According to an unconfirmed report in The Telegraph Sunday morning, Apple has abandoned its plans to develop an integrated SIM card for the iPhone. The report, which cites a senior source at a mobile operator, suggests that Apple backed down from its plans in light of pressures from European carriers. Apple was rumored to be developing an integrated SIM card that would be commissionable by multiple operators. This would allow Apple to exclude carriers from the sale process. It would also allow customers to easily transfer their service from one carrier to another without the need to obtain a new SIM card or purchase a new handset. Following purported threats from European carriers that would refuse to subsidize the high cost of the iPhone if Apple decided to implement its new SIM, Apple is now said to have ceased development. “Apple has long been trying to build closer and closer relationships and cut out the operators,” The Telegraph’s source stated. “But this time they have been sent back to the drawing board with their tails between their legs.”
Apple abandons plans for integrated iPhone SIM
Updated Dec 19th, 2018 6:54PM EST
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Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.
His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.
