Apple in 'Advanced Talks' With Mobile Telecom Groups for Standardized 'e-SIM' Cards

[MacRumors]

Apple and Samsung are in talks with mobile standards organization GSMA to introduce electronic SIM cards, according to Financial Times. The talks are happening around the GSMA's impending announcement of the creation of a standardized embedded SIM card for consumer devices, which would involve both Apple and Samsung if the talks go through.

Rumors of Apple creating its own SIM card line began in late 2010, when a report from Gigaom claimed the company was working with digital security firm Gemalto to create the custom built-in SIM. The iPhone 4s was even rumored to be "SIM-less," pointing once again to an electronic SIM card pre-built into the device to save space, and inaccessible to the user.

The e-SIM would essentially allow customers to avoid being locked in to a dedicated mobile carrier, letting them sign up to their network of choice and even switch instantly if they changed their minds.

With today's news, the networks expected to be on board with the new e-SIM standard include: AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone. GSMA's chief executive, Anne Bouverot, claims all parties are "heading towards an agreement" regarding the standardized e-SIM card. But, as the Financial Times points out, thanks to the technical specifications of the e-SIM, it will be "at least a year" before any devices supporting the new card reach the market.

The GSMA said: "With the majority of operators on board, the plan is to finalise the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for consumer devices, with delivery anticipated by 2016."

"We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification," said Ms Bouverot. "We have been working with them and others to create an industry solution for machines and will agree a solution for consumer electronics."

The deal with Apple is yet to be finalized, however, with the GSMA noting it is "continuing to work with Apple to secure their support for the initiative" and an actual agreement with Apple "is still in progress."

Last year, Apple took its first steps toward opening up carrier access on some of its devices, introducing an Apple SIM card for cellular versions of both the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, allowing users -- particularly in the United States -- to switch easily between AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, taking advantage of each carrier's short-term data plans as they saw fit. EE in the UK was also included in the Apple SIM program, and just weeks ago a partnership with GigSky expanded Apple SIM service to over 90 countries.

The e-SIM standard has been under consideration for several years, but many carriers have resisted the concept over concerns it will be too easy for customers to switch. Even with Apple's physical Apple SIM card, AT&T moved to locking cards to the carrier's service. The company gave no reason why it decided to prevent the Apple SIM from functioning properly beyond "it's just simply the way we've chosen to do it." With only a handful of carriers currently on board and a 2016 launch date for the new e-SIM cards, it remains to be seen how quickly they will be able to gain momentum in the industry.

Article Link: Apple in 'Advanced Talks' With Mobile Telecom Groups for Standardized 'e-SIM' Cards

 

[Ankit1088]

That's pretty neat.

 

[kcamfork]

A logical next step. It's pretty crappy that AT&T locks the Apple SIM. What a terrible company.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

My question is, how would you switch your SIM "card" to a different phone when you get a new device or just need to switch phones?

 

[gpat]

People defending this have no idea what they're getting into. There is no beating the convenience of a physical SIM card in free markets like the European one. Don't hate the SIM cards only because US carriers are *******s. Electronic SIM cards are going to make switching carrier or device harder and less user-friendly, not easier.

 

[Gsoz]

My question is, how would you switch your SIM "card" to a different phone when you get a new device or just need to switch phones?

Why would you need to?

 

[kcamfork]

People defending this have no idea what they're getting into. There is no beating the convenience of a physical SIM card in free markets like the European one. Don't hate the SIM cards only because US carriers are *******s. Electronic SIM cards are going to make switching carrier or device harder and less user-friendly, not easier.

If it were as easy as entering the SIM card e-number into your new phone, that would be pretty easy, in my opinion.

 

[Fenez]

Why would you need to?

What if you own more than one device and like to use them intermittently?

 

[nepalisherpa]

As long as all networks (world-wide) are on-board with this, it would be ok. I would hate to be traveling and not being able to use a local network. The only other bad thing I see about this is not being able to switch phones on the fly.

