Recently we reported that the rumored Samsung Galaxy S7 may feature an e-Sim card. Now, it appears that the alleged iPhone 7 may also take the same route as the South Korean firm’s new flagship smartphone iteration. That’s because Apple has reportedly been “in advanced talks to join the rest of the telecoms industry to launch electronic Sim cards, in a move could fundamentally change how consumers sign up to mobile operators,” alongside Samsung, according to FT.
GSMA, a group that represents mobile entities worldwide, is said to be “close to announcing an agreement to produce a standardised embedded Sim for consumer devices” for Apple and Samsung.
Unlike the conventional Sim card, which ties a user to a specific network, an embedded Sim lets a user operate a mobile device without being locked down to just one operator or telecom plan.
“Networks expected to support the plans include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone,” the news source said.
“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,” GSMA said.
Those who have followed Apple’s activities closely will not be surprised at its release of a Sim-less smartphone. The Cupertino-based company had attempted breaking away from the traditional model last year by making its own Sim card, which “allows users to sign up to a range of data plans directly from their device without replacing the card,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The said card was only available for the iPad Air 2 in the UK and the US, though. However, Apple had started selling the cards in Australia of late to “make it easier to sign up for temporary data plans when overseas.”
Further, Forbes had reported in January this year that Apple had begun offering Sim-free iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets in the U.S.
“The unlocked iPhone 6 model is known as model ‘A1586’ and the iPhone 6 Plus is model ‘A1524,'” the business and finance news source noted.
The said devices are priced within the same range as unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus handsets with T-Mobile.
“SIM-free devices are beneficial if you do not want to be locked into a specific phone carrier,” Forbes went on to explain. “The SIM-free iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices can be activated with a carrier that you prefer in the U.S. or abroad.”
Considering this, it appears highly likely that the next iPhone will indeed be Sim-less. What do you think?
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