Apple to offer royalty-free license to nano-SIM patent

26 March, 2012
If chosen, anyone could use the design in their devices without having to pay Apple the licensing fees.

Sort by:

  • a
  • aero
  • vwv
  • 29 Mar 2012

Nice to see Apple going the royalty-free route. This approach is good for the industry and the best technology wins and becomes a standard.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • Iaa
    • 29 Mar 2012

    I am truly taken aback that Apple would do something for the betterment of technology as whole AND not seek to stick their hands in the pockets of other manufacturers.

      • k
      • krans3
      • s8F
      • 28 Mar 2012

      AnonD-29706, 26 Mar 2012Whew! Just took an hour's worth of hard work to pull my SIM... morehi im using iphone3,4

        • k
        • krans3
        • s8F
        • 28 Mar 2012

        Anonymous, 26 Mar 2012Ditto.hi guys

          • k
          • krans3
          • s8F
          • 28 Mar 2012

          :), 28 Mar 2012lolhi lol how r u

            • :
            • :)
            • Sq6
            • 28 Mar 2012

            Nikke, 27 Mar 2012Apple is known to be as trustworthy as a crack dealer :)lol

              • N
              • Nikke
              • 3Sw
              • 27 Mar 2012

              Apple is known to be as trustworthy as a crack dealer :)

                • p
                • phoneaddict
                • tu6
                • 27 Mar 2012

                I used the IPHONE 4 last year (used it for 2 weeks only)and it was MURDER trying to get the card out. Speaker problem. The worst part was I left the ejection pin at home. The truth is iphone is not handy at all eventhough its small. I got tired of the IPHONE as i was too lazy to copy the contact from my other phone. Kept the phone in the drawer and gave it to a friend as a gift.

                  • D
                  • Dan
                  • Hx1
                  • 27 Mar 2012

                  blueglue, 26 Mar 2012just curious, whats nokia's design?The nano-sim designs wasn't clearly presented to the consumer market yet, it was in the hands of ETSI now. But according to sources, among the major differences is that Apple's design would require a tray while Nokia's design will not. Nokia's design don't have a risk of jamming when use even in current micro sim slots while Apple has a high risk.

                    • D
                    • Dan
                    • Hx1
                    • 27 Mar 2012

                    Here's the real deal:
                    Apple’s letter to ETSI has "removed" the patent roadblock, if it ever was any, through an unequivocal commitment to grant royalty-free licenses to any Apple patents essential to nano-SIM, provided that Apple’s proposal is adopted as a standard and that all other patent holders accept the same terms in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.”

                    So Apple will give their pathetic design "royalty-free???" in exchange of other patent holders giving Apple also royalty-free of the patents it is using. That is what you call free. I am even having hard time sometimes removing normal sim and a pain in the ass removing & inserting micro sim, what more of that "nano sim". Of course carriers will agree to Apple's proposal because that will mean also that consumers will have to purchase a new sim card at a higher price.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • IaH
                      • 27 Mar 2012

                      Anonymous, 26 Mar 2012Its good to see that apple are still trying to lead the way... moreu're right bro. Apple is very generous!!(sarcasm)

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • mEk
                        • 27 Mar 2012

                        they dont need to charge royalty for the sim design thats if they dont which even tho seems like it i very much doubt, its american they do nothing for free. secondly if others are using their sim design those using the design will have to build phones around tht which could infringe on 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 apple patents so they aint doing it for charity

                          • d
                          • digi
                          • Pyv
                          • 27 Mar 2012

                          Anonymous, 26 Mar 2012Apple has always been consistent about one thing: Design. T... moretray? are you kidding me???
                          It's pain in the bottom to look for a pin to remove the sim

                            • D
                            • AnonD-7811
                            • nHR
                            • 27 Mar 2012

                            Apple not charging royalties?.....0_0

                              • b
                              • brasi_db
                              • IaH
                              • 27 Mar 2012

                              This is pretty see through isn't it?? Seems a bit like misdirection to me, I think it's a little bit late for Apple to try and play the good guy

                                • M
                                • Melb_User
                                • Iae
                                • 27 Mar 2012

                                This is just the start, Apple will license it free to manufacturers but for the design and manufacturing of sim card they will charge the royalty to the SIM card manufacturers or Network operators who sells the SIM cards to the end users.

                                This mean the cost of the card will go higher and in turn the cost of the mobile plans will increase.


                                  • V
                                  • Verbal_Criminal
                                  • 9La
                                  • 26 Mar 2012


                                  royalty free is the sugar coat. beneath it... Patent Lawsuits. This would be an additional gun for their patent wars. They can use it whenever they wish in the future. they'll just say.. "the hell w/ the standards! we thought about it first"
                                  Apple legal sharks are famous for their razor sharp teeths.

                                    • R
                                    • Rick
                                    • prk
                                    • 26 Mar 2012

                                    I don't understand why the actual sim is a problem? Isn't Apple's (touchscreens) biggest problem short battery life?

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • jgj
                                      • 26 Mar 2012

                                      what sneaky rats, trying to look like good guy when behind the doors their spending millions fighing for royalty payments and fighting not to pay for others patents.

                                        • k
                                        • kank_fraud
                                        • utu
                                        • 26 Mar 2012

                                        They don't have a heart.
                                        Royalty free is just a strategy for them.
                                        They started using micro sim but nobody cared to switch over to it.
                                        Except for a couple of handsets, hardly anyone realesed.
                                        They are hoping that if its a royalty free, everyone will accept it and strat adopting it.
                                        Its all about market share and having everyone in under there mercy.

                                        And I use a Xeria S and a iphone 4S and If in case i need to switch SIM from the iphone, I have to ask my girlfriend to lend me a pin to pull it out.
                                        If I need to change SIM in my Xperia, I just pull the cover and battery and change and put everything back.
                                        I think ppl who are using a mobile for the first time, they find the iphone to be easier to pull the SIM card out.
                                        Oh and it takes me 5secs to change SIM card in my Xperia.
                                        For my iPhone, first I have to locate a pin to eject it, then I can consider to change.
                                        This situation is when I'm not at home and I don't feel like carrying my SIM ejection pin, cuz I have only one.
                                        If I loose it, even at home I have to search for a pin.