The concept is detailed in a new patent application published this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office entitled "Method and Apparatus for Using a Wireless Communication Device with Multiple Service Providers." Discovered by AppleInsider, the proposed invention would have a set of stores carrier service configuration profiles available on an iPhone.
Apple could help users find the carrier that is best for them by ranking the features and prices of service providers based on personal preferences. For example, some users may be interested primarily in voice plans, while others may need features like unlimited text messaging.
Based on a user's needs, Apple's system could assign a priority ranking to carriers and their respective configuration profiles, allowing users to easily find a plan and provider that are right for them.
Last year, Apple was rumored to be exploring this very concept, as the company was said to be developing a new open SIM standard that would make an iPhone capable of working with multiple carriers. Such a move would allow users to shop for mobile service directly from Apple's handset.
Apple's interest in this outraged some carriers, who felt the method would marginalize their role in courting customers. Carriers in Europe subsequently threatened to cut subsidies for the iPhone if Apple pursued those plans.
The new patent filing would seem to confirm those rumors, detailing how such a concept might work on a so-called "world phone" capable of operating on multiple carriers with an open SIM card standard.
In the document, Apple notes that handset manufacturers must currently ship multiple versions of the same device, with each customized for a particular wireless service provider. Apple would prefer to be able to distribute generic versions of the iPhone throughout the world, compatible with nearly all carriers.
In addition to flexibility for Apple, the concept would also allow greater choice for the consumer. The filing explains that some users may prefer to use the same mobile device at different times with different wireless service providers.
Apple's solution is a "customized user experience" created automatically, with the combination of compatible hardware and software allowing users to seamlessly switch carriers without the need to buy a new phone or obtain a new SIM card.
The proposed invention, made public this week, was first filed in April of 2010. It is credited to Robert Kukuchka, Shuvo Chatterjee, Arun Godfrey Mathias, and Matthew Klahn.
34 Comments
This patent is pointless, it's not a technical constraint that prevents dynamic carrier switching - it's a business constraint.
This patent is pointless, it's not a technical constraint that prevents dynamic carrier switching - it's a business constraint.
When you have the best selling phone in the free world (what, is it only iran, cuba and north Korea in the 'non-free' world), business 'constraints' become 'negotiation points'.
When (not if) you get to 'buy as you go' iPhones (buy the iPhone without subsidies), and you show up in a town, where you don't have coverage (or want to change coverage), this function allows you to 'shop' for a a month to month or a minutes plan on the fly, select, pay apple with your ITMS account, and connect.
Welcome to the future. Carriers become big dumb wireless data pipes. Apple controlling point of sale. Curated telco service. NewSpeak, Soylent Green and all that.
This combined with the ability to have 'soft SIM' cards, will allow you to mix and match your call phone service. For me, having a ATT and an Sprint 'SIM' and the ability to buy minutes when I go visit Mom in the back country, is exactly what I want. And all paid through ITMS.
Brilliant.
This patent is pointless, it's not a technical constraint that prevents dynamic carrier switching - it's a business constraint.
Indeed, yet we can still hope that somehow SJ will pave an agreement here just like he did for digital music not so long ago. This would be so good for the consumer.
When you have the best selling phone in the free world (what, is it only iran, cuba and north Korea in the 'non-free' world), business 'constraints' become 'negotiation points'.
When (not if) you get to 'buy as you go' iPhones (buy the iPhone without subsidies), and you show up in a town, where you don't have coverage (or want to change coverage), this function allows you to 'shop' for a a month to month or a minutes plan on the fly, select, pay apple with your ITMS account, and connect.
Welcome to the future. Carriers become big dumb wireless data pipes. Apple controlling point of sale. Curated telco service. NewSpeak, Soylent Green and all that.
This combined with the ability to have 'soft SIM' cards, will allow you to mix and match your call phone service. For me, having a ATT and an Sprint 'SIM' and the ability to buy minutes when I go visit Mom in the back country, is exactly what I want. And all paid through ITMS.
Brilliant.
I couldn't agree more.
Every time I travel it is a nightmare, and I had to rely on jailbreaks to use plans that were acceptable and not international spine breaking rates. Not to mention that I had to change numbers and several other issues, while spending hours checking which carrier would actually give me what I wanted.
Thumbs up for that to take off!
A universal SIM would be great and hopefully foster more competition between carriers.
I am not sure how that work here since we really only have two carriers. I guess you could leave AT&T for Verizon or vice versa, but given that most people sign up for two-year contracts, how useful would a universal SIM be? On top of that, AT&T charges an obscene amount of money for international roaming, so would a universal SIM allow for a traveler to choose another carrier while traveling overseas?
Frankly, I'd be happy with a more European-like system where we have an option to buy our phones and pick a carrier or even choose with a pay-as-you-go plan.
I love America, but I really hate how the carriers have a stranglehold on wireless customers.