Qualcomm, Thales, and Vodafone together have demonstrated a smartphone
which will feature a GSMA compliant iSIM. It is a latest technology using which
SIM card can be integrated into a device’s main processor.
Benefits of iSIM:
Using iSIM, one does not need to have a separate chip. iSIM is installed directly
into the main processor of the phone for the enhanced performance, better
memory capacity, and improved space utilization as per Qualcomm. Both
telecommunications operations and consumers get wholesale benefits from
the same.
The main aim of iSIM is to provide SIM’s functionalities to all kinds of consumer
products including VR headsets, laptops, and IoT-Internet of Things devices.
The breakthrough will allow “commercialization of the technology”.
The iSIM technology was first announced by Arm back in 2018. Along with this,
Sony also worked with floLIVE and Kigen to develop iSIM integration into
Sony’s Altair ALT1250 IoT chipset. Even Nokia unveiled its own cloud-based
iSIM management platform which is known as Secure Connect.
Even though the news of a smartphone with an integrated iSIM is out, neither
Qualcomm, Vodafone, nor Thales have provided with the exact date and time
of when the smartphone will be out.
Vodafone chief commercial officer on iSIM technology
Alex Froment-Curtil, Chief commercial officer of Vodafone said that their aim is to build a world where each device can connect simply and seamlessly to one another, and customer can have a complete control. The major step in the direction is the iSIM that is combined with their remote management platform. This allows devices to be connected without a separate chip that too with several objects.
He also said that this will enable their customers to enjoy the ease of several accounts on a single device. However, seeing from an operator’s point of view, it will help to eliminate the need to have a separate SIM card and the plastic this uses.
