iPad's GSM Micro Sim = No iPhone SIMs

[modit]

Can't believe how Apple is pushing this proprietary GSM micro sim. They're trying to stop people from just slapping their iPhone SIMs into the iPad.

Wow...could have been so much more. I'll bet they'll introduce iSight in the next revision along with a camera in the iPod touch.

Buy. Don't Buy. Buy. I'm Confused! :rolleyes:

[theMaccer]

personally i never buy first gen. of tech product

[apfhex]

They're trying to stop people from just slapping their iPhone SIMs into the iPad.
Kinda surprised this isn't getting more replies. Maybe it's being talked about in another thread. But the ability to use your iPhone SIM in the iPad would have been a huge bonus and incentive to get one. It's really obvious that they went with Micro SIM to stop people from doing just that (yeah there could have been technical/design reasons too, but I bet they could have had a regular SIM slot if they'd really wanted). Not that not having 3G is a deal-breaker for the iPad, really, especially if you already have an iPhone, but it would have been nice.

[tys]

Kinda surprised this isn't getting more replies. Maybe it's being talked about in another thread. But the ability to use your iPhone SIM in the iPad would have been a huge bonus and incentive to get one. It's really obvious that they went with Micro SIM to stop people from doing just that (yeah there could have been technical/design reasons too, but I bet they could have had a regular SIM slot if they'd really wanted). Not that not having 3G is a deal-breaker for the iPad, really, especially if you already have an iPhone, but it would have been nice.

I read somewhere that a Micro SIM has the same connections as a regular SIM but without the extra plastic around it.
Would it be possible to cut down the iPhone SIM to use with the iPad and then use an adapter when putting it back in the iPhone?
I agree that the micro SIM choice was done for the reasons you suggest. The iPad obviously has room for a full size SIM.

[marksman]

They would have done it with the iphone too I am sure if it was not for the europeans.

[zainjetha]

So would it accept a normal size GSM sim card? If not they have obviously cut out a lot of customers... I dont know many carriers which offer MicroSIM. If not i will just have to trim down my sim card...

[ltldrummerboy]

This was one of the first things I noticed. I can't imagine any other reason for doing this other than keeping smartphone users from hopping on AT&T's network with the iPad.

[mpleonard]

Maybe the next generation iPhone will include one of these micro SIMs too?

[miniConvert]

This is definitely one to watch. Either we'll see the whole market start to move to this format, or it'll be dropped in Rev B.

Don't think I'll be buying the Rev A if the widespread availability of micro SIMs doesn't materialise.

[goobot]

I read somewhere that a Micro SIM has the same connections as a regular SIM but without the extra plastic around it.
Would it be possible to cut down the iPhone SIM to use with the iPad and then use an adapter when putting it back in the iPhone?
I agree that the micro SIM choice was done for the reasons you suggest. The iPad obviously has room for a full size SIM.

i was thinking the same thing.

[ukcolinr]

They would have done it with the iphone too I am sure if it was not for the europeans.

I'm curious by this statement? I know of no European country that uses Micro SIMs??? In fact if you look at the article about Micro SIMs on Wikipedia, they list the only known device to use them at the current time as the iPad?

[MTI]

Why would you want to use an iPhone AT&T sim card? Can't be used for phone calls, so you'd be paying for a voice plan that will just carry over minutes . . .

Why put a webcam in a handheld device if you have to hold it like a mirror to get a good image?

[wingnut8]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3GS: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Why would you want to use an iPhone AT&T sim card? Can't be used for phone calls, so you'd be paying for a voice plan that will just carry over minutes . . .

Why put a webcam in a handheld device if you have to hold it like a mirror to get a good image?

Well you could take your sim out of your phone the use data on the ipad when you need it.

[MTI]

Well you could take your sim out of your phone the use data on the ipad when you need it.

When did Apple users become such cheapskates? :D

[goobot]

When did Apple users become such cheapskates? :D

well 30$ a month adds up ;)
Why would you want to use an iPhone AT&T sim card? Can't be used for phone calls, so you'd be paying for a voice plan that will just carry over minutes . . .

Why put a webcam in a handheld device if you have to hold it like a mirror to get a good image?

cause when i have an iphone and occasionally when i just wana use the data on a ipad im going to pay 15$ a month?

[MTI]

$15 a month . . . $0.50 per day . . . shall I ask my intial question again? Cheapskates.

[goobot]

$15 a month . . . $0.50 per day . . . shall I ask my intial question again? Cheapskates.

yes but then a year with other expenses a penny can make a difference. then you add tax and other fees. my att bill is already 250 with this it will be 300.

50X12=600

no thx

[MTI]

:) $50 a year is a "deal breaker" . . . okay, if you say so.

