Rumours have been circulating for a while now as it seems the time has come to say goodbye to the physical SIM card, the one you have in your mobile phone right now. The end of the SIM card is for many the prelude to a true revolution in the mobile phone sector. Will that be the case? For now, let’s have a look at what the disappearance of the SIM card from our lives means.

The SIM card, the removable heart or brain of our mobile phones, has many characteristics, but, essentially, it is for securely storing a code which identifies us with our operator. In other words, it is our link to our operators.

There is talk of its days being numbered and imminent arrivals, but when is it actually going to disappear?

Well, that is going happen at the end of the summer. However, it appears that the change is to be made in two stages. The first, almost immediate, stage will affect all kinds of devices that can be connected to mobile networks, such as smart watches, cars or other devices that meet this requirement, except for smartphones. The second stage will cover mobile phone terminals and is supposed to get under way after the summer.

Mind you, it appears that the pace is to be set by you, the user. If you stick with your current mobile phone and until you change your terminal, you will not be moving onto the new virtual format.

And the official announcement? Well, everything seems to indicate that it will be at the Mobile World Congress, which will be held from 22 to 25 February in Barcelona. GSMA, the association made up of manufacturers and operators will officially announce the technical specifications for implementing this technology at the congress.

How does it affect you?

The quick answer is, not at all, for the time being of course. If you have just bought a mobile phone or are thinking of buying one in the near future, don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything. Your mobile phone will go on working with technology that will quickly become obsolete. On the other hand, if you buy a new terminal when the virtual SIM is functional, the new chip will be pre-installed in your electronic device.

What is going to replace the SIM card?

A virtual SIM card, also known as an eSIM will be launched to replace the SIM card. In other words, there will be a pre-installed fixed chip in the mobile device.

Among others, the expected benefits of this change are: express portability, cheaper roaming services and the need for telephone stores to adapt. The following is a list of the main advantages. We shall see the others according as they are implemented.

You will be able to appreciate the first advantage when you need to change your mobile phone operator. Currently, you need to wait a few days in order to move between operators, often with some unforeseen consequences and, possibly, a new SIM card. With the new “virtual card”, the change will be made immediately, as all your information will be in the “fixed chip” and no duplicates or extra expense will be required.

Another advantage is that you will no longer be so dependent on mobile phone operators. According to ‘Expansión’, the virtual SIM will allow you to store several operator profiles, while only one of them is active, which would make the task of changing operator a lot easier.

There would be another major impact on roaming costs. The explanation is simple: if the customer has the profiles of different operators in their smartphone or device, they will be able to change company when they travel and always avail of a local operator’s tariff. The truth is it’s about time, isn’t it?

We will also see changes in the telephone sector. The operators themselves have confirmed that most customers use the store for making changes to their cards, or requesting a duplicate or for modifying the size of the card to a Nano SIM or for changing operators.

Once the SIM gone, we will not need to use the store so regularly. This will inevitably effect the number of stores and employees. It will, however, lead to the appearance of a new professional profile: a more qualified employee who is a proper specialist and capable of helping the user with the new system.

We live connected

With the so-called Internet of Things, more and more devices are connected to the internet. A connectivity applied to daily objects, from electrical appliances to actual clothing. The problem resides in the smartphones themselves which are unable to get on board because their SIM cards are an obstacle. Having said that, changes seem obvious and necessary.

Time will tell if the change is for the better but, until then, and for the time being, our Nano and micro SIM to standard SIM adapter is at your service. It’s sure to help you solve many problems at least until the new eSIM era is here.

What do you think? How do you think leaving the SIM card behind will affect us?