New Apple Patent Application Describes Virtual SIM Card With NFC Technology

Yesterday US Patent & Trademark Office published (via PatentlyApple) an Apple’s patent application detailing how a future iPhone could use a virtual SIM card which based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

In 2010 it was reported that Apple experimented with virtual SIM cards, which would potentially allow customers to bypass carriers when buying an iPhone and use an App Store app to choose the mobile carrier. Soon after that, reports claimed the company abandoned its plans due to issues with European carriers, which threatened to stop subsidizing iPhone.

Yesterday’s patent application, originally filed in Q4 2010, provide more details on Apple’s plans to include a custom SIM into coming iOS devices. As reported before, the technology would allow Apple to sell the device through its retail stores and cut mobile carriers out of iPhone distribution network. In addition to this benefit, Apple claims that technology would allow to create thinner next-gen iPhone as it would not include SIM card slot.