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what about that sim card slot?

C

cyberone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 24, 2005
348
98
as it looks like there won't be an external sim slot, contrary to the announcement at macworld that the phone would have a sim slot at the top of the device.

so you're stuck with one number?!

is that steve job's way to bind you to certain phone operators, making it impossible to change sim cards? (as unblocking a blocked sim card is not a problem anymore ...)

as i understand it will not be possible to open the device (no battery replacement once your battery runs out).

any hints on that sim card?
 
I'm sure the SIM slot will be accessible somehow, as Steve must do a bit of traveling and know that it's not always economical to use your home provider overseas. Although, he does have a lot more money then me...
 
I don't think there's any phone in Europe that has an external SIM card slot any more.
Isn't the iPhone going to have a removeable battery?
Then the SIM card could be located in the battery compartment.
 
bartelby said:
I don't think there's any phone in Europe that has an external SIM card slot any more.
Isn't the iPhone going to have a removeable battery?
Then the SIM card could be located in the battery compartment.
Click to expand...

I can't remember where I remember this from, but it was going to be an internal battery, like the iPod, which upset a few people.
 
bartelby said:
But there are rumours that it would have a replaceable battery?
Click to expand...

I think these are false. The internal battery was a function of size, as they didn't want to take up space with a battery compartment.

This is a revolutionary device and as such remains a little short of perfection. No 3G, no swappable battery, limited memory etc. etc. Apple will fix this over time, but for the first effort out of the gate I think it's a great little gizmo. I will buy one because none of the limitations I've read about bother me.
 
I'd struggle very hard to believe you cannot swap out the SIM yourself, the battery situation is bad enough, but if you can't replace the SIM, well...:rolleyes:
 
but you don't need a sim card... all your contacts in your address book, music, and movies on on your mac.

the only reason you might want a sim card, is if you switch cell phones during the day?!
 
Wyl said:
but you don't need a sim card... all your contacts in your address book, music, and movies on on your mac.

the only reason you might want a sim card, is if you switch cell phones during the day?!
Click to expand...

It's not about contacts and music, it's about using different cell providers when traveling to other countries. If I was going to Korea, for instance, I certainly wouldn't use Cingular roaming, I'd just buy a local prepaid SIM for cheap.
 
Wyl said:
but you don't need a sim card... all your contacts in your address book, music, and movies on on your mac.

the only reason you might want a sim card, is if you switch cell phones during the day?!
Click to expand...

Basically, yeah. My iPhone won't be seeing the light of day when I go out to the beach, but my free POS Nokia will...
 
And considering Apple's history with Rev. A products, it sure would suck to not be able to stick your SIM in a backup GSM phone and use it when your $600 phone breaks and needs to be sent off for repair. Or worse, you'd lose your contacts too
 
And what exactly are you referring to son? i had the original ipod and the only shoddy piece on it was the plastic headphone jack, and that was avoidable. I had the original powerbook g4 17', no problems. I had the original imac plus the revision with the steel pivoting neck, no problem. I think apple has great track record for rev. a's. Just because its not perfect does not mean its a poor product right off the bat....:rolleyes:







yg17 said:
And considering Apple's history with Rev. A products, it sure would suck to not be able to stick your SIM in a backup GSM phone and use it when your $600 phone breaks and needs to be sent off for repair. Or worse, you'd lose your contacts too
Click to expand...
 
yg17 said:
Or worse, you'd lose your contacts too
Click to expand...

Unless you never sync your iPhone with your computer, you won't lose your contacts.

Off-topic: you know what else is brilliant about iPhone? It'll get people to use Address Book and iCal (how many not-so-techie Mac users do you know who have never opened Mail, iCal, or Address Book? I know a lot of them who just use Safari...)
 
bluesman87 said:
And what exactly are you referring to son? i had the original ipod and the only shoddy piece on it was the plastic headphone jack, and that was avoidable. I had the original powerbook g4 17', no problems. I had the original imac plus the revision with the steel pivoting neck, no problem. I think apple has great track record for rev. a's. Just because its not perfect does not mean its a poor product right off the bat....:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

No, historically, Apple's had a spotty track record with Rev As. Just because you've had good luck, doesn't mean everyone has.

