iPad needs a micro SIM? No problem!

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 28 January 2010 16:09

Opinion and Analysis

Some outlets are suggesting that Apple's adoption of the micro SIM for the iPad is a way of controlling which carriers can be used with the new tablet. Nonsense!

First things first: a SIM is a Subscriber Identity Module, a small chip that, well, identifies the account associated with the phone or other device.

Yes, the 3G-enabled version of the iPad does use the relatively new micro SIM format, but that's no big deal.

The contacts and the chip remain unchanged - the only difference is that there's less plastic surrounding the chip.

So even if your preferred carrier can't immediately provide you with a micro SIM, all you need to do is trim a regular SIM to the new dimensions. Yes, I know that's not something everyone will be prepared to do - the point is that it's just a mechanical change.

And it's not as if micro SIM is something brand-stinking-new: at least some of the SIM connectors used in existing products were designed to accept either a 'normal' SIM or a micro SIM.