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.
Carriers Object to Apple's Plans for Built-In iPhone SIM Even as GSMA Moves Forward
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
As long as I can switch networks easily and painlessly (it isn't hard to change a Simcard at the moment tho), I'm all for it.
My only fear would be the inability to get a local simcard and popping it into an unlocked handset when travelling.
My only fear would be the inability to get a local simcard and popping it into an unlocked handset when travelling.
How would this happen? Wouldn't it be more easy to switch if you have a removable SIM that you can replace with one from any carrier?
Did you even read the article?
This concept is designed to give you exactly what you want; the ability to choose what carrier you want, when you want it, and change carriers if you're unhappy with your first (or second, or third) choice.
Apple has the upper hand though. And the carriers will fight like mad to get the iPhone exclusively on their network.
On the other had apple then could deploy the iphone to every carrier since they wouldn't have an exclusivity deal at that point.
Hate carrier manipulation of consumers.
I would gladly pay $600 for an iPhone... its that damned carrier contract that keeps me from owning one.
+1. The fact is, voice only consumes a trivial amount of bandwidth, but carriers act as if they're dispensing gold the way they charge you for voice minutes. Today, voice is dying as the "killer app" because its annoyingly intrusive; that's why SMS became popular and now our smartphones can just do email. What carriers have to offer is omnipresence (they're mostly everywhere) and someday they might even offer decent bandwidth.
I'm sticking with WiFi mostly... although I do have a cheapo pre-paid plan from T-Mobile (and a $19 phone).
Would like to see this universal built-in sim come to iPad2 as this could bring more heat to the carriers.
I would gladly pay $600 for an iPhone... its that damned carrier contract that keeps me from owning one.
+1. The fact is, voice only consumes a trivial amount of bandwidth, but carriers act as if they're dispensing gold the way they charge you for voice minutes. Today, voice is dying as the "killer app" because its annoyingly intrusive; that's why SMS became popular and now our smartphones can just do email. What carriers have to offer is omnipresence (they're mostly everywhere) and someday they might even offer decent bandwidth.
I'm sticking with WiFi mostly... although I do have a cheapo pre-paid plan from T-Mobile (and a $19 phone).
Would like to see this universal built-in sim come to iPad2 as this could bring more heat to the carriers.
Last edited:
You know the first iPhone had no subsidy right? Pretty sure that did well
I forgot about that! Remember the HUGE uproar for the first phones purchased for $599 and then Apple dropped the price 2 or 3 months later to $399. It was so huge a deal, that Apple issued refunds or credits for those of us that paid the $599.
It shouldn't be that difficult. I already have this on my phone. No SIM card. Sprint doesn't use SIM cards and instead does the electronic remote activation as is suggested with this Apple plan. I don't know if the suggested tech and process for Apple's method would be similar (or the same)...
How does that provide you with a working backup phone ? Not everyone is rich enough to buy 2 iPhones. I usually always keep one of my carrier's phones around the house in which I can simply pop in my SIM and get a working phone in case something happens to my primary phone.
This no-SIM method doesn't let me do this.
Remember in the past when you wanted to make a long distance call and had to pay premium outrageous prices to the phone company?
It wasn't until other companies started to offer L.D. service that the prices started to drop. Then calling cards came up and prices dropped even more.
Now instead of spending $500/month calling a girlfriend in Argentina, it will be under $40/month.
All these "L.D." companies and calling cards are just wholesale purchased call time being resold at a better price. As volume of call raises, the "real" L.D. carriers increase their profit and in proportion lower their overhead costs, so they don't mind selling call time for less.
Those "competing" L.D. companies and calling cards are actually buying call-time from them.
Even nowadays VoIP calling has become more popular, local carriers still make money, not selling call time, but internet bandwidth instead.
So I think Apple's plan is going to benefit us all in the long run.
Sure, but it will be a subset of all carriers, and locking could still just as easily happen.
Or say "screw you" and go to another carrier.
"Gee, Carrier A has an iPhone for $600, Carrier B has it for $400... decisions decisions!"
Boy, the carriers really love to lock the consumers down to be their for as long as possible. What a bunch of a** holes.
Go Apple.
Go Apple.
Well, it would be unlocked already, otherwise it wouldn't allow you to switch carriers.
The phone would be unlock at the start, just like they are in many places now. And why would be subset, it would work with any sim sevice, just like now...
I think he read perfectly fine. The article is written to make this sound like it's a good thing - it isn't.
Depending on what country you live in, Apple didn't allow you to buy the phone outright AND allow you to choose and switch between networks until iPhone 4. Prior to iPhone 4, even if you bought the iPhone outright, you were still locked to that one network.
You signed a contract... no one forced you to, you must buy yourself out or wait until it expires.
Not that I like carriers, especially Rogers, who are outright thieves.
Apple don't let carriers set their own prices for iPhones.. so this won't happen...
I think this would make it easier to do just that. As long as the carrier supports the technology, of course. But the more phone manufactures that use the built-in sim, the more widespread it should become.
I think it's a good thing
Not without calling my carrier I can't. The SIM method works without having to call anybody.
It is convenient. I don't quite see the benefit of the no-SIM method.
