Why don't they use a device to load the data stored in the SIM directly on the iPhone?
A software based sim would be another solution, if the carriers all agreed to support it. Otherwise you would be locking the phone to a single select carrier such as how in the US you can't use a Verizon phone on Sprint or a Sprint on Verizon
Oh and for the record the only data on the sim in an iPhone is the carrier connection details. All your actual data is in the iPhones hard drive
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Sarcasm is clearly misplaced here. The catch is described in the original article. Apple offers its patent for free on condition that others will stop charging for their FRAND patents.
But only those in direct relationship to sim card use.
Which is basically how a 'standard' is formed. Everyone with a patent related to the item to be made a standard agrees to the same terms of use etc.
So basically Apple has just said they are willing to FRAND this tech if the other needed game players are also. And with use terms of 'free', if the other needed players will do the same.
but if the other boys don't want to play FRAND then Apple will license on their own terms with no FRAND limits like every other patent they hold (not already under FRAND).
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I would rather not having to hook up the phone to a computer to "download" the SIM information.
Who says you would have to. It all depends on how the software is written.
And software-based SIM card won't lock you into a contract?
No more so than a physical sim card decides if you are in a contract.