Editing SIM card (section)

== Formats ==
SIM cards have been made smaller over the years; functionality is independent of format. Full-size SIM was followed by mini-SIM, micro-SIM, and nano-SIM. SIM cards are also made to embed in devices.

[[File:GSM SIM card evolution.svg|thumb|left|upright=3|From left, full-size SIM (1FF), mini-SIM (2FF), micro-SIM (3FF), and nano-SIM (4FF)]]

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:right;"
|+ SIM card formats and dimensions
! scope="col"| SIM card format
! scope="col"| Introduced
! scope="col"| Standard reference
! scope="col"| Length
! scope="col"| Width
! scope="col"| Thickness
|-
! scope="row"| Full-size (1FF)
| 1991
| style="text-align:left;"| [[ISO/IEC 7810]]:2003, ID-1
| {{convert|85.6|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|53.98|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|0.76|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|-
! scope="row"| Mini-SIM (2FF)
| 1996
| style="text-align:left;"| ISO/IEC 7810:2003, ID-000
| {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|15|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|0.76|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|-
! scope="row"| Micro-SIM (3FF)
| 2003
| style="text-align:left;"| [[ETSI]] TS 102 221 V9.0.0, Mini-UICC
| {{convert|15|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|12|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|0.76|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|-
! scope="row"| Nano-SIM (4FF)
| early 2012
| style="text-align:left;"| ETSI TS 102 221 V11.0.0
| {{convert|12.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|8.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|0.67|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|-
! scope="row"| Embedded-SIM<br />(eSIM)
| 2016
| style="text-align:left;"| ETSI TS 102.671 V9.0.0
[[JEDEC]] Design Guide 4.8, SON-8<br />GSMA SGP.22 V1.0
|6 mm (0.23622 in)
|5 mm (0.19685 in)
|?
|}
All versions of the non-embedded SIM cards share the same [[ISO/IEC 7816#7816-2|ISO/IEC 7816]] pin arrangement.

=== {{anchor|2FF}}Mini-SIM ===
[[File:Disassembled SIM Card Film.JPG|thumb|The memory chip from a micro-SIM card without the plastic backing plate, next to a [[Dime (United States coin)|US dime]], which is approx. 18 mm in diameter]]
[[File:SIM-Card X-ray contrast.jpg|thumb|X-ray image of a mini-SIM, showing the chip and connections]]

The ''mini-SIM'' or (2FF , 2nd form factor) card has the same contact arrangement as the full-size SIM card and is normally supplied within a full-size card carrier, attached by a number of linking pieces. This arrangement (defined in [[ISO/IEC 7810]] as [[ID-1/000]]) lets such a card be used in a device that requires a full-size card{{snd}} or in a device that requires a mini-SIM card, after breaking the linking pieces. As the full-size SIM is obsolete, some suppliers refer to the mini-SIM as a "standard SIM" or "regular SIM".

=== {{anchor|3FF}}Micro-SIM ===
The ''micro-SIM'' (or 3FF) card has the same thickness and contact arrangements, but reduced length and width as shown in the table above.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foned.co.uk/mobile-news/what-is-a-microsim-card|title=What is a microsim card?|publisher=Foned.nl|access-date=14 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222172411/http://simonlypro.nl/what-is-a-microsim-card-en/|archive-date=22 February 2013}}</ref>

The micro-SIM was introduced by the [[ETSI|European Telecommunications Standards Institute]] (ETSI) along with SCP, [[3GPP]] (UTRAN/GERAN), [[3rd Generation Partnership Project 2|3GPP2]] (CDMA2000), [[Association of Radio Industries and Businesses|ARIB]], [[GSMA|GSM Association]] (GSMA SCaG and GSMNA), GlobalPlatform, [[Liberty Alliance]], and the [[Open Mobile Alliance]] (OMA) for the purpose of fitting into devices too small for a mini-SIM card.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=http://docbox.etsi.org//Workshop/2006/Salud%20Mexico/Gaby%20Lenhart%20-%20CENETEC_2006_04.ppt|title=The Smart Card Platform|publisher=ETSI Technical Committee Smart Card Platform (TB SCP)|date=1 April 2006|access-date=30 January 2010|author=Gaby Lenhart|quote=SCP is co-operating on both technical and service aspects with a number of other committees both within and outside the telecommunications sector.|archive-date=24 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824063005/http://docbox.etsi.org//Workshop/2006/Salud%20Mexico/Gaby%20Lenhart%20-%20CENETEC_2006_04.ppt|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2358489,00.asp|title=Inside the iPad Lurks the 'Micro SIM'|magazine=[[PC Magazine]]|date=27 January 2010|access-date=30 January 2010|last1=Segan|first1=Sascha}}</ref>

