Apple Apple Virtual SIM - 1

Published on November 4th, 2011 | by Mithil Bhatia

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Apple iPhone 5 could use Virtual SIM card, Patent Application Reveals

In the past, there have been much rumours about the possibility that Apple will change the way we use our mobile SIM card, despite of the way operators think. On November 3, 2011, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a Patent Application from Apple that reveals that the iPhone 5 will operate with virtual SIM card, which also includes NFC technology and enhanced security (via PatentlyApple).

The two figures 5a and 5b shows the concept of the Hardware architectures (502, 504) of Virtual SIM (Virtual Subscriber Identity Module). The patent uses an element called Universal SIM (USIM (506)) within a Secure Element (SE), which is embedded in the hardware. The image also shows a NFC Router (520), a wireless communication technology, which is currently used to make payments with mobile device.

Even Apple has included a section in the new patent where it shows the possibility of using physical SIM cards, may be for those operators who may refuse to upgrade their networks in future, and in order to make a simple and orderly transition. According to Apple, a secondary benefit of switching to a Virtual SIM Card is that’ll improve security while allowing Jony Ive and his team to do what they do best: Design an ever thinner, astoundingly beautiful, next generation iPhone.

According to Patently Apple, there are several benefits for the customer to use this new patent in future devices, among which include:

  • Improved designs, and that too without the space for the card, the phone could suffer a reduction in size, thickness and even weight.
  • Increased security, to better protect our data.
  • Wireless services on demand, without assigning them to a physical SIM, which can also result in reduced waiting time.

In addition, the two other Apple patent applications were also published today – “Methods and Apparatus for Preserving Battery Resources in a Mobile Communications Device”, and “Systems and Methods for Hot Plug GPU Power Control.”

Read more at PatentlyApple.com


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Video Game Developer, Geek and a Passionate Tech Blogger. Have fun :)


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  • elise

    Hello there! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My web site looks weird when browsing from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. Cheers!

    • http://mithil.me Mithil Bhatia

      Hi, you can go for yootheme.com, they develop high-end wordpress themes customizable for Mobiles….

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