In October of 2014, Apple showcased the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, and the cellular-connected models featured a brand new “Apple SIM” inside.
With the Apple SIM, it allowed owners of the aforementioned iPad models to switch, somewhat effortlessly, between three different cell carriers whenever they wanted/needed to. While some carriers didn’t necessarily appeal to that plan right out of the gate, the idea is a good one, and so rumors that the next iPhone would boast the same SIM technology quickly flourished.
Now, a new report has come to light that reaffirms that suspicion, but it may come to light in a different fashion. The report, published by the Financial Times, indicates that Apple has joined in talks with other companies, including Samsung, with cellular carriers to bring to light what’s being called an “e-SIM.” This e-SIM is an embedded piece of technology that’s inaccessible by the user, and would serve as simply a means of information for carriers to access, much in the same way current SIM cards work. However, the main goal is to allow owners to switch between carriers far easier than it is now, but carriers would obviously have their own rules for that type of activity.
The main takeaway from this, as it stands right now, is that both Apple and Samsung are taking part in these talks, which means two of the biggest companies in the mobile industry are apparently vying to get this technology mainstream at some point in the future. If that is indeed the case, it would be hard to argue that an e-SIM is in the mobile industry’s future.
As far as mobile carriers that are taking part in the talks go, they include AT&T, Vodafone, Telefónica, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Deutsche Telekom (parent company of T-Mobile USA), and others. This is clearly a global effort. As such, the report indicates that the goal at this point is to get the technology launched in 2016, with a chance that it could indeed appear in the next iPhone.

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