The talks are happening around the GSMA’s impending announcement of the creation of a standardized embedded SIM card for consumer devices, which would involve both Apple and Samsung if the talks go through.
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However, even if the sides manage to finalize the deal, the new SIM card will be launched no sooner than in a year due to technical formalities.
The GSMA is confident that a “common architecture” for the e-SIM will be eventually adopted by the telecom industry.
The GSMA have been developing this end-to-end remote SIM provisioning solution for some time and in Match at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, several proof-of-concept demonstrations were available for visitors to look at. Back then, Apple launched a new generation of tablets which ship with a new SIM card standard known as the Apple SIM.
The details that have come out thus far regarding this electronic SIM make us believe that the technology behind the e-SIM will be nearly the same that is used in the Apple SIM.
The market is now filled with phones that are not compatible across all carriers – only unlocked devices haven’t got an issue with working with different SIM cards on different carriers are. The idea behind an E-SIM is that it would act as an embedded SIM in phones, leaving you open to freely connect to carriers of choice without the hassle that is typically associated with signing up for new wireless service.
According to recent reports, T-Mobile and Sprint and some of the other smaller carriers are rather thrilled about how easily iPad owners can switch to new providers, because it gives them more chances to lure away competitors’ customers.
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Major worldwide mobile brands such as Vodafone, Orange, AT&T and Telekom are already said to be on board and the GSMA are thought to be on the verge of announcing an agreement to introduce a standardised embedded SIM on devices. The information on that card allows it to work with ONLY their network, making it more of a pain to move to another carrier…and sometimes more costly because they may charge you for the card or charge an activation fee. Specifically regarding Apple, however, the GSMA said it is “continuing to work with Apple to secure their support for the initiative” and that the group remains optimistic about such a prospect.
