Nano-SIMs are being stockpiled by European networks
 

The following was reported in the Financial Times today but the link seems unreliable so I've copied and pasted below:

European mobile operators are stockpiling an innovative miniature Sim card designed for next generation smartphones for use in Apple’s eagerly awaited iPhone 5.

In one of the clearest signals yet of an impending launch, Apple’s European operator partners have begun to place multiple orders with chipmakers for a so-called “nano-Sim”, the only physical piece of the phone that is owned by the telecom networks.

Apple has not confirmed any forthcoming device but this has not dampened the rumours. The iPhone 5 has been linked with a launch in September or October this year, and there has been speculation about features including a bigger screen, a metal backing and the ability to run on 4G, or LTE, mobile data networks.

The tiny Sim cards, which have not yet been seen on the market, were the subject of a fierce battle between Apple and Nokia to control the design earlier this year. Apple’s proposal was given approval by the industry’s standards group, although other devices will be able to use the nano sim, which is much smaller than the existing micro sim used by many cutting edge smartphones.

Operators expect that the iPhone will feature the nano sim in a slimmed down design, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, and have begun to store millions of the cards in warehouses in anticipation of high demand for Apple’s iPhone. Apple declined to comment.

Operators were caught off guard by the adoption of the micro Sim for the iPhone 4 as well as the original iPad two years ago, with some struggling to meet demand with their own micro-Sims in the first weeks of sale.

One informed person said that the major networks were keen to be ahead of demand this time, however. He added that the iPhone 5 was likely to be similar sized as the iPhone 4 although slimmer and with a fully metal body.

The nano-Sim, which is 40 per cent smaller than the micro-Sim, is expected to be adopted by other phonemakers over time as it allows for smaller handsets, although it is not expected to be used by Nokia this autumn in its latest Lumia handset that will run Microsoft’s revamped Windows 8 operating system.

Apple has also been in negotiations with some operators about the commercial terms of its sales agreements, which can cover areas such as the number of units ordered and sold. These talks are said to include the forthcoming launch of its phone, although typically span several years.

The use of the micro-Sim caused some controversy in the iPhone, given fears that this was a move by Apple to take greater control over the market, and these flared up again earlier this year when Nokia and Apple went to war over their rival designs for the nano sim.

My reaction is that it's really probably no big deal. People adapted when the micro-SIM came to be with cutters, adapters and templates that would let you use the new size SIM. Let's also not forget that the original SIMs most have been using for years is called a "min-SIM" and that the original SIM card was the size of a credit card (85.6 mm X 53.87 mm or 3-3/8" X 2-1/8") dimension.

The problem is that some SIM cards may be difficult to cut and may damage the chip. For example, I have a micro-SIM from MTS Belarus in which the unusually square-shaped chip takes up almost the whole surface. I fear that cutting it to a nano-SIM will cut right into the chip. Any ideas?

That's no problem. What you see on the surface of the SIM card are just electrical contacts which can be cut as long as the signitifcantly smaller chip below is not damaged. This x-ray image shows how small the actual chip is:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...y_contrast.jpg
I've actually cut almost my whole SIM collection to match the 3FF (third form factor = microSIM) and some also had these giant contacts.

However the bad thing about nanoSIMs (aka "4FF") is that you will not only need to cut the old formats to match this new format but you also need to file down half a milimeter as nanoSIMs are thinner.

I'd just like to say f*ck you to Apple for pushing yet another new SIM card size when the original one was a universal standard that was already small enough to fit any of the products that Apple has come out with.

As you can see from p. 12 of this presentation the initiative for nanoSIMs has also been supported by many large carriers which are aslo to blame for this new type of hardware SIMlock.

Thanks. I was really hoping that someone would reply with some positive news like that. I'd hate to have to get all my SIM cards replaced, particularly in places where they were a hassle to get in the first place.

Doesn't that depend on phone? It's possible that the next iPhone will allow a thicker SIM card. For example, I don't think the iPhone 4/4S would have a problem if the SIM card was slightly thicker, and the next iPhone will probably have a similar SIM tray.

interesting read
 

inquisitor, thank you for bringing this to our attention. I now know more about SIMs than I thought I would ever would. At least 4FF will be backward compatible. That a 2FF or 3FF would be forward compatible is probably asking too much.

