIM format back in June. It is
40 percent smaller than the current micro-SIM format and measures just
12.3mm wide by 8.8mm high, and 0.67mm thick.
"Today's SIM card
designs take up a significant amount of space inside a mobile device.
This space is more and more valuable in today's handsets which deliver
an ever increasing number of features," ETSI noted in press release at
the time of nano-SIM announcement.
The new SIM is no way different (apart from the size) than the existing SIM cards and it offers the same functionality.
Nano-SIM challenges
While
the nano-SIM might be smaller, there is a downside to it. Unlike the
micro-SIM cards, which could be made by simply cutting the normal SIM
cards, nano-SIM cards cannot be made this way, as nano-SIM is also 15pc
thinner than micro-SIM. So, even if normal/micro-SIM can be cut to the
nano-SIM size, there is no way to reduce the thickness.
Update: Cutting a SIM/ micro-SIM into a nano-SIM may be possible after all
The
consumers will have to get the nano-SIM cards directly from their
telecom operators; however adapters can be used to convert nano-SIM
cards to a micro-SIM or a normal SIM card.
Several adapters are already available in the market to allow users to get ready ahead of iPhone 5 availability.
Nano-SIM availability
According
to online reports, telecom operators have already procured nano-SIM
cards anticipating their high demand because of iPhone 5 launch. There
are millions of nano-SIM cards already lying in warehouses, ready to be
released in the market.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Indian telecom operators have also placed the orders for nano-SIM cards though there is no confirmation on the Indian launch of iPhone 5.
Other manufacturers
Similar
to micro-SIM adoption, we are expecting other mobile manufacturers to
start using nano-SIM cards soon given the fact that they are smaller and
give more space for other components in the phone design. Apple was
also the first manufacturer the use micro-SIM cards same as it is doing
with nano-SIM cards.
Image Credit:G&D
Also see: Cutting a SIM/ micro-SIM into a nano-SIM may be possible after all