SIM cards get even smaller with new nano-SIM from G&D

By Jeff Hughes November 11, 2011

As is the way with most tech, SIM cards are poised to get even smaller than they are now. Gieseck & Devrient, the company responsible for the first commercial SIM card 20 years ago, is introducing a new product called the nano-SIM. The Munich-based tech group will be displaying the new SIM card at a trade show in Paris, November 15 to 17.

The Nano-SIM will be 30 times smaller than the micro-SIM cards used in the iPhone 4 and the recently launched 4S, and 60 times smaller than the 25mm x 15mm SIM cards used in many handsets today. The world’s smallest SIM will measure approximately 12mm x 9mm, and will have decreased in thickness by 15 percent—a technological feat the company is very proud of.

If the Nano-SIM is adopted, G&D says the drastic cut in size will affect many aspects of today’s mobile devices. Besides creating a new generation of smaller and thinner devices, nano-SIM frees up space which can be used to address memory issues or make batteries large which will definitely boosting performance.

“The invention of the SIM card remains a milestone in the history of G&D. With the nano-SIM, we have shown how this development can move closer to perfection,” said G&D Secure Devices head, Axel Deininger.

Worried about being left behind? The new SIM cards will be backward compatible with older device models by using an adapter. According to Giesecke & Devrient, we’ll probably begin to see companies (Apple?) implementing the technology into mobile devices as early as 2012.

This new development coincides with Apple’s interest in developing a smaller SIM card. Orange CEO Stephane Richard spoke earlier this year. about working with the Steve Jobs-founded company to standardize a new, smaller format of SIM.

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