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Micro Sim in the iPhone 4G? Consequences?

J

Jelsoft

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 10, 2010
61
0
Seeing as the sim card slot in the iPhone 4G is a micro sim, can you somehow modify a normal sim to fit into it?

It seems that if not, and you want to buy an iphone to unlock, you'll need a micro sim from another network. How available are these right now?

This is all mainly because the networks want to protect themselves in my opinion.
 
The only 'benefit' of a micro SIM is that it means you're stuck with that provider on that device, unless you cut your own SIM.

It's rather a sneaky thing to do IMO.
 
I'm not convinced it's just a case of snipping off the plastic... someone will have to do this with an iPad when the 3G models ship next month.

Sneaky yes. But it doesn't affect the average consumer, and it protects the networks.
 
emotion said:
Protects them? How?
Click to expand...

It's not in their interests for people to buy iphones and unlock them to other networks. If the new iphone is micro sim, where are you going to get your alternative micro sim from? Other networks aren't going to offer them without need, and there isn't any.

robbieduncan said:
Or, you know, other providers start selling micro SIMs.
Click to expand...

They're not going to without a device to put it in. I can't imagine they'll produce micro sims simply to target unlocked iphones/ipads.
 
Jelsoft said:
They're not going to without a device to put it in. I can't imagine they'll produce micro sims simply to target unlocked iphones/ipads.
Click to expand...

Well depending in your country there are multiple networks selling iPhones. There are at least 3 in the UK for example. In addition it's not like the micro-SIM is an Apple invention or standard: this is an industry standard that they have decided to use. The clear expectation is that other phone manufacturers will start using this otherwise why did they bother standardising it.

Personally I think you are getting a bit paranoid and should chill.
 
attachment.php
 
robbieduncan said:
Well depending in your country there are multiple networks selling iPhones. There are at least 3 in the UK for example. In addition it's not like the micro-SIM is an Apple invention or standard: this is an industry standard that they have decided to use. The clear expectation is that other phone manufacturers will start using this otherwise why did they bother standardising it.

Personally I think you are getting a bit paranoid and should chill.
Click to expand...

It's an unnecessary standard that Apple have decided to use for the ipad and other manufacturers have not for their latest releases. Why is that?

Also, why do you seem to think that asking questions or speculating necessitates paranoia? Boring, mate. Boring.

Anyway, it's a topic that i'm sure many people who enjoy the flexibility of their unlocked iphones, and who do not see micro sims being used by their choice of network(s), will find of interest.

Jason-Houghton said:
attachment.php
Click to expand...

Noted.. but where is that from?
 
Jelsoft said:
I'm not convinced it's just a case of snipping off the plastic...
Click to expand...

Do you actually have any reason not to believe? Micro-SIMs are backwards-compatible with previous implementations of GSM SIMs. They have exactly the same contact area, and their chip follows the same Mini-UICC form factor. The only physical difference is the size of the plastic card the integrated circuit is embedded in.
 
After seeing all the images, I'm not excited anymore. It doesn't really look like an Apple product that I'd buy. Besides, why is the sim tray on the side? It looks like an awkward placement for the sim card.
 
purely in the US there is the requirement in some instances to activate the iphone with an AT&T sim card in, and if you have the iphone and are not on AT&T then you could simply ask a mate to pop in their sim card for 30 seconds while you activate it. because no friend is going to let you cut their sim in half, you will have to go buy a sim (is that even posible in the US) and cut it yourself,

with apple aparently using this micro SIM standard you are no longer able to do that and it is very likely that AT&T will be the only ones who provide a micro sim and you may even have to sign up to a contract then and there to be able to get the sim therefore attempting to force you to sign a contract, and if you have to give names and addresses to get the sim they might be able to tell when you put it in the iphone. (just my thoughts cause I dont know much about the US networks so may be wrong but the first point atleast stands)
 
I think it's smart. More space for other internal stuff. You can just cut down normal sims so that shouldn't be a problem.
 
ThatsMeRight said:
I think it's smart. More space for other internal stuff. You can just cut down normal sims so that shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

but then you cant use the sim in other phones,
I'm going to put apple down as being needlessly difficult by using a SIM standard as a proprietary format purely because no-one else uses it.
 
Jelsoft said:
It's not in their interests for people to buy iphones and unlock them to other networks. If the new iphone is micro sim, where are you going to get your alternative micro sim from? Other networks aren't going to offer them without need, and there isn't any.
Click to expand...

All other networks will move this way. That is my point: it's no protection at all in the (slightly) longer term.
 
I was thinking to buy the new iphone in the summer when it comes out and just put my old sim in the new iphone. Since it's MicroSim, does it mean that i wont be able to put my regular simcard in a new microsim slot?
 
robbieduncan said:
Nonsense
Click to expand...

exactly my point you have to pay €5 just to use the sim card in other devices = apple being needlessly difficult

mladenz said:
I was thinking to buy the new iphone in the summer when it comes out and just put my old sim in the new iphone. Since it's MicroSim, does it mean that i wont be able to put my regular simcard in a new microsim slot?
Click to expand...

no you can cut it and it will fit though the network will likely give you a new sim for free
 
Gizmodo confirms micro sim.

ThatsMeRight said:
I think it's smart. More space for other internal stuff. You can just cut down normal sims so that shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

I know you can cut down regular sims to fit, but will they work?

All i've read is that micro sim cards are backwards compatible. I haven't read that micro sim readers are.
 
Jelsoft said:
They're not going to without a device to put it in. I can't imagine they'll produce micro sims simply to target unlocked iphones/ipads.
Click to expand...

Carriers will look at the number of current unlocked iPhones and base their decisions on that. It may not be all that expensive to start supporting micro SIMs, especially if this is the direction the standard is going. In the US, TMobile went out of their way to train its people on unlocked iPhones because there was a demand, and the iPhone can't even use TMob's 3G band.
 
Well if the new iPhone is using a micro sim and you needed to go back to the normal sim card. (iPhone broke..) then wouldn't you just back up your iPhone on iTunes and use the backup on the other iPhone?...........I think I'm confused:confused:
 
iRabid said:
Well if the new iPhone is using a micro sim and you needed to go back to the normal sim card. (iPhone broke..) then wouldn't you just back up your iPhone on iTunes and use the backup on the other iPhone?...........I think I'm confused:confused:
Click to expand...

That is fine and dandy, if you can figure out how to put your micro SIM in your old phone with it's support for normal SIMs. Will there be adapters you can buy?

I was planning to buy a keep my old iPhone 3G as a backup (the Wi-Fi doesn't work well since droppage), but it becomes difficult now. I also have an old Treo that I can use to tether occasionally (infrequently), and I don't know if the micro SIM will stay in place.

That is the only real downer I've seen since the leaks that I've seen.
 
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