Yet another quarrel is going on between smartphone vendors-- Apple is fighting against Motorola, RIM and Nokia over the SIM card standard the smartphones of tomorrow will using.
Apple proposes nano-SIM, which is thinner and smaller than current micro-SIMs by around 30%. It is also an Apple development, and thus makes other vendors worry Apple will be owning the patents to the technology... So much so Motorola and RIM are backing an alternate design developed by Nokia.
However "most" European operators are reportedly backing the Apple design.
The Financial Times reports both sides of the SIM arguments have tabled proposals to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)-- and the committee is set to vote on the nano-SIM matter later this week.
The SIM ETSI choses is of critical importance to future devices. For instance, the FT says nano-SIM might need a protective "drawer," while Nokia boasts its proposal has "significant technical advantages".
Maxroam offers SIM cards customers can use globally, together with a low-cost roaming service. The service covers over 230 countries, and Maxroam says it reduces voice call, SMS and data costs by up to 70%.
The California tech giant hoped to move away from its exclusive carrier partnerships (like Vodafone, O2 and Telefonica) via programmable sim card that would allow iPhone buyers to pick any service provider they want.
