Apple Offers Royalty-Free Patent Licenses to Push Proposed Nano-SIM Standard

MacRumors · Mar 26, 2012, 08:47 AM

Last week, we noted that Apple was still pushing to have its "nano-SIM" design adopted as the official next-generation standard to further reduce the size of the removable cards that include subscriber information and activation capabilities for mobile phones and other devices connecting to cellular networks. While the company has received the backing of a number of European carriers in its effort to roll out the new standard, other hardware companies are putting out their own proposals.

FOSS Patents now reports that it has seen a letter sent by Apple to the European Telecommunications Standards Institutes (ETSI) committing to offer royalty-free license to its nano-SIM design patents should it be adopted as the next-generation standard and holders of other patents related to the standard offer similar terms to ease adoption.

Quote:

A perfectly reliable source that I can't disclose has shown me a letter dated March 19, 2012 that a senior Apple lawyer sent to ETSI. The letter addresses the primary concern of critics of the proposal. The FT said that "the Apple-led proposal has caused some concern among its rivals that the US group might eventually own the patents". But Apple's letter has removed this roadblock, if it ever was any, through an unequivocal commitment to grant royalty-free licenses to any Apple patents essential to nano-SIM, provided that Apple's proposal is adopted as a standard and that all other patent holders accept the same terms in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.

A move to a smaller SIM card standard would enable Apple to design smaller and thinner devices or to utilize some of the space within existing device volumes for other components. With the tightly-packed configurations of today's mobile devices, even minor size reductions for a given component can open the door to smaller or better-peforming devices.

Apple has also reportedly been developing a micro dock connector for future iOS devices, a move which would similarly free up space for other uses given the substantial size of the 30-pin dock connector used in all iOS devices released to date.

Article Link: Apple Offers Royalty-Free Patent Licenses to Push Proposed Nano-SIM Standard

toddybody · Mar 26, 2012, 08:49 AM

...with a catch

sciwizam · Mar 26, 2012, 08:55 AM

What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?

navtis · Mar 26, 2012, 08:56 AM

If they would only fit this to a Macbook Air it would be perfect.

FSMBP · Mar 26, 2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciwizam

What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?

Smaller tray?

slrandall · Mar 26, 2012, 09:03 AM

Apple believes in this enough to give it away for free in order for others to adopt it. What are some of the other proposals?

gpat · Mar 26, 2012, 09:07 AM

Why don't they use a device to load the data stored in the SIM directly on the iPhone? It would be surely more painless than changing a 14-year old standard, and could provide a smart way to prevent iTheft.

jonnysods · Mar 26, 2012, 09:07 AM

Wirelessly posted

Please adopt it!

I would love a thinner phone!

miniroll32 · Mar 26, 2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpat

Why don't they use a device to load the data stored in the SIM directly on the iPhone?

kyjaotkb · Mar 26, 2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciwizam

What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?

you're the Nokia-Guy !

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by slrandall

Apple believes in this enough to give it away for free in order for others to adopt it. What are some of the other proposals?

They want to show the world how reasonable they are with FRAND. Tactical move, not a strategic one.

gpat · Mar 26, 2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miniroll32

Image

Excuse me? If I said something impossible to accomplish, please explain why it is. I thought the Internet was for sharing.

Lesser Evets · Mar 26, 2012, 09:12 AM

I love seeing how Apple swings weight about. They are quite determined, and I see nothing wrong with their desires to reduce or eventually eliminate these SIM cards.

Hope we see the micro-dock connector sooner than later. While the old connector is fine, it is large compared to what is now possible. Yeah, lotsa devices to aid iPods would be stuck in yesteryear, but let's move forward already.

kyjaotkb · Mar 26, 2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpat

Why don't they use a device to load the data stored in the SIM directly on the iPhone? It would be surely more painless than changing a 14-year old standard, and could provide a smart way to prevent iTheft.

and you're the Verizon guy !

MisterMe · Mar 26, 2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpat

Excuse me? If I said something impossible to accomplish, please explain why it is. I thought the Internet was for sharing.

You will be well-served by doing a little research on the features and benefits of SIM cards.

The Mercurian · Mar 26, 2012, 09:16 AM

As a consumer don't want these nano-SIMS. The micro SIMS are already to small, difficult to handle and easy to loose - nano sims will be bastard things to try and deal with

yg17 · Mar 26, 2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpat

Excuse me? If I said something impossible to accomplish, please explain why it is. I thought the Internet was for sharing.

That 14 year old standard you're complaining about is one of the greatest innovations in mobile technology since the cell phone was invented.

jayducharme · Mar 26, 2012, 09:19 AM

I'm curious about how a change in the dock connector would be received by consumers. There's such a huge collection of peripherals for the current dock connector. I wonder how many people would be willing to give them up. I bought three recent accessories with the current dock connector built into them, and they weren't cheap. I know that all technology changes over time, but I wouldn't be happy if I had to ditch my current accessories in order to upgrade my iDevices.

