Infineon and Intel join forces to develop high-density SIM cards

The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is almost as ubiquitous is today’s mobilized society as the mobile phone itself. With GSM networks covering the world, it’s no wonder that the SIM card is as widely used as it is. Well, Infineon (NYSE: IFX) has announced that it will be working with chip-making giant Intel to develop high-density (HD) SIM cards boasting 32-bit security and 4MB - 64MB of on-board storage for “data-intensive mobile applications, services and over-the-air downloads.”

Infineon will be developing the 32-bit security micro-controller, while Intel will be bringing their “leading-edge flash memory technologies, capabilities and manufacturing” prowess to the table. These types of HD SIM cards should make up 8-10% of the total SIM card market in 2010, so Infineon’s joint venture might just pay off in a couple years.

We’re expecting to see samples of the first HD SIM cards in Q2 of 2008, with mass production slated for the first half of 2009.

[Via: EE Times]