The form factor was mentioned in the December 1998 3GPP SMG9 [[UMTS]] Working Party, which is the standards-setting body for GSM SIM cards,<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/TSG_T/WG3_USIM/TSGT3_01/docs/t3-99003.pdf|title=DRAFT Report of the SMG9 UMTS Working Party, meeting #7 hosted by Nokia in Copenhagen, 15–16 December 1998|publisher=[[3GPP]]|date=25 January 1999|access-date=27 January 2010|quote=One manufacturer stated that it may be difficult to meeting ISO mechanical standards for a combined ID-1/micro-SIM card.|archive-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823233353/http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/TSG_T/WG3_USIM/TSGT3_01/docs/t3-99003.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and the form factor was agreed upon in late 2003.<ref name="SmartCardTrends">{{cite web|url=http://www.smartcardstrends.com/det_atc.php?idu=287 |title=New form factor for smart cards introduced |publisher=SmartCard Trends |date=8 December 2003 |access-date=30 January 2010 |last1=Antipolis |first1=Sophia |quote=The work item for the so-called Third Form Factor, "3FF", was agreed, after intensive discussions, at the SCP meeting held last week in London. |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426104206/http://www.smartcardstrends.com/det_atc.php?idu=287 |archive-date=26 April 2010 }}</ref>

The micro-SIM was designed for backward compatibility. The major issue for backward compatibility was the contact area of the chip. Retaining the same contact area makes the micro-SIM compatible with the prior, larger SIM readers through the use of plastic cutout surrounds. The SIM was also designed to run at the same speed (5&nbsp;MHz) as the prior version. The same size and positions of pins resulted in numerous "How-to" tutorials and YouTube videos with detailed instructions how to cut a mini-SIM card to micro-SIM size.

The chairman of EP SCP, Klaus Vedder, said<ref name="SmartCardTrends" />

{{blockquote|ETSI has responded to a market need from ETSI customers, but additionally there is a strong desire not to invalidate, overnight, the existing interface, nor reduce the performance of the cards.}}

Micro-SIM cards were introduced by various mobile service providers for the launch of the original iPad, and later for smartphones, from April 2010. The [[iPhone 4]] was the first smartphone to use a micro-SIM card in June 2010, followed by many others.<ref>{{cite web | last=Grubb | first=Ben | title=Review: Nokia's button-less N9 smartphone | website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=2011-10-26 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/review-nokias-buttonless-n9-smartphone-20111026-1mj0x.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033818/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/review-nokias-buttonless-n9-smartphone-20111026-1mj0x.html | archive-date=2020-11-12 | url-status=live | access-date=2025-03-20 | quote= It's also one of the first smartphones to use a micro-SIM, something Apple introduced with its iPhone 4.}}</ref>

=== {{anchor|4FF}}Nano-SIM ===
After a debate in early 2012 between a few designs created by Apple, [[Nokia]] and [[BlackBerry Limited|RIM]], Apple's design for an even smaller SIM card was accepted by the ETSI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ziegler |first=Chris |date=2012-03-26 |title=Nano-SIM war: here's what Apple and Nokia want to put in your next phone |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/3/26/2904153/apple-vs-nokia-4ff-nano-sim |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New SIM card format for slimmer, smaller phones |url=https://www.etsi.org/newsroom/news/398-news-release-1-june-2012 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=ETSI |language=en-gb}}</ref> The ''nano-SIM'' (or 4FF) card was introduced in June 2012, when mobile service providers in various countries first supplied it for phones that supported the format. The nano-SIM measures {{convert|12.3|x|8.8|x|0.67|mm|abbr=on}} and reduces the previous format to the contact area while maintaining the existing contact arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |author-link=ETSI |title=TS 102 221 - V11.0.0 - Smart Cards; UICC-Terminal interface; Physical and logical characteristics (Release 11) |url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/102200_102299/102221/11.00.00_60/ts_102221v110000p.pdf}}</ref> A small rim of isolating material is left around the contact area to avoid short circuits with the socket. The nano-SIM can be put into adapters for use with devices designed for 2FF or 3FF SIMs, and is made thinner for that purpose,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docbox.etsi.org/workshop/2012/201201_SECURITYWORKSHOP/3_INTERNATIONAL_STANDARDIZATION/UICC_ETSISCP_Vedder.pdf|title=The UICC&nbsp;– Recent Work of ETSI TC Smart Card Platform|author=Dr. Klaus Vedder|date=18 January 2012|publisher=ETSI|access-date=22 July 2012|page=12|quote=Thinner to allow adapters so that the 4FF can be "clicked" into adapters for use as a Plug-in SIM or 3FF SIM giving a kind of backward usability | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830041146/https://docbox.etsi.org/Workshop/2012/201201_SECURITYWORKSHOP/3_INTERNATIONAL_STANDARDIZATION/UICC_ETSISCP_Vedder.pdf|archive-date=30 August 2017}}</ref> and telephone companies give due warning about this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/media/images/howdoi/007017_Leaflet_113x127mm_des_v2_LR.pdf|title=An important guide to inserting your SIM into your mobile|author=Virgin Mobile|access-date=21 January 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015505/http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/media/images/howdoi/007017_Leaflet_113x127mm_des_v2_LR.pdf | archive-date = 25 January 2018 | quote = You may also have to use one of the enclosed adaptors. If you don't follow these guidelines your phone warranty could be invalidated. We're afraid we can't accept responsibility for any damage to your phone if you choose to ignore this advice.}}</ref> 4FF is {{convert|0.67|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick, compared to the {{convert|0.76|mm|in|abbr=on}} of its predecessors.

The [[iPhone 5]], released in September 2012, was the first device to use a nano-SIM card,<ref>While no actual source is available for this fact, GSMArena is a reputable website for mobile phone specifications, and seems to prove this. {{Cite web |title=Phone Finder results - GSMArena.com |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMax=2012&sSIMTypes=3 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.gsmarena.com}}</ref> followed by other handsets.