iPhone 5 Release Date: Apple Tries to Patent New SIM Technology for Next iPhone
Apple has published an application to patent a virtual SIM that could be in the next-generation iPhone for integrating NFC technology.
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, this patent gives technology analysts much more insight into Apple’s future iPhone plans to integrate a custom SIM into the device. It would also allow Apple to cut out the intermediaries in sales.
“Of course, as reported before, the tech would potentially allow Apple to offer the device through their retail locations and cut the carriers out of iPhone sales,” reported 9to5Mac.
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The new technology also could bring about a thinner and lighter iPhones in the future, according to PatentlyApple. This is due to the lack of a SIM card slot and associated costs.
“Apple’s solution is very complex and unless you’re grounded in this particular field you’re going to get lost,” reported PatentlyApple. “However, while the patent discusses the use of Universal Subscriber Identity Module, the real discovery here is that Apple is considering a model of iPhone that may use a next generation virtual SIM card that includes an NFC router and tamper proof security.”
Thinner smartphones are surfacing frequently. Samsung plans to launch its Galaxy Nexus smartphone with a thinner design that the iPhone 4S. Motorola also plans to release the new Droid RAZR, a device that is arguably the thinnest smartphone of all time at 7.1-inches thick.
Apple may be following their example by producing a thinner iPhone with this new technology. Analysts expect the iPhone 5 to sport a thinner sleeker design and larger screen.