[goobot]

:) $50 a year is a "deal breaker" . . . okay, if you say so.

no 600 dollars a year is a deal breaker:)

[ucfgrad93]

Can't believe how Apple is pushing this proprietary GSM micro sim. They're trying to stop people from just slapping their iPhone SIMs into the iPad.

Agreed. I would suggest getting the wifi only version.

[Chupa Chupa]

Can't believe how Apple is pushing this proprietary GSM micro sim. They're trying to stop people from just slapping their iPhone SIMs into the iPad.



GSM Micro is NOT proprietary, it's a true standard. However, no U.S. company, other than ATT, has agreed to use it. Clever way to lock people in w/o locking them in, but just the same T-Mob could offer GSM Micro SIMs if they wanted, no prob.

Regardless, it would do you no good to stick your iPhone SIM in the iPad even if it accepted the more conventional size, i.e., it wouldn't get you 3G or phone service.

[MTI]

no 600 dollars a year is a deal breaker:)

My bad on the math. When discussing the $15/mo rate plan, are you saying that with taxes it goes to $50? Or are you factoring an "unlimited" plan costing $50?

[deconstruct60]

I read somewhere that a Micro SIM has the same connections as a regular SIM but without the extra plastic around it.
Would it be possible to cut down the iPhone SIM to use with the iPad and then use an adapter when putting it back in the iPhone?
I agree that the micro SIM choice was done for the reasons you suggest. The iPad obviously has room for a full size SIM.

This is akin to trying to say could trim the plastic off of an existing SDHC card to get a mini-SDHC one. It isn't merely "plastic" that are trimming off.

http://www.fonearena.com/blog/2010/01/28/what-is-a-microsim-or-3ff-sim-card.html

1. They SIM and MicroSIM/Mini-UICC/3FF are the same thickness. So it will be hard to "insert" the smaller in the larger because won't insert "into". Conceptually you'd have a cut-out. The other issue is that it is smaller in all dimensions except thickness. So the pins don't necessarily line directly up.

2. Format aimed at smaller "data modems" or other devices that are small. While the iPad isn't small it is definitely just leveraging it for a data only modem.

Back on the 7th (weeks before the iPad announcement), Tmobile said there was going to have these for another device. (perhaps they have a plan. ;-) While you only get EDGE on their network in the US... they do also have a national WiFi network. A national coverage WiFi + miniSIM plan would probably work for many if priced right. )

http://m2m.tmcnet.com/topics/m2mevolution/articles/72119-lok8u-t-mobile-launch-micro-3ff-sim-cards.htm

For are producing new ones quickly.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2358489,00.asp

[goobot]

My bad on the math. When discussing the $15/mo rate plan, are you saying that with taxes it goes to $50? Or are you factoring an "unlimited" plan costing $50?

yah unlimed since i use like 2 gigs just on my phone :rolleyes: then taxes and fees is almost 50 a month

any way i have a plan. if the next iphone has the new sim no prob. but if not ill just transfer my plan to the microsim and hope that a adapter for the iphone comes out for microsim

[ucfgrad93]

GSM Micro is NOT proprietary, it's a true standard. However, no U.S. company, other than ATT, has agreed to use it.

Does any other phone company in the world use it?

[goobot]

Does any other phone company in the world use it?

i think europe

[Chupa Chupa]

Does any other phone company in the world use it?

Yes. O2, Orange, T-Mob (Europe

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/rest-easy-ipad-roamers-o2-and-orange-have-micro-sim-orders-to/

[lordhamster]

This whole Mini sim thing annoys the crap out of me, just like the Micro-USB standard. Why the hell to the Europeans keep insisting on changing De-facto standards so that they can define new "Standards?"

Anyway, I'm annoyed they did this. I saw an article however on some tech blog (I think engadget) saying that TMobile USA has already confirmed that they will be bringing this new Sim form factor to the US to support some GPS gizmo of theirs. Plus, if they are smart, they'll offer it as an option for iPad users.

It still annoys the hell out of me though because the #1 reason I like GSM technology is when I travel I can buy local sims. Well now its just a much bigger PITA.

[Gav2k]

Why is everyone skipping over the fact it's just the plasic that is different you can buy any sim cut it down and pop it in the connections are the same. I know you can't butcher your own iPhone sim as it won't fit in both. But over here you can get plenty of cheap deals on Internet simcards.

[lordhamster]

Why is everyone skipping over the fact it's just the plasic that is different you can buy any sim cut it down and pop it in the connections are the same. I know you can't butcher your own iPhone sim as it won't fit in both. But over here you can get plenty of cheap deals on Internet simcards.

Because based on what I read on Wikipedia (I could be wrong here) that isn't the case... the SIM is actually electronically different and is "talked to" differently by the phone/device.