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    ow a Sim Card work

    A subscrib

    an integrated circuit that securely

    related key used to identify and a

    as mobile phones and computers ).

    A SIM circuit is embedded into a r

    can be transferred between differ

    card standards .[1] SIM cards were

    0.76 mm). The development of ph

    smaller SIM cards where the qua

    A SIM card contains its unique se

    security authentication and cipheri

    a list of the services the user has

    number (PIN) for ordinary use an

    HistoryThe SIM was initially specified by

    specification with the number TS

    behavior of the SIM. With the dev

    ow a Sim Card work

    r identity module or subscriber identification

    stores the international mobile subscriber identity

    thenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devic

    .

    emovable plastic card. This plastic card is called

    nt mobile devices. A SIM card follows certain sm

    first made the same size as a credit card (85.60

    ysically smaller mobile devices prompted the dev

    tity of card surrounding the integrated circuit is re

    ial number ( ICCID ), international mobile subscrib

    ing information, temporary information related to t

    ccess to and two passwords: a personal identific

    a personal unblocking code (PUK) for PIN unloc

    the European Telecommunications Standards Ins

    1.11. This specification describes the physical a

    lopment of UMTS the specification work was par

    module (SIM) is

    (IMSI) and the

    es (such

    "SIM card" and

    art

    m 53.98 mm

    elopment of

    duced.

    er identity (IMSI),

    he local network,

    tion

    king.

    titute in the

    d logical

    tially transferred

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identification_numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_mobile_subscriber_identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICCIDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identification_numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_unblocking_codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Telecommunications_Standards_Institutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identification_numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Telecommunications_Standards_Institutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Telecommunications_Standards_Institutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_unblocking_codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identification_numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identification_numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICCIDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_mobile_subscriber_identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit
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    to 3GPP . 3GPP is now responsibl

    and USIM (TS 31.102) and ETSI f

    The first SIM card was made in 1

    the first 300 SIM cards to the Finn

    Design

    SIM chip structure and packaging

    There are three operating voltage

    and C, respectively). The operatin

    V. SIM cards produced subseque

    V and 1.8 V.

    Modern SIM cards allow applicati

    applications communicate with th

    initially specified by 3GPP in TS 1

    numbering). ETSI and 3GPP mai

    102 223, ETSI TS 102 241, ETSI

    initially written in native code usin

    applications, Java Card was take

    specifications of interest are main

    DataSIM cards store network-specific i

    network. The most important of th

    Identity (LAI) and Operator-Specif

    data such as the SMSC (Short MService Dialing Numbers (SDN),

    applications. (Refer to GSM 11.11

    SIM cards can come in various da

    of 250 contacts to be stored on th

    Codes (MNCs) or "network identifi

    e for the further development of applications like

    or the further development of the physical card UI

    91 by Munich smart-card maker Giesecke & Dev

    ish wireless network operator Radiolinja .[2][3]

    s for SIM cards: 5 V, 3 V and 1.8 V ( ISO/IEC 781

    g voltage of the majority of SIM cards launched b

    tly are compatible with 3 V and 5 V. Modern car

    ns to be loaded when the SIM is in use by the su

    handset or a server using SIM application toolkit

    1.14 (there is an identical ETSI specification with

    tain the SIM specifications; the main specificatio

    S 102 588, and ETSI TS 131 111. SIM toolkit a

    proprietary APIs. In order to allow interoperabilit

    as the solution of choice by ETSI [ Additional stan

    ained by Global Platform.

    nformation used to authenticate and identify subs

    ese are the ICCID, IMSI, Authentication Key ( Ki),

    ic Emergency Number. The SIM also stores othe

    ssage Service Center) number, Service Providerdvice-Of-Charge parameters and Value Added

    .)

    ta capacities, from 32 KB to at least 128 KB. All

    e SIM, but while the 32 KB has room for 33 Mobile

    iers", the 64 KB version has room for 80 MNCs. T

    IM (TS 51.011)

    ICC .

    rient , who sold

    -3 classes A, B

    efore 1998 was 5

    s support 5 V, 3

    bscriber. These

    , which was

    different

    s are: ETSI TS

    plications were

    y of the

    dards and

    cribers on the

    Local Area

    carrier-specific

    Name (SPN),ervice (VAS)

    llow a maximum

    Network

    his is used by

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UICChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giesecke_%26_Devrienthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolinjahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolinjahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_7816http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UICChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giesecke_%26_Devrienthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_7816http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Smartcard_chip_structure_and_packaging_EN.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolinjahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giesecke_%26_Devrienthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UICChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP
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    network operators to store information on preferred networks, mostly used when the SIM is not in its

    home network but is roaming . The network operator that issued the SIM card can use this to have a

    phone connect to a preferred network, in order to make use of the best price and/or quality network

    instead of having to pay the network operator that the phone 'saw' first. This does not mean that a

    phone containing this SIM card can connect to a maximum of only 33 or 80 networks, but it meansthat the SIM card issuer can specify only up to that number of preferred networks; if a SIM is outside

    these preferred networks it will use the first or best available network.

    ICCID

    Each SIM is internationally identified by its integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID). ICCIDs are

    stored in the SIM cards and are also engraved or printed on the SIM card body during a process

    called personalization. The ICCID is defined by the ITU-T recommendation E.118 as the Primary

    Account Number . Its layout is based on ISO/IEC 7812 . According to E.118, the number is up to 22

    digits long, including a single check digit calculated using the Luhn algorithm . However, the GSM

    Phase 1 defined the ICCID length as 10 octets (20 digits) with operator-specific structure.