Wouldn't it be nice if Apple had a published road map of what their future held so we all could know what not to buy? (I'm sure their competition would love that.)

acidfast7 · Mar 26, 2012, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mercurian

As a consumer don't want these nano-SIMS. The micro SIMS are already to small, difficult to handle and easy to loose - nano sims will be bastard things to try and deal with

I only buy phones with multi-SIM slots for this reason.

However, good luck explaining that to an American, where their chained into 2-year contracts and a single carrier from birth to death.

MacBookPro13" · Mar 26, 2012, 09:23 AM

I would love it if the iPhone micro-sim was the standard for all phones. Would come in very handy if you wanted a cheap spare phone for using at work or other places where it might get lost/stolen/damaged.

fruitycups · Mar 26, 2012, 09:25 AM

This is a definite must.
I would love to see this happen.

acidfast7 · Mar 26, 2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacBookPro13"

I would love it if the iPhone micro-sim was the standard for all phones. Would come in very handy if you wanted a cheap spare phone for using at work or other places where it might get lost/stolen/damaged.

just use a cardboard/plastic adapter like most people

LOL

PracticalMac · Mar 26, 2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciwizam

What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?

Um, don't need to take phone apart to get to SIM?

Small White Car · Mar 26, 2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddybody

...with a catch

Such as...?

Come on, don't leave us hanging.

kiljoy616 · Mar 26, 2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciwizam

What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?

Please do enlighten us with what your invention is. We are all ears

ijustgraduated · Mar 26, 2012, 09:45 AM

Promoting innovation (sorta)!

Mar 26, 2012, 08:49 AM	#2
toddybody Guest Join Date: May 2010 Location: On Mars, thinking about my father...	...with a catch
	-7

Mar 26, 2012, 08:55 AM	#3
sciwizam macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010	What's the point of smaller SIM if it needs a tray to hold it?
	-4

Mar 26, 2012, 08:56 AM	#4
navtis macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London	Nano SIM If they would only fit this to a Macbook Air it would be perfect.
	11

Mar 26, 2012, 09:07 AM	#7
gpat macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Italy	Why don't they use a device to load the data stored in the SIM directly on the iPhone? It would be surely more painless than changing a 14-year old standard, and could provide a smart way to prevent iTheft. __________________ 13" MBP 2011, Galaxy Note 2 (oh noes i automatically become an apple hater) (Sorry for bad english, not my mother tongue!)
	0

Mar 26, 2012, 09:07 AM	#8
jonnysods macrumors 68020 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Aussie living in Canada	Wirelessly posted Please adopt it! I would love a thinner phone! __________________ Sodagorn Media www.sodagorn.com
	-3

Mar 26, 2012, 09:03 AM	#6
slrandall macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	Apple believes in this enough to give it away for free in order for others to adopt it. What are some of the other proposals?
	1

Mar 26, 2012, 09:12 AM	#12
Lesser Evets macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jan 2006	I love seeing how Apple swings weight about. They are quite determined, and I see nothing wrong with their desires to reduce or eventually eliminate these SIM cards. Hope we see the micro-dock connector sooner than later. While the old connector is fine, it is large compared to what is now possible. Yeah, lotsa devices to aid iPods would be stuck in yesteryear, but let's move forward already. __________________ 2x1.86 BSEL Pro 1,1; 5770; 16GB RAM; 1•3TB/2•1TB/2•2TB SATA; 128GB Startup SSD; 30" & 20" C.Displays; OSX 10.7.5; Sound Sticks; 1TB TimeMach
	0

Mar 26, 2012, 09:16 AM	#15
The Mercurian macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2012	As a consumer don't want these nano-SIMS. The micro SIMS are already to small, difficult to handle and easy to loose - nano sims will be bastard things to try and deal with
	0

Mar 26, 2012, 09:19 AM	#17
jayducharme macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The hinterlands	I'm curious about how a change in the dock connector would be received by consumers. There's such a huge collection of peripherals for the current dock connector. I wonder how many people would be willing to give them up. I bought three recent accessories with the current dock connector built into them, and they weren't cheap. I know that all technology changes over time, but I wouldn't be happy if I had to ditch my current accessories in order to upgrade my iDevices. Wouldn't it be nice if Apple had a published road map of what their future held so we all could know what not to buy? (I'm sure their competition would love that.)
	-1

Mar 26, 2012, 09:23 AM	#19
MacBookPro13" macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland	I would love it if the iPhone micro-sim was the standard for all phones. Would come in very handy if you wanted a cheap spare phone for using at work or other places where it might get lost/stolen/damaged. __________________ Macbook Pro 13" \| iPad 3 \| iPhone 5
	1

Mar 26, 2012, 09:25 AM	#20
fruitycups macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011	This is a definite must. I would love to see this happen.
	0

Mar 26, 2012, 09:45 AM	#25
ijustgraduated macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2011	Promoting innovation (sorta)!
	0

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