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Apple and Samsung Collaborate to Develop the Next Generation SIM Card

Apple and Samsung Collaborate to Develop the Next Generation SIM Card

By Manish Singh | Updated: 20 July 2015 09:56 IST

One of the key things that we learned from Gemalto getting hacked earlier this year was that the SIM card technology in our phones has grown outdated. We've been using the same technology for decades now; also, we're heavily reliant on the Netherlands-based company for SIMs. Apple and Samsung, the two companies that don't usually see eye to eye, have come forward in an attempt to fix both the issues, it appears.

The two companies are in advanced talks to start using electronic SIM cards in smartphones, reports the Financial Times. The report further claims that the SIM card in question will make it easier for users to switch between telecom operators. As we noted above, one of the ideas behind this new SIM card is to bolster the underlying security.

The GSMA, an industry association that represents mobile operators, confirmed the collaboration between Samsung and Apple. It further noted that there's an agreement soon to be announced detailing standards for the new SIMs. But don't expect these new SIM cards to hit the market until next year, it says.

Moreover, at the time of launch, there will be limited network providers to support the new SIM. As per the report, some American and British network providers including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone are expected to support the plans. These companies are working towards an agreement for "common architecture."

"With the majority of operators on board, the plan is to finalise the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for consumer devices, with delivery anticipated by 2016," the organisation said in a statement to the paper.

Last year, Apple announced its own SIM card for the iPad Air 2. The card that was supported by only US-based and UK-based telecoms gave consumers the ability to switch between carriers for data plans. The report says that the new SIM card isn't meant to replace Apple's SIMs.

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