What’s the difference between a SIM and a micro-SIM?
Like a regular SIM, the micro-SIM holds your subscriber information for the carrier and is great for storing
phone book contacts and other personal information. Micro-SIMs are user-replaceable and slide into a little slot in your device just like regular SIMs.
The micro-SIM is a smaller version of a SIM card found in your mobile phone, but holds exactly the same functions and micro-applications. The size of the micro-SIM is about a half of a regular SIM card (12×15 mm instead of 15×25mm). Though it contains the same information, it is not physically compatible with regular SIM cards found in your mobile phone.
A micro-SIM is basically smaller than a normal SIM card like you have and will only work in an iPad or iphone 4 and a watch phone by Lok8u,.
You can see from the images below and see the sim is much smaller than normal but the inner workings of the sim chip are the same with only small modifications that will be further explained down below in the article.
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iPad Voda micro sim
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AT&T Micro Sim
Should i use Scissors or a Knife or Blade to Cut my Sim to Micro Sim Format to use in ipad or Apple 4 ?
Not so Fast as thier was some news in today from Apple that might put a damper on your plans to save yourself a Wad of Notes. It would be reckless to consider taking a pair of scissors to cut the plastic of a regular SIM cards to make a micro-SIM. Anyone who would attempt to do so would risk damaging both their SIM and also the SIM slot of the device but its possible with some Skill.
A better option would be to contact your carrier to get a micro-SIM card or if you do want to convert a normal sim to a micro sim use the Micro sim Cutter Option and if you need to convert your micro sim back to normal you can also use micro sim adapters..
Why Apple Moved to the New Micro Sim Format.
Apple have learnt from previous sim unlock hacks via Sim Overlay Technology from the likes of Rebel Simcard for unlocking, Call Control Least Cost routing and the use of Double Sim Adapters and have gone to micro Sim format to do their best to block out the possibility of future hacks. Changing down to the micro format so that they can make it much harder to fit Gadgets inside the iphone 4 or ipad sim gates.
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Another reason Apple moved to the new format was a smart marketing technique. Their is nothing new about the micro sim other than the change of size and apple know this would be good talking point for others to create more talk and publicity around their products and people will percieve also the micro sim is special for apple products or even made by them.
The micro sim was first used by Lok8u, they were the first to ship a micro-SIM product in the United States — a watch that relays the location of children from their wrists to their parents’ cellphones.Jobs Got in Second on the Act here but will claim the Glory and portray this as Apples invention too.
Today’s News Puts a Damper on the Hopes of People wanting to use their existing network Simcard on the Apple Ipad
Apple has added a section to its iPhone FAQ confirming that you won’t be able to use one Micros SIM in both the smartphone and the Apple iPad.
Thousands off people who don’t want to Sign up to New 2 Year Contracts from Carriers planned to buy an Ipad Sim Free and use their Existing Simcards which have free or cheap internet packages by converting then by cutting them self or through the of micro sim cuttings tools have had their Plans blown out of the window for Now with the new announcement.
The official line on this from UK O2 is ”The micro-SIMs for the iPhone are set up to allow voice calls, SMS messages and data functionality, whereas the iPad micro-SIM is provisioned to allow pay-as-you-go data transfer only.”
“The two devices are designed to give a different experience. The iPhone 4 is for regular use, whereas with the iPad we offer moreflexibility over data use.”
Makes perfect business sense from Apple’s point of view, but seems a riff off as the Device is Purchased Sim Free and such Restrictions should not be placed. This means we need to have two monthly data plans if we want 3G mobile browsing.
The two types of Micro Sim card for Apple ipad & Iphone 4 Explained.
Most networks around the world sell 2 types of network simcard.
Voice & Data Enabled Simcard where you can Make Calls and also Use to Surf the Net. This is the most common type of simcard around the world and is same as what we find in mobile phones and phones like Iphone 3G 3G 3GS.
Data Only Simcard Where you cant make Calls but Can use to surf the Net Only. This type of network simcard is quite new and only few years old & can only be used in devices who primary function is to supply Data only Services and you will already find these kinds of simcards in devices like data dongle & Mifi Devices and often are bundled in to deals with Laptops that are sold with internal wireless GPRS EDGE 3G Modems.
If you already have a Good mobile contract Deal with Free Data allowance this Leaves you with the Following options if you convert you network sim to micro format and buy a Sim Free iphone 4 or Ipad 3G.
Can i use my Normal Voice & Data enabled Sim ?
Sim Free iphone 4 Sim Free ipad
YES No
Can i use my Data only Sim from my existing data dongle or Mifi with Sim Free Ipad & Iphone 4G ?
Sim Free iphone 4 Sim Free ipad
Yes * Yes
*To be confirmed by our guess is Yes but for Data Only and not voice
UK Mobile Networks and thier offerings for Micro Sims
Rival networks Orange, Vodafone and 3 are all offering customers the chance to pre-order the Micro SIMs needed to use the iPad’s 3G capabilities
The UK O2 network is offering its daily tariff (£2 per day for 500MB) but users need to wait for Friday before they can order their SIM.
Blog Follow up To article Coming Soon with More info
