Sim Free phones isn't compatible with money saving

aMIGA_dUDE

We have to make stand before it to late. If mobile networks start selling mobiles which do not use Sim-Cards we not be able to change networks. In fact it will become next to impossiable to achive.

I am not talking about unlocking phone from network. The issue is you wouldn't be able to change the sim at whim as phone is not using a Sim. So say you have 2 sims one for UK calles and another for Internal calles. Well forget that idea, as will not be able to change phone your self.
You would have to go to store and probley be charged a fee. Tell them the network want to be on and have change phone settings in store. Which would mean they will try and sell there network to keep you with them most people would just not bother anymore.


Lets fight this before it to late! :T

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/18/gsma_apple/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/18/nano_sim/

Jon_01

Phones without sims have been sold in the US for years, nothing new.

I don't think you can forbid anyone to sell anything they like, but people have the right to decide with their wallets...

jayme1

This news is extremely old, it's not going to happen, all the networks are tied to sim cards and the EU would probably never allow it because it is anticompetitive.
The whole not using a sim was a fantasy only created by Apple, and was opposed by pretty much everywhere apart from the US because the US networks would quite like to be anticompetitive.

In the US it is only Sprint and Verizon that do not use sim cards, this is because their networks use CDMA (not GSM that the rest and all of europe use), on both those networks now they have started using LTE they both now using sim cards.

Also a nano sim has nothing to do with using no sim at all, a nano sim only has less plastic than a regular sim.

Buzby

Prior to the launch of GSM in the UK (1990) all phones had an internal serial number that was used to validate it on the network GSM added an additional level with the SIM card providing the authentication - there was still a serial number (the IMEI), but the SIM provided the IMSI, the subscriber identity.

When a phone is stolen, the IMEI is used to block its use, but the SIM can still make chargeable calls until/unless this is blocked too. The benefit of SIM swapping has largely been negated with the wide range of SIM sizes - remembering that the original SIM (used in Motorola and Mobira (Nokia) handsets were the same size of a Chip & Pin credit/debit card).

Removing the SIM card is overdue, but only if the customer has full ownership of the IMSI to do with (port/switch/sell/block) as they choose. This would prevent SIM locking, but the networks would rather this did not happen - we'll just need to wait and see.

diamonds

CDMA phones can be unlocked for use on other CDMA networks, the new CDMA network just programmes the phone when its been released from lock down by the previous, this cuts down on handset subsidies & box breaking for the networks which are lost revenue, law authorities can always trace who owns the mobile.

I had prepaid Orange/3 CDMA in AU which was built around the main cities & roamed on Telstra CDMA for national coverage (at Orange/3 CDMA rates), but I paying a $50 fee (higher unlock fee than via contract as prepaid) could have moved to Telstra or Optus CDMA for all my coverage. Alas charges were almost double on Telstra/Optus CDMA so I didnt, but the option was there but Orange/3CDMA was the cheapest of all three.

Telstra, Optus & Orange CDMA contract customers having completed a minimum contract term could move to each other free.

When Telstra closed CDMA Orange & Optus had to close their networks as Telstra provided national roaming as the inception of Telstra CDMA was part financed by Federal Government, Telstra made its profit from CDMA and moved to NextG 3G 800mhz on GSM where it did not have to provide roaming as NextG was self funded.

CDMA was superior to GSM, but then Betamax was superior to VHS, VHS won as it licenced its format to the big studios.

CDMA is a better on many fronts, EU/Vodafone will bring it back at some point.

CDMA can be programmed to multiple lines/providers, why GSM was better for networks NOT consumers.

jayme1

That might have been the case in Australia but in the US you can't move a Verizon phone to Sprint they just don't let you.

I just can't see an embedded sim ever being as consumer friendly as having a removable sim, no more local sims when you go abroad to use data but just quickly swap in your home sim to check for messages, if your battery dies you can't just pop you sim into a friends phone to check or send a message.

LTE is here now, networks and countries are building LTE as a replacement for all previous networks. The argument that an old 2G technology is better than another 2G technology is moot in a 4G world.
I doubt any network would be stupid enough to spend money on an old 2G network (esp an incompatible CDMA network) when they can invest in LTE.