    The number is composed of the following subparts:

    Issuer identification number (IIN)

    Maximum of seven digits:

    Major industry identifier (MII), 2 fixed digits, 89 for telecommunication purposes.

    Country code , 13 digits, as defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164 .

    Issuer identifier, 14 digits.

    Individual account identification

    Individual account identification number. Its length is variable, but every number under one IIN

    will have the same length.

    Check digit

    Single digit calculated from the other digits using the Luhn algorithm .

    With the GSM Phase 1 specification using 10 octets into which ICCID is stored as packed BCD, the

    data field has room for 20 digits with hexadecimal digit "F" being used as filler when necessary.

    In practice, this means that on GSM SIM cards there are 20-digit (19+1) and 19-digit (18+1) ICCIDs

    in use, depending upon the issuer. However, a single issuer always uses the same size for its

    ICCIDs.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_7812http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhn_algorithmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.164http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhn_algorithmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octet_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octet_(computing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhn_algorithmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.164http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-Thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhn_algorithmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_7812http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming
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    To confuse matters more, SIM factories seem to have varying ways of delivering electronic copies of

    SIM personalization datasets. Some datasets are without the ICCID checksum digit, others are with

    the digit.

    As required by E.118, The ITU regularly publishes a list of all internationally assigned IIN codes in its

    Operational Bulletins. The most recent list, as of November 2013, is in Operational Bulletin No. 1040 .

    International mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)

    SIM cards are identified on their individual operator networks by a unique International Mobile

    Subscriber Identity (IMSI). Mobile network operators connect mobile phone calls and communicate

    with their market SIM cards using their IMSIs. The format is:

    The first three digits represent the Mobile Country Code (MCC).

    The next two or three digits represent the Mobile Network Code (MNC). Three-digit MNC codes

    are allowed by E.212 but are mainly used in the United States and Canada. The next digits represent the Mobile Subscriber Identification Number ( MSIN ). Normally there

    will be 10 digits but would be fewer in the case of a 3-digit MNC or if national regulations indicate

    that the total length of the IMSI should be less than 15 digits.

    Digits are different from country to country.

    Authentication key (K i)

    The Kn i is a 128-bit value used in authenticating the SIMs on the mobile network. Each SIM holds a

    unique K i assigned to it by the operator during the personalization process. The K i is also stored in a

    database (termed authentication center or AuC) on the carrier's network.

    The SIM card is designed not to allow the K i to be obtained using the smart-card interface . Instead,

    the SIM card provides a function, Run GSM Algorithm , that allows the phone to pass data to the SIM

    card to be signed with the K i. This, by design, makes usage of the SIM card mandatory unless the

    Ki can be extracted from the SIM card, or the carrier is willing to reveal the K i. In practice, the GSM

    cryptographic algorithm for computing SRES_2 (see step 4, below) from the K i has certain

    vulnerabilities [6] that can allow the extraction of the K i from a SIM card and the making of a duplicate

    SIM card .

    Authentication process:

    1. When the Mobile Equipment starts up, it obtains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity

    (IMSI) from the SIM card, and passes this to the mobile operator requesting access and

    authentication. The Mobile Equipment may have to pass a PIN to the SIM card before the

    SIM card will reveal this information.

    2. The operator network searches its database for the incoming IMSI and its associated K i.

    http://www.itu.int/pub/T-SP-OB.1040-2013http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Subscriber_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Subscriber_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_network_operatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_network_operatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Country_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Country_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSINhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switching_subsystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(U)SIM_Interfacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_cloninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_cloninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_cloninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_cloninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_modulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(U)SIM_Interfacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switching_subsystemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSINhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Country_Codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_network_operatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Subscriber_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Subscriber_Identityhttp://www.itu.int/pub/T-SP-OB.1040-2013
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    3. The operator network the

    signs it with the K i associ

    number known as Signed

    4. The operator network the

    SIM card. The SIM card sEquipment along with en

    operator network.

    5. The operator network the

    the Mobile Equipment ret

    Mobile Equipment is gran

    further communications b

    Location area identity (L

    The SIM stores network state info

    Operator networks are divided int

    SIM and sends it back to the oper

    will take data off the SIM, and sea

    generates a Random Number (RAND, which is

    ted with the IMSI (and stored on the SIM card), c

    Response 1 (SRES_1).

    sends the RAND to the Mobile Equipment, whic

    igns it with its K i, producing SRES_2, which it givryption key K c. The Mobile Equipment passes SR

    compares its computed SRES_1 with the compu

    rned. If the two numbers match, the SIM is auth

    ted access to the operator's network. K c is used t

    etween the Mobile Equipment and the network.

    AI)

    rmation, which is received from the Location Area

    Location Areas, each having a unique LAI num

    When the device changes locations, it stores the

    ator network with its new location. If the device is

    rch for the prior LAI.

    nonce ) and

    omputing another

    passes it to the

    s to the MobileES_2 on to the

    ted SRES_2 that

    nticated and the

    encrypt all

    Identity (LAI).

    er.

    new LAI to the

    power cycled, it

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_Area_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_noncehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_Area_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Location_Area_Identityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_nonce
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    SMS messages and co

    of SMS messages and phone boo

    pairs: entries containing multiple

    stored on the SIM card. When a u

    break them up into multiple entrie

    number of contacts and message

    five messages and 20 contacts w

    Formats [edit ]

    Full-size SIM (1FF), mini-SIM (2FF), mi

    tacts

    Most SIM cards will orthogonally

    k contacts. The contacts are stored in simple "na

    hone numbers and additional phone numbers wil

    ser tries to copy such entries to