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Apple reportedly joins talks with cell providers to launch new ‘e-SIM’ cards

Apple-SIM

With the launch of the latest iPad model, Apple debuted its own SIM card that allows users to choose between three different cell carriers and change service on-the-fly. Rumors that such a card could be included in the next iPhone appeared almost immediately, and now a new report confirms that Apple is in talks with cellular carriers and other handset makers to bring this type of system to all cell phones.

The idea behind the talks is a universal standard for embedded SIM cards (“e-SIM”) that are built into the phone and not user accessible. These subscriber identity modules would allow customers to sign up for service on any network they wanted, then allow them to switch at any time (obviously with some limitations placed by the carriers).

Apple isn’t the only smartphone manufacturer in these discussions. Samsung is also reported to be part of the talks, meaning this tech could become a real standard across iPhone and Android devices, unlike Apple’s current SIM which is locked specifically to the company’s hardware.

Mobile providers currently included in the talks are said to include AT&T, T-Mobile US parent company Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, and Telefónica. Whether other carriers will get on board remains to be seen, but if future phones are going to debut with this technology, it seems like a wise move on their part.

Plans for the e-SIM haven’t been finalized yet, but the group working on the standard hopes to have it rolled out some time in 2016, missing in the next iPhone, but putting in on track to appear in the next major generation. Curiously, the Financial Times says that the embedded SIM may not actually replace the Apple SIM, but work alongside it. Given that the two seem to accomplish the same goal, this seems like an odd possibility.

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Comments

  1. lagax - 9 years ago

    The iPhone 7 is not the “next gen iPhone”. iPhone 6S is.

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      I don’t think anyone claimed the iPhone 7 was the next gen iPhone.

      • “…some time in 2016, likely in time to appear in the next-gen iPhone…”

        You just said the next-gem iPhone would be released in 2016, which will most likely by the iPhone 7.

    • If you want to be technical, iPhone 7 *is* the “next” gen phone. The iPhone 6s is finished and going into or already in production, so it’s the “current” gen, even if you nor I can buy it right now.

      • lin2logger - 9 years ago

        Suuuuuure. You of course have FIRST HAND insight on this which is FACT, right?? Let me guess, you’re even using a prototype??!

        LOL… the stupidity some people fall prey to, merely because they have an internet connection and access to some crappy rumor sites. Bravo.

  2. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    Maybe now that most carriers are not subsidizing iPhones this will happen.

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      All the US carriers still are.

      • T-Mobile hasn’t been subsidizing phones for a while and ATT is completely phasing it out as well (places like Las Vegas for example). So no, all the US carriers do not subsidize iPhones.

      • Joe Jordan - 9 years ago

        AT&T and Tmobile aren’t anymore… not up front anyway. They’re all using their “Next” or “Jump” programs. Vzw and Sprint are still using old-fashioned subsidies. I’m considering leaving AT&T because of this.

      • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

        AT&T still offers subsidized phones, and IIRC it’s still possible to buy one that way on T-Mobile if you configure your plan correctly.

  3. gatorguy2 - 9 years ago

    There were articles a couple months ago about a working group setting up standards for eSims. There’s actually quite a few companies involved besides Samsung and the recently added Apple and include hardware providers Sony, LG and Huawei. There’s also big telcos such as China Unicom and Telefónica, along with smaller players like Mexico’s América Móvil, the middle-east’s Ooredoo, security company Gemalto, Germany’s financial security provider Giesecke & Devrient, France’s electronic security provider Morpho and many others.

  4. charilaosmulder - 9 years ago

    Better unboxing and setup experience, more internal space for other hardware, cleaner exterior looks. Bring it on.

    • Likely easier to track phone usage across networks too including creating a mapping of the number on one to another. With an external sim you also have the luxury of easily switching from one for to another and back and forth, just by swapping the sim – number follows the card.

      • Abedoss - 9 years ago

        You are right about your concerns, I thought the same, but if we (as I am until now) trust in Apple commitment in keeping their users private and secure, it will be a good standard for the manufacturers and then for end-users.
        And as of @gatorguy2 there is a security companies are involved in this standard.

  5. bellevueboy - 9 years ago

    That’s it. This means the watch will become a phone in itself in 2nd or 3rd gen

    • J.latham - 9 years ago

      I hope not. There are still tons of things that just work better on larger screen.

      • bellevueboy - 9 years ago

        Yes and users usage patterns and scenarios will change. the Watch is going to tether less and less to the phone in the future generations. I do not want to do any major email/messaging on my watch. I am ok with just quick reading of those but I surely want my watch to talk to all my smart home devices and not have to carry the phone for it.

    • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

      This doesn’t mean anything of the sort…

  6. Dafty Punk - 9 years ago

    Didn’t Apple try and do this a few years ago and all the carriers balked? We saw a watered down version last year with the iPad Air2….

  7. Tim LeVier - 9 years ago

    They should rebrand the iPod Touch as the iPad Micro so that you can get a sim card for data on there. Also, the iPad Micro should add speakers and microphones just like the iPhone has so you can hold it like a phone and make web based calls on FaceTime Audio and Skype.

  8. Ilko Sarafski - 9 years ago

    It makes so much sense… I guess at some point this will happen. And it would be a worldwide thing. This will free some space for more battery/etc, and I guess make things more handy for travelers (and not only ofc). But yeah, let’s see, because that’s not going to happen in 6S I guess. Maybe this will be the “Big Thing” of the 7?

  9. irelandjnr - 9 years ago

    One more way to keep governments out of our devices.

  10. mahmudf2014 - 9 years ago

    So what will happen if i travel to another country and want to get a local sim for to pay less bill?

    • Ilko Sarafski - 9 years ago

      I guess it will be an automatic switch? Like it is now but you won’t need to physically change the SIM, just through the software. If that’s the case (and I imagine it that way), I am in! :)

      • Mike Beasley - 9 years ago

        This seems likely. It sounds like the cards won’t be user-accessible anyway.

    • Good question…

  11. Toro Volt (@torovolt) - 9 years ago

    Keep dreaming…. Carriers will do anything and everything on their power to keep people locked to their service and make it really dificult to switch to their competitors.
    I give 0% chances of this happening besides, a Universal Radio Modem has yet to exist for it to properly work. Hell even the newest iphone and ipads lack T-Mo LTE Band 12 go figure lol

  12. Even from environmental point of view, this is a huge thing, this is the way to make difference. Go Apple!