Some peeking ahead to the next 5-10 years is to be found here.

Actually after realizing that the difference in thickness between 2FF/3FF and 4FF is 0.09mm (approximately the thickness of a human hair) I think even 2FF and 3FF SIM cards could be forward compatible to 4FF as you can cut them in height and width and, as NFH does, I also doubt SIM slots of 4FF phones will be manfactured with such high precision that this marginal difference in thickness of SIM cards will have an impact. Anyway I still dislike this new attempt of Apple and operators to establish some exclusivity and hinder people from swapping SIM cards between devices. The decrease in volume is a ridiculous argument I think.

I agree. This will just bring more headache to those of that switch sim cards between multiple devices. I am already using a freaking adapter to switch between my iphone4 and my other devices. Now, If I happen to get an iphone5, then it means another damn adapter in order to be able to switch between the iphone5 and other devices. Switching between iphone4 and iphone5 is another story!

There's another report on nano-SIMs in the UK's Daily Mail:

iPhone 5 features leaked: A new SIM card needed as well as new docks and chargers? | Mail Online

Note that the accuracy of the journalism is often poor in this newspaper, evidenced by the author's incorrect claim that "Apple has an annual refresh rate for their smartphone, traditionally unveiling it each September for a launch in October". In fact, 2012 will be the first year in September and 2011 was the first year in October. Therefore don't take all the other reported facts as true.

I assume that most readers of this forum are enlightened and so are neither scientologists nor Apple customers, but nevertheless let me mention that NanoSIMs are fully backward compatible to all previous form factors. Since the contacts layout has remained the same you just need to prune older SIM cards to match the new form factor. NanoSIMs are 0.09mm (that's less than a tenth of a millimeter!) flatter than previous SIM cards but I doubt SIM slots are made that precisely that a tenth of a millimeter will make a difference.

I find it hard to believe that a micro-sim or even a regular sim takes up much space and weight in a phone, esp as the trend is toward larger phones like the Samsung S3. I'd suggest that part of the point is to protect the carriers and make it harder to switch sims, reducing competition.

There's definitely no technical necessicty to further reduce SIM card size. What you suggest is absolutely true and in line with what I said on the previous page.

If Apple were using the smaller size to accommodate a dual SIM card slot in the iPhone 5, I'm sure we in this forum would all be very supportive of the idea. It may happen one day, but would not be marketed to frequent travellers like us, but to people who want a personal and a business line simultaneously active in the same phone. Although some networks offer line 2 (Alternative Line Service), this requires both lines to be from the same network, but many people use a different network from their employer.

In case someone needs it, here's a template for cutting Mini and Micro SIMs to NanoSIMs: http://www.airportal.de/How_to_cut_M...o_Nano_SIM.pdf

Good news. CNET Asia, who obtained an iPhone 5 today before most consumers in Europe, have confirmed that you don't need to reduce the thickness of a mini-SIM or micro-SIM when cutting it to a nano-SIM. The iPhone 5's SIM tray allows enough room. See Hacked iPhone 5 nano-SIM--thickness doesn't matter - Crave - Mobile Phones - CNET Asia

I think the iPhone 5 would have earned better reviews if it had added groundbreaking features such as:

* A removable/replaceable battery
* A MicroSD card slot
* An on-off switch
* Use of normal SIM cards
* A standard USB interface

And yes, dual SIM would be a great idea.

(I won't be buying one.)

I have cut maybe 15 SIMs to use them with Dual SIM Adapters like this one Dual Sim (there are many others) and only 1 SIM did not survive (I claimed warranty and told the customer care lady that it failed after only 2 days. They sent me a new one for free....)
It can happen and it is common, that there occurs a little gap between contacts and plastic of the SIM after cutting. This gap should be filled with epoxy glue to ensure correct contact pressure.

If anyone needs adapters to convert a nano-SIM to a micro-SIM or mini-SIM, O2 UK are giving away prepaid nano-SIM packs for free in their shops. The pack includes two adapters.

that's a galaxy S
 

if they added these features they'd have to call it a Galaxy S :p