 

[rrrahu1]

My question is: when travelling abroad, could one simply switch to a local carrier on a pay-as-you-go program? Cause that would be nice!

 

[MiniEggs]

What I would really like to see is Apple support rSAP (Bluetooth remote sim access protocol) so that you don't need a separate SIM in a 3G/4G enabled car etc you can just share you phone one to it and not need another under utilised phone contract

Android has had it for ages

 

[NMBob]

People defending this have no idea what they're getting into. There is no beating the convenience of a physical SIM card in free markets like the European one. Don't hate the SIM cards only because US carriers are *******s. Electronic SIM cards are going to make switching carrier or device harder and less user-friendly, not easier.

Jony just wants to make the phones thinner.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

What if you own more than one device and like to use them intermittently?

Exactly. My example would be using the early iOS betas. I tend to carry two phones when using them just in case of an issue, and I can swap the SIM card easily. I don't believe that this is possible using this new system.

 

[konqerror]

What if you own more than one device and like to use them intermittently?

People on pure CDMA carriers have had this convenience for ages. Forget your phone at home? Lost it? Take out your backup phone, log into the carrier webpage, enter the ESN, on the phone dial *228, done!

 

[manu chao]

... to introduce electronic SIM cards

Didn't know the current SIMs were mechanical.

 

[Thunderhawks]

People defending this have no idea what they're getting into. There is no beating the convenience of a physical SIM card in free markets like the European one. Don't hate the SIM cards only because US carriers are *******s. Electronic SIM cards are going to make switching carrier or device harder and less user-friendly, not easier.

If this get implemented it will be done in a way that even the dumbest consumer can do it. It will bring about more competition internationally, where you have better and more options than in t heUS.
A pay as you go plan company should do very well with this.
But, let's not kid ourselves this will all go through the same towers owned by ATT/Verizon etc.
Just bulk buy agreements and passing on some of the rebates.

 

[manu chao]

My question is, how would you switch your SIM "card" to a different phone when you get a new device or just need to switch phones?

If that new device also uses eSIMs than you'd just need to select the carrier on that device. If not, then you need get a good old SIM from your carrier.

 

[jayducharme]

My question is, how would you switch your SIM "card" to a different phone when you get a new device or just need to switch phones?

From the article, I was under the impression that it would be done through software. The eSIM would basically be like an EPROM and could be reprogrammed.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Is it going to be after apple watch, but before apple pay or some other order?

 

[kemal]

I can take my USA Verizon (CDMA) Android phone to Europe and purchase a GSM sim. It works because the GSM function is unlocked in the Verizon phone.

How would I do something like this when there is no sim slot?

The real consumer solution is to have no such thing as a carrier locked phone.

 

[Santabean2000]

I really wish Apple would bust outa dual sim iPhone. But that ain't gonna happen...

 

[PJWilkin]

If they can let the user programme an e-sim with any sim-number, then potentially you could scan an existing sim number into the phone and use that.

It could be even more useful if you could have a 'sim wallet' so that when roaming you can choose which sim to use (e.g. if you go abroad)

I won't miss having to physically install a SIM, and certainly I never load it with phone numbers. I would however prefer

 

[Daveoc64]

I'd only support this if neither carrier involved in a switch has a say in when you can switch devices, how often you can switch devices, which carriers you can switch between and which devices you can switch to.

Apple has demonstrated complicity in allowing US carriers to restrict the type of plan that can be used with an iPhone. That doesn't happen in other countries because there's more regulation and competition. Anything to weaken that would be a massive step backwards.

 

[John.B]

Wasn't AT&T able to hack the Apple SIM for iPads to lock it to their network? How would that work with an eSIM? At least a bogus physical SIM card can be removed/replaced...

 

[logas69]

If you have seen the logic board of the iPhone 6 / 6s, you know how much space gets wasted on the SIM tray compartment. It's about the one fifth of the whole board. So I can totally relate with Apple wanting to get rid of a physical SIM card.