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ARM Introduces "iSIM", Integrated Directly Onto Chips

posted by Fnord666 on Thursday February 22 2018, @12:25PM   
from the too-many-iAcronyms dept.

takyon writes:

ARM wants mobile or IoT devices to include a tiny integrated SIM card:

Every millimeter of space matters when you're trying to build increasingly complex electronics into increasingly tiny packages, and the relatively spacious SIM card has long been an area of frustration for hardware manufacturers. Now, the chip design company ARM may have an answer: an integrated component called an iSIM that's built into the same chip as the processor.

ARM says the iSIM will take up a "fraction of a millimeter squared," whereas the current SIM standard — Nano SIMs — are about 12.3 x 8.8mm in size, not including the hardware usually needed to house them. Not only will that save space, but ARM says it'll more importantly save on costs, too: instead of paying "tens of cents" per card, manufacturers will be paying single-digital cents.

Also at CNET, Tom's Hardware, and Wccftech.

Related: Infineon Demos a 1.65 mm^2 eSIM Chip

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Original Submission

• Re:Sounds good to me Re:Sounds good to me (Score: 3, Interesting) by ledow on Thursday February 22 2018, @01:29PM (2 children)

  by ledow (5567) on Thursday February 22 2018, @01:29PM (#641783) Homepage

  Not forgetting... now your phone can hold an unlimited number of SIM cards.

  You can have 20 numbers on one phone.

  You can literally add a SIM for every country, network or package deal that you want.

  When 4G fails on one of them, it'll just pick up from any other network that offers 4G near you with an appropriate SIM.

  As it is, mainstream phones miss out on the "dual-SIM" market which is popular with anyone who travels. With an iSIM, it'll be even easier.

  I think the advantages far outweigh the cost of the rare "Oh, my phone is destroyed, I'll have to move my number to another handset" convenience, which can be solved with a web portal.

  Parent

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• Re:Sounds good to me Re:Sounds good to me (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 22 2018, @05:10PM (1 child)

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 22 2018, @05:10PM (#641867)

  "Not forgetting... now your phone can hold an unlimited number of SIM cards."

  Source required. Who said that feature will be made possible?

  Parent

  • Re:Sounds good to me (Score: 2) by kazzie on Thursday February 22 2018, @07:17PM

    by kazzie (5309) on Thursday February 22 2018, @07:17PM (#641924)

    I'm sure it will be made possible, but whether it's actually available to customers is another matter.

    Parent