And syncing contacts isn't something everyone does and isn't something that should be done to backup contacts.
 
yg17 said:
And syncing contacts isn't something everyone does and isn't something that should be done to backup contacts.
Click to expand...

Ummm... Unless you specifically turn it off (if that's even possible, and if it were, why would ou do it?), I'm pretty sure iTunes will sync your contacts and calendars automatically.

Why the heck is syncing to a computer not something that should be done to back up contacts? You mean you put more trust in a flimsy fingernail-sized chip than in your whole computer (which gets further backed up - hopefully)? I think you're resisting positive change here... (this is separate from the issue of whether you should be able to remove the SIM - I'm just talking about syncing contacts with your computer.)
 
neven said:
Ummm... Unless you specifically turn it off (if that's even possible, and if it were, why would ou do it?), I'm pretty sure iTunes will sync your contacts and calendars automatically.

Why the heck is syncing to a computer not something that should be done to back up contacts? You mean you put more trust in a flimsy fingernail-sized chip than in your whole computer (which gets further backed up - hopefully)? I think you're resisting positive change here... (this is separate from the issue of whether you should be able to remove the SIM - I'm just talking about syncing contacts with your computer.)
Click to expand...

I sync my contacts because Windows Mobile automatically syncs them to my uni's Exchange server (over the air, without me having to manually do a sync. It's great, and probably something the iPhone will never do), so my contacts are on my phone, SIM, and god knows how many hard drives that consist of the RAID array connected to the Exchange server.

But up until I went with Windows Mobile, yes, I trusted my contacts to a flimsy chip. A flimsy chip that I never removed from my phone and didn't have to worry about breaking in half or losing. And a flimsy chip that's probably more reliable than a hard drive.

Of course, I'll admit that doesn't help you if you lose your phone. But if you lose your $500 phone, you've got bigger problems than losing your contacts

I guess the thing that gets me is sitting on my desk, I have a basic, underfeatured Nokia phone that was free with one of our contracts. And that can back up contacts to a SIM card. Why shouldn't a $500 phone do the same? The fact that they don't use SIM cards is the reason I won't touch CDMA with a barge pole.
 
even if...

even if the sim card and battery is internal it still will be user replacable. Apple is not that stupid ;)
 
dougbrowne said:
even if the sim card and battery is internal it still will be user replacable. Apple is not that stupid ;)
Click to expand...

I think the point we're trying to make is this... It should be simple to replace the SIM, as it is crucial for travelers or for multiple phone users.

Even though there is a way to change the SIM, if it isn't practical, it becomes another hurdle for "would be" iPhone buyers.
 
or

or you could probabnly go to a genius bar. they will probably do htings like replacing the battery or si if needed.
 
Punkwaffle said:
well i work at at&t and the inventory system shows that iPhone has its own classification. There is SIM, IMEI, GAIT, ESN, and now iPhone.
Click to expand...
Why is that a surprise? The iPhone is more than a GSM handset and has some unique network based features.

SIM = GSM
IMEI = TDMA
ESN = Analog
GAIT = GSM/TDMA/Analog

iPhone needs some unique/new identifier to take advantage of network based features like visual voicemail that won't be available on plain jane GSM phones. It'll likely also have a MAC address for the Wifi, but will need a SIM to access the GSM network.

B
 
a make or break deal is certainly that you can use your existing sim number with the iphone.

now when there is some built in sim card that is configurable to give you your old number, not too bad, even though i travel between asia and europe and regularly change sim cards - would have to stick with my trusty old e61 then.

but if apple seriously thinks that only new numbers can be given out with the iphone, they lose tons of potential business.

me for sure i wouldnt buy one - just the hassle to get your new number known is enough pain.

but am still confident that apple has a way around this, i hope ...
 
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