Some major mobile operators in Europe threatens American companies Apple sanctions if a company implements technological innovation and starts selling its mobile devices iPhone prowith a built-in SIM card. Although the operators do not officially admit this, according to the Fin serverancial Times (FT) are discussing this. They are said to be considering that the devices iPhone they would no longer have to subsidize. The GSMA association is also considering a proposal to introduce a new SIM card.
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Interesting. In the competition they write how operators agree on the use and approved it as a "standard". And here they write about lawsuits. Hmmm, take your pick.
It's nothing unusual, our first mobile network had it that way (NMT). And GSM networks had SIM cards. In some countries it's still like that today, typically prepaid phones.
I admit that I didn't click on the link. It's nicely explained there.