Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS

Opinion Articles

Thursday, November 18, 2010

To SIM or not to SIM; that is the question

Mark Bridge writes:

The last couple of weeks have seen the ‘embedded SIM’ making headlines.

The term ‘embedded SIM’ has previously been used to describe non-phone equipment (such as netbooks and laptops) with a SIM card pre-installed in a built-in 3G modem. Technically the modem was embedded, not the SIM – but it looks as though genuinely embedded SIMs could be just around the corner.

The debate started in earnest last month, when it was rumoured that Apple was working with SIM card manufacturer Gemalto on an integrated ‘virtual’ SIM. Anyone buying the next-generation iPhone 5 would either choose their network when they bought the phone or would download an app to configure the device.

Although those rumours remain unconfirmed, the concept is still being talked about.

This week the GSMA said it’s forming a ‘task force’ of mobile operators to explore the development of an embedded SIM that could be remotely activated. It would mean that mobile operators wouldn’t need to supply physical SIM cards for new devices, making it easier to provision equipment such as smart meters, navigation devices and e-book readers with mobile broadband.

Devices featuring the new SIM activation capability could start appearing as soon as 2012, working alongside traditional SIM-supported devices.

In a statement, Rob Conway of the GSMA, said “The traditional SIM has been an important innovation in mobile telephony, and has provided many benefits to consumers in terms of security, portability of contacts, and ease of portability of devices across networks. As our industry moves from connecting phones to connecting a wide range of devices, it is apparent that the embedded SIM could deliver even greater flexibility. The embedded SIM will provide assured levels of security and portability for consumers, as well as provide additional functionality for enabling new services such as e-Wallet and NFC applications.”

Although the GSMA insists it represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, the SIMalliance – a non-profit industry association made up of the world's leading SIM card manufacturers – has expressed some concern on behalf of its members.

It’s emphasised that a user-removable SIM helps maintain an open and interoperable mobile communications marketplace, with users able to choose between network operators and mobile phones. It also says removable SIMs allow users to protect their personal information and restrict access to other applications, while also maintaining security for the network operator.

Although it acknowledges that the requirements for machine-to-machine communications will differ, the SIMalliance considers a removable SIM card is essential for personal mobile communications usage.

What’s going to happen?  Well, it would be easy to look elsewhere for clues. After all, many cars no longer have an ignition key. Instead, drivers keep a ‘smart key’ in their pocket when starting the car. These smart keys have been adopted by major manufacturers – but they’ve not needed changes elsewhere.

Here in the mobile industry, the network operators are in charge of the roads. In fact, some would say they don’t have control of much else. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of devices the networks choose to support in the next few years. The ignition key certainly isn’t dead yet… and neither is the SIM card.

 

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Recent Podcasts

The new HTC camera, EE TV, an ethical smartphone, Ofcom complaints, mobile payments and M2M

Podcast - 15th October 2014

This week's podcast begins with news about the new 'quad play' television service offered in the UK by EE.

We also talk about HTC's new camera, an ethical smartphone, a complaint from Ofcom, mobile payments, machine-to-machine connections and yet another online security breach.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A split for HP, a separation for eBay and a billion dollar disagreement for Samsung

Podcast - 8th October 2014

We begin this week's podcast with stories that go beyond the mobile industry, as HP plans to split into two companies and eBay prepares to separate itself from PayPal.

We're also talking about the Microsoft/Samsung legal case, a new Tesco tablet, BT's updated text relay service, a new way to avoid buying a stolen iPhone... and #Hairgate.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

We talk about Phones 4u, the BlackBerry Passport, Bendgate and much more mobile news

Podcast - 1st October 2014

In this week's podcast we begin with more news about Phones 4u, as Carphone Warehouse steps in to help iPhone 6 buyers.

We also talk about problems at Apple, a brand new handset from BlackBerry, mobile payments, phones on planes and a device that promises to stop people from texting while driving.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Seven days of mobile industry news: new products, an acquisition, a break-up and a security update

Podcast - 24th September 2014

This week's podcast begins with the latest news from Phones 4u, where hundreds of jobs have been saved but there are a large number of redundancies as well.

Iain, James and Mark then talk about new products from Amazon, BlackBerry and Panasonic, mobile payment innovation from Indonesia and the UK, the acquisition of IoT specialist Neul and Apple's updated privacy policy.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A week of mobile industry news, from Apple iPhone 6 shortages to the uncertain future facing Phones 4u

Podcast - 17th September 2014

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge start this week's podcast by looking back at the launch of the iPhone 6, the Apple Watch and the Apple Pay service.

They then move on to discuss the troubles at Phones 4u, a UK smartphone launch from O2, another smartphone launch that's been put on hold, Microsoft's gaming plans - and more.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
124678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement