Apple has earned the rights to an important patent, something that may ensure that micro-SIM cards become the standard across the industry. The patent is related to the design of the SIM tray connector, and the mechanism used to insert and eject the card from the device. The ruling published by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), on Christmas Day incidentally, also includes “the plunger system” of ejecting the SIM card by using a metal pin, or SIM ejection tool into the final verdict.
The filing states that it “includes an electronic device 100 which Apple confirms could be a tablet like the iPad, s netbook, a MacBook, or other type of computer, cell, media, or smart phone, monitor, media player, or other type of electronic device. Apple further points out that card #110 noted above may also be included and that the card may be a SIM card, mini-SIM card, micro-SIM, or other type of card or electronic device. For example, card 120 may be a micro-SIM card and in a mini-SIM card tray or emulator.”
This is a critical ruling that possibly puts an end to the long-standing battle between Apple and Nokia over the SIM card technology that will be implemented in the smartphones in the not too distant future. Incidentally, Apple moved on to the even smaller Nano SIM technology for the iPhone 5.
This ruling may actually discourage rivals from challenging the SIM card standards, and could pretty much ensure that micro-SIM becomes the acceptable norm.
Source: USPTO
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