Comments on: Why isn’t anyone pushing for naked SIM cards? http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html Cell Phone News, Information, and Analysis Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:47:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Todd http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html/comment-page-1/#comment-10987 Todd Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:23:13 +0000 http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html#comment-10987 T-Mobile (yes, in the USA) offers naked SIM cards; it's just not "on the menu". I haven't tried ordering one via phone, but I have bought one directly from their walk-in mall kiosk store. No phone charge at all, just a SIM card. I didn't use the term "naked SIM"; rather, I asked for "a SIM card to activate an existing GSM phone", and they knew what I wanted. I did get a canned paragraph of lecture regarding no support or insurance replacement for unbranded devices, etc. They preferred to have some sort of device in hand to verify operation, but if that were not possible (e.g. if buying a data plan for a PCMCIA card), they could use one of the in-house tester phones to verify activation. Combined with the fact that they don't near-force you into the new 2-year contract trend (T only has 1-year contracts), this was pretty nice. What's more, as I was already a customer and was *not* buying a phone, I didn't have to extend my contract, because there was no subsidy involved. Of course, as always, your mileage may vary. Maybe not all their stores have clueful people. T-Mobile (yes, in the USA) offers naked SIM cards; it’s just not “on the menu”. I haven’t tried ordering one via phone, but I have bought one directly from their walk-in mall kiosk store. No phone charge at all, just a SIM card. I didn’t use the term “naked SIM”; rather, I asked for “a SIM card to activate an existing GSM phone”, and they knew what I wanted. I did get a canned paragraph of lecture regarding no support or insurance replacement for unbranded devices, etc.

They preferred to have some sort of device in hand to verify operation, but if that were not possible (e.g. if buying a data plan for a PCMCIA card), they could use one of the in-house tester phones to verify activation. Combined with the fact that they don’t near-force you into the new 2-year contract trend (T only has 1-year contracts), this was pretty nice. What’s more, as I was already a customer and was *not* buying a phone, I didn’t have to extend my contract, because there was no subsidy involved.

Of course, as always, your mileage may vary. Maybe not all their stores have clueful people.

]]> By: Stefan Constantinescu http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html/comment-page-1/#comment-10986 Stefan Constantinescu Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:40:18 +0000 http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html#comment-10986 Ricky: Prices can be negotiated Rex: Re-read my post, I'm not talking about phone numbers. I'm talking about access to the network. Ricky: Prices can be negotiated

Rex: Re-read my post, I’m not talking about phone numbers. I’m talking about access to the network.

]]> By: Rex http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html/comment-page-1/#comment-10985 Rex Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:32:26 +0000 http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html#comment-10985 India has always had 'naked' SIM cards...here you buy your phone and the connection separately. So if you're changing cities, all you do is buy a new SIM card for a new number and pop it into your phone (number portability across operators is coming by April 2007) India has always had ‘naked’ SIM cards…here you buy your phone and the connection separately. So if you’re changing cities, all you do is buy a new SIM card for a new number and pop it into your phone (number portability across operators is coming by April 2007)

]]> By: Ricky Cadden http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html/comment-page-1/#comment-10984 Ricky Cadden Thu, 28 Dec 2006 02:47:27 +0000 http://www.intomobile.com/2006/12/27/why-isnt-anyone-pushing-for-naked-sim-cards.html#comment-10984 I'll tell ya, I had to read this twice before I actually caught on to what you're asking for. Basically, instead of your SIM card having a phone number (cause that's what distinguishes a useful SIM card from a piece of plastic) it would have an IP address. Cause in order to access data you have to have one of the two. I agree. When I was in school, I often dreamed about being able to "Call" my coffee maker from class and tell it to turn on, so that when I got home I had a nice hot cup waiting for me. But I wasn't about to pay $10/month extra for an added line to my account. I’ll tell ya, I had to read this twice before I actually caught on to what you’re asking for. Basically, instead of your SIM card having a phone number (cause that’s what distinguishes a useful SIM card from a piece of plastic) it would have an IP address. Cause in order to access data you have to have one of the two.

I agree. When I was in school, I often dreamed about being able to “Call” my coffee maker from class and tell it to turn on, so that when I got home I had a nice hot cup waiting for me. But I wasn’t about to pay $10/month extra for an added line to my account.

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