USB Approved As High-Speed SIM Standard

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The European Telecommunications Standards Institute has finally approved the adoption of USB technology as a standard for a high-speed SIM card after nearly a year of debate.

The standard could eventually lead to rollouts of SIMs supporting Internet and other multimedia applications. It was approved by the smart card committee of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute with more than 76% of the vote. The adoption of USB was opposed by mobile phone makers who considered the technology too costly and complex.

USB “Inter-Chip,” which is similar to the technology used on PCs, was supported by all of Europe’s major mobile network operators, including Orange and Telecom Italia Mobile, which backed USB in the second round of voting.

The new technology will provide a fast interface between handsets and SIM cards. At present, SIMs and handsets communicate at relatively slow speeds as the communication link is still based on smart card technology introduced 20 years ago. With USB, cards and phones would transfer data at up to 12 megabits per second. This would allow downloads of data such as picture phonebooks and links between SIMs and PCs. It will eventually enable convergence between handsets, PCs and other devices using the SIM as a focal point.

USB will also leave one electrical contact free on a standard SIM chip, which could connect to an NFC chip for contactless mobile payment and ticketing.

It is expected that USB could take between 18 months and two years to reach the market because handsets will require new chipsets to support a USB-based SIM.