Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Can someone explain the Micro-Sim to me?
- Thread starter SRLMJ23
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Smaller size means more room for other electronics inside, like bigger battery. Otherwise a SIM is a SIM.
Just a blurb from wikipedia:
The specification that standardized the micro-SIM form factor continues to evolve. Some features introduced recently include:
a micro-SIM form factor
allow for multiple simultaneous applications accessing the card through logical channels;
introduce mutual authentication as a way to eliminate carrier spoofing by allowing the SIM card to authenticate the cell tower to which it is connecting;
add a new PIN protection with hierarchical PIN management with a universal PIN, an application PIN and a local PIN; and
expand the phonebook storage of the SIM card with entries for email, second name, and groups.[1]
The specification that standardized the micro-SIM form factor continues to evolve. Some features introduced recently include:
a micro-SIM form factor
allow for multiple simultaneous applications accessing the card through logical channels;
introduce mutual authentication as a way to eliminate carrier spoofing by allowing the SIM card to authenticate the cell tower to which it is connecting;
add a new PIN protection with hierarchical PIN management with a universal PIN, an application PIN and a local PIN; and
expand the phonebook storage of the SIM card with entries for email, second name, and groups.[1]
I've heard that the electronics and housing for the Micro-SIM in the iPhone are the same size as a regular SIM's, meaning the smaller size actually doesn't help.
The holder may be smaller, but all the electronics and parts that work in conjunction with it are the same. I'm just saying what I've heard. I never verified. If someone else has a way to check it out, I'd be interested in proven wrong.
I'm not saying I'm correct either. I'm just assuming, theoretically. But, we will know when the teardowns begin.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
You've heard wrong, then. Well. Technically the electronics are the same size, as the contact area has not changed, but the physical housing inside the case is most certainly smaller, shorter.
Alright. I would just like a little verification that it actually saves space inside the iPhone. That's all.
No/yes. It won't fit, but the electronics are all the same. If you can find some kind of adapter case for the Micro-SIM to make it the same size as a regular SIM it will fit.
During the keynote, or indeed, looking at gizmodos tear apart photos, it's clear that there is absolutely no spare room inside the phone, so ergo, if the sim slot was bigger, something would have to give somewhere, and that would be the battery, by being smaller.
Remember, the phone is notably thinner this time, yet has a bigger physical battery than before.
First question you have to ask yourself is, "Who gives a crap if it saves space or allows for a bigger battery". Who's crackin the thing open and putting in what they want in there just to revolt?
That means nothing about the SIM card being smaller. Are you suggesting Apple saved all that space just from the smaller SIM card?
That means nothing about the SIM card being smaller. Are you suggesting Apple saved all that space just from the smaller SIM card?
No, but it is a factor. If the sim were not smaller they'd most likely not have been able to put a bigger battery in, though it's hard to judge just how things would be different, due to the sim slot being on the side not the top now, as the effective extra space it would give the battery to sit in by being shorter is bigger on the side than it would be at the top
I wouldn't be surprised to see everyone else following during the next year, once it's been established as 'usual', every MM inside a phone can be precious design wise.
Why would anyone want a sim to be bigger than it needs to be? It's just wasted space for plastic.
I don't think people will bother with sim cards in the future. You will be able to choose which phone has which number by software using username/password combo. They used to store contacts etc before phones had their own memory. Now they have little use at all.
I don't think people will bother with sim cards in the future. You will be able to choose which phone has which number by software using username/password combo. They used to store contacts etc before phones had their own memory. Now they have little use at all.
Nah, considering can just cut up a sim, and that apple are selling more unlocked phones than ever direct, everywhere but states so far, I very much doubt unlockability has anything to do with it at all.
Take a look at the keynote from SJ. He puts up a slide showing the inside of the phone and makes a little side note about going with the micro-sim to save space.
that aside. its common sense. If the sim is smaller, and the holder is smaller, and the housing in the phone is smaller, it has to save space. it's physics, an object that is made smaller can not take up the same physical space as before. what more proof do you need?