Apple and Samsung might kill off SIM cards entirely

Apple and Samsung have had their differences in the past but they’ve recently been working to develop an electronic version of the SIM cards that are used in the phones. A Subscriber Identity Module is an integrated circuit that is required to store the International mobile subscriber identity or the IMSI. SIM cards are used mainly on GSM and CDMA phone and can also be used on the satellite phones.

If successfully developed, this electronic version of SIM card will help the users to switch between mobile networks easily and quickly. Reports suggest that the technology behind e-SIM will be similar to Apple SIM. The Apple SIM was introduced in the iPad Air2 and it lets the users to switch between data networks on the tablets. The main difference between the two will be that while the users could remove the Apple SIM, the e-SIM will be non-removable which means that there will be no need for the SIM slot in smartphones.

Apple and Samsung reportedly have been in talks with the GSMA, an association that represents the mobile operators worldwide, to join the technology. The GSMA is developing a conventional, embedded SIM card that would help the users switch carriers with ease. According to the report by Financial Times, major operators like T&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Telefonica and Vodafone have already joined the project and are looking forward to merge their services with the new SIM. Apple has always wanted to kill off the SIM cards and had even tried it with the iPad Air 2. As mentioned above, Apple launched the embedded SIM concept with the iPad but at that time it was supported only by a few carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T in the US and EE in the UK. The limited amount of support also meant that there would be a limited amount of service for the customers. But now with so many new and established carriers coming forward in support of the technology it is expected that something big would be in the making.

The GSMA, in a statement to the Financial Times said,” With the majority of operators on board, the plan is to finalize the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for customer services, with delivery anticipated by 2016.” The association added,” We’re continuing to work with Apple to secure their support for the initiative. While we are optimistic, a formal agreement with them is still in progress.” The world’s largest SIM card making company, Gemalto, which produces more than 2 billion cards per year, on Thursday saw a drop of 5 per cent in its share.