Mobile carriers in Europe have started building stock of the new ‘nano SIM’ amid expectations it will be used in the next generation of Apple iPhone, the Financial Times reports. While Apple has yet to give any details of the new device, the new SIM card design was recently approved by the European Telecommuncations Standards Institute, based on a design backed by Apple. Carriers expect that the iPhone will feature the nano SIM in a slimmed down design and have begun to store millions of the cards in warehouses in anticipation of high demand for the new iPhone. Its been suggested that the major networks were keen to be ahead of demand this time, after some ran short of micro SIMs when they were first deployed in the iPhone 4.
Earlier this year, Nokia came out with their own version of the nano SIM that had backing from Motorola and RIM and refused to provide crucial patents in the production of Apple’s nano-SIM. The nano SIM, which is 40 per cent smaller than the micro-Sim, is expected to be adopted by other phonemakers over time as it allows for smaller handsets.