Why get an iPad data plan when you have a pair of scissors?

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 14:29

Your IT - Mobility

Apple's decision to pioneer the use of the new micro-sim format in the iPad has enabled operators, such as Optus and Telstra, to launch iPad specific mobile data plans even through they are not selling iPads. But if you can get a better deal on another plan, you can simply hack the standard sim.

And I don't mean hack as in tamper with the software. I mean it literally. The micro-sim has been designed to be backward compatible with the widely used postage stamp-sized mini-sim. So all you have to do is carefully lop of the excess plastic and it should work.

At least that is what several Internet postings claim. But be warned. The micro-sim has been designed with additional functionality, so some features and applications of your iPad might not work properly. Things might be OK now, but could start to go wrong as application developers exploit the full potential of the device.

For example, Wikipedia lists the following as additional features of the micro-sim not supported by its big brother.

Allow for multiple simultaneous applications accessing the card through logical channels (that could be the biggie from the user's point of view); introduce mutual authentication as a way to eliminate carrier spoofing by allowing the sim card to authenticate the cell tower to which it is connecting; add a new pin protection with hierarchical pin management with a universal pin, an application pin and a local pin; and expand the phonebook storage of the sim card with entries for email, second name, and groups.
And, the micro-sim standard continues to evolve.

CONTINUED