Nokia, one of the biggest manufacturers of mobile devices in the world, is about to go into battle with one of its biggest rivals – Apple – over the patent rights to a smaller version of the traditional SIM card, which has been called nano-SIM. Nokia developed its version of the nano-SIM in collaboration with two other companies – Motorola and Research in Motion, and these three companies have united to take on Apple, which has separately produced its own variant on the smaller SIM card. The fight between the companies over the right to claim their version as the definitive nano-SIM will now be taken to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, which will have the job of determining which version of the card hits the marketplace.
With so much at stake, the companies involved in the dispute are saying little prior to the decision by ETSI, which is expected to be made at the end of the month. Originally a decision on which of the nano-SIM card prototypes would be given patent approval was expected towards the end of last year: however he did not elaborate on the reasons for the delay. Thus far, Motorola has acknowledged that it is collaborating with Nokia and RIM, but these two companies and Apple have declined to make any public comment.
There is a considerable amount at stake for both Nokia and Apple, as they continue to battle for the position of leading worldwide smartphone company – a position which Apple claimed from Nokia last year, and Nokia would likely consider victory in this battle to be the beginning of the process of putting Nokia phones back on top. The new nano-SIM card is set to be 30 percent smaller than micro-SIMS and 60 percent smaller than traditional ones. It is also around 15 percent thinner.
You can find out more information about any of these firms, and their products by visiting Dialaphone.co.uk.
Guest article written and submitted by a TechPatio reader!
A collosal battle with giants of technology. I really hope the one who is right wins and not the one that has more money to pay… If Apple wins, it will be a huge blow for Nokia..
that is considerable for us………….
This could very well ensure the comeback of Nokia into the cellular phone market.
Winning this case and owning the nano-SIM patent would ensure a revenue of billions of USD in the following years.
I can hardly wait for the new nano-SIM technology. If it’s getting smaller it’s also better 🙂
I think Apple will be defeated in this war, because Nokia has got much more experiences in developing SIM cards. I think that the micro-SIM patent comes from Nokia as well.
The Patents war really gives more money to the companies.. Apple have won against many patent issues and Nokia is trying its best to win this time it seems 🙂 Lets see.. There must be a separate site that has history of patent wars 🙂
Rob.
How can Nokia win this battle? Apple invented the iPod, iPad and Mac whereas nokia invented nothing. But I eagerly wait for nokia’s nano SIM. Apple already has thousands of patents. On the other hand nokia has only something as far as I know.
You know that Apple needs to pay to Nokia for every IPhone they sell. It is because Apple did not invented the a Phone they used basis from nokia to make a Phone. It is a diferent story about ipod(but this is not a phone)
I hope this time nokia will win the war over Apple, it will help to boost the company as Nokia is already in serious type of financial crisis.
Patent war may hit the ground with high intensity, but with the phones already launched with the nano-SIM technology deals nothing with such kind of activities. Users would still get the service and that is what all really matters.
Thank you for sharing your article.