The executives of Orange have informed the media on Tuesday that Apple has asked them to make a relatively smaller SIM card standardized, than the ones which are already being used in the iPhone and iPad in order to manufacture thinner devices in the future.
Image via WikipediaThis step can be seen as an indication towards more warming situation between the mobile giant and its associated operators as Apple largely depends on these mobile carriers, to provide better deals, in order to uphold its high volumes of iPhone sales. It has been confirmed by a spokesperson of the European telecoms standards body (ETSI) that Apple did present such proposal and asked the operators to provide a new standard for SIM cards. However, he also informed that this decision has not yet been finalized and if dragged can take up to a year. He stated that "This process may take some time, up to a year or more, if there is strong disagreement between industry players. However, when there is broad consensus among the companies participating in the standards committee, the process can be accelerated to a number of months."The executives of Orange have already welcomed this improvement along with several other operators. Anne Bouverot, one of the chief officers at Orange, stated that "We were quite happy to see last week that Apple has submitted a new requirement to ETSI for a smaller SIM form factor -- smaller than the one that goes in iPhone 4 and iPad.” She further also added that "They have done that through the standardization route, through ETSI, with the sponsorship of some major mobile operators, Orange being one of them."
She seemed very ambitious in her voice, as she made the suspicion that new devices housing this smaller SIM cards might even be out next year. She asserted that if these smaller SIMs are standardized, it is highly possible that other phone makers will also be inclined to adopt them as well. Bouverot declared that the company "is certainly showing that it’s willing to work with the standardization bodies and with the operators, which we welcome," further asserting that "We're discussing how to improve our relationship."
Apple has become one of the strongest forces in the mobile industry since its release of the first iPhone in 2007, it is highly reputed to have sold innumerable devices with exclusive partner.
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