Editing SIM card (section)

== Developments ==
When GSM was already in use, the specifications were further developed and enhanced with functionality such as [[SMS]] and [[General Packet Radio Service|GPRS]]. These development steps are referred as releases by ETSI. Within these development cycles, the SIM specification was enhanced as well: new voltage classes, formats and files were introduced.

=== USIM === <!-- Called from sim -->
In GSM-only times, the SIM consisted of the hardware and the software. With the advent of UMTS, this naming was split: the SIM was now an application and hence only software. The hardware part was called UICC. This split was necessary because UMTS introduced a new application, the universal subscriber identity module (USIM). The USIM brought, among other things, security improvements like mutual authentication and longer encryption keys, and an improved address book.

=== UICC ===
{{Main|Universal integrated circuit card}}
"SIM cards" in developed countries today are usually [[universal integrated circuit card|UICCs]] containing at least a SIM application and a USIM application. This configuration is necessary because older GSM only handsets are solely compatible with the SIM application and some UMTS security enhancements rely on the USIM application.

=== Other variants ===
On [[cdmaOne]] networks, the equivalent of the SIM card is the [[Removable User Identity Module|R-UIM]] and the equivalent of the SIM application is the [[CDMA subscriber identity module|CSIM]].

{{anchor|Virtual SIM}}
A ''virtual SIM'' is a mobile phone number provided by a [[mobile network operator]] that does not require a SIM card to connect phone calls to a user's mobile phone.

=== {{anchor|MFF|eSIM}}Embedded SIM (eSIM) ===
{{Main|eSIM}}
[[File:Embedded SIM from M2M supplier Eseye with an adapter board for evaluation in a Mini-SIM socket blurred.jpg|thumb|Embedded SIM from M2M supplier Eseye with an adapter board for evaluation in a mini-SIM socket]]

An embedded SIM (eSIM) is a form of programmable SIM that is embedded directly into a device.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krüssel |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ry9mDwAAQBAJ&dq=An+embedded+SIM+(eSIM)+is+a+form+of+programmable+SIM+that+is+embedded+directly+into+a+device.&pg=PA13 |title=Future Telco: Successful Positioning of Network Operators in the Digital Age |date=2018-07-23 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-77724-5 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref> The surface mount format provides the same electrical interface as the full size, 2FF and 3FF SIM cards, but is soldered to a circuit board as part of the manufacturing process. In M2M applications where there is no requirement<ref name=":0" /> to change the SIM card, this avoids the requirement for a connector, improving reliability and security.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} An eSIM can be [[Remote SIM provisioning|provisioned remotely]]; end-users can add or remove operators without the need to physically swap a SIM from the device or use multiple eSIM profiles at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://podm2m.com/euicc-future-sim-technology/|title=eUICC&nbsp;– The Future for SIM Technology|date=2019-07-05|website=PodM2M|access-date=18 September 2018|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829155231/https://podm2m.com/euicc-future-sim-technology/|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How does an eSIM work? |url=https://support.saily.com/hc/en-us/articles/12823321335580-How-does-an-eSIM-work |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Saily Help Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

The eSIM standard, initially introduced in 2016, has progressively supplanted traditional physical SIM cards across various sectors, notably in cellular telephony.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The eSIM opportunity |url=https://asianwirelesscomms.com/feature-details?itemid=6680#:~:text=The%20first%20standard%20for%20eSIMs,typically%20been%20developed%20world%20regions. |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=asianwirelesscomms.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Travel esim |url=https://wowesim.com/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=wowesim.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bair |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bE8ADQAAQBAJ&dq=The+eSIM+standard+was+first+released+in+2016&pg=PA73 |title=Seeking the Truth from Mobile Evidence: Basic Fundamentals, Intermediate and Advanced Overview of Current Mobile Forensic Investigations |date=2017-11-17 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-811057-7 |pages=73 |language=en}}</ref> In September 2017, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 3 featuring eSIM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Watch Series 3 – Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/SP766?locale=en_US |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=support.apple.com |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808194819/https://support.apple.com/kb/SP766?locale=en_US |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2018, Apple introduced the [[iPad Pro (3rd generation)]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=New iPad Pro with all-screen design Is most advanced, powerful iPad ever |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/10/new-ipad-pro-with-all-screen-design-is-most-advanced-powerful-ipad-ever/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US |archive-date=30 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030164656/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/10/new-ipad-pro-with-all-screen-design-is-most-advanced-powerful-ipad-ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which was the first iPad to support eSIM. In September 2022, Apple introduced the iPhone 14 series which was the first eSIM exclusive iPhone in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone 14 Pro – Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/SP875?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=support.apple.com |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324115139/https://support.apple.com/kb/SP875?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== {{anchor|iSIM|nuSIM}}Integrated SIM (iSIM) ===
An integrated SIM ([[ESIM|iSIM]]) is a form of SIM directly integrated into the modem chip or main processor of the device itself. As a consequence they are smaller, cheaper and more reliable than eSIMs, they can improve security and ease the logistics and production of small devices i.e. for [[Internet of things|IoT]] applications. In 2021, [[Deutsche Telekom]] introduced the [[ESIM|nuSIM]], an "Integrated SIM for IoT".<ref>{{cite web |title=eSIM und nuSIM – was sind die Unterschiede? Telekom arbeitet an nuSIM |language=de |publisher=Portalavenue GmbH |work=M2M-Kommunikation.de |url=https://www.m2m-kommunikation.de/beratung/esim-und-nusim-was-sind-die-unterschiede.html |access-date=2022-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622171155/https://www.m2m-kommunikation.de/beratung/esim-und-nusim-was-sind-die-unterschiede.html |archive-date=2022-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=nuSIM: Unsere innovative iSIM-Lösung |language=de |publisher=[[Deutsche Telekom]] |url=https://iot.telekom.com/de/netze-tarife/iot-sim-karten/nusim |access-date=2022-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622171401/https://iot.telekom.com/de/netze-tarife/iot-sim-karten/nusim |archive-date=2022-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=nuSIM – die integrierte SIM für das Internet der Dinge |language=de |publisher=[[Deutsche Telekom]] |date=2022-02-15 |orig-date=2021 |author-first=Daniel |author-last=Kunz |url=https://iot.telekom.com/de/blog/nusim-die-integrierte-sim-fuer-das-internet-der-dinge |access-date=2022-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123030915/https://iot.telekom.com/de/blog/nusim-die-integrierte-sim-fuer-das-internet-der-dinge |archive-date=2021-11-23}}</ref>