A regular AT&T SIM card (left) and a 4G LTE Micro-SIM (right). Click for larger.
A new batch of Micro-SIMs arrived at AT&T stores and we would normally pass on the news were those normal rather than miniaturized 4G LTE Micro-SIMs. Based on an anonymous tip, Phone Arena notes that AT&T now getting LTE Micro-SIM cards “could be an indication that the next iPhone will finally support 4G LTE connectivity”. If you ask us, those are likely for the Nokia Lumia 900, which hits the AT&T network on March 18.
Granted, it isn’t entirely out of question that AT&T LTE Micro-SIMs are in fact in anticipation of a sixth-generation iPhone, presumably scheduled for an announcement this summer. Apple was the first major handset maker to switch to tiny 3G SIM cards with iPhone 4, a move born out of necessity due to space constraints in the 9.3mm device. The iPhone 4/4S are the only Apple products compatible with the Micro-SIM standard. What about iPad 3, you ask…
We can only speculate at this point, of course. But if iPad 3 is a 4G LTE device, it would make sense to use the smaller Micro-SIM and save some space inside. Why is that important? Because Apple will likely add some extra battery capacity to power the iPad 3′s “truly amazing” Retina Display without sacrificing its legendary ten-hour battery life. A bigger battery will apparently make the next iPad just a tad thicker, so space will definitely be at premium. Don’t forget that the radios for LTE will also add some weight so an LTE Micro-SIM instead of the regular SIM card sounds like a prudent move.
As iPad 3 parts begin floating around, the rumor-mill is calling for an early-March announcement based on a tip by AllThingsD, the blog owned by Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal.
Related articles
- Japan rumor: LTE iPad 3 coming in summer 2012, LTE iPhone 5 in Fall (9to5mac.com)
- What DON’T we know about the next iPad (besides its name)? (9to5mac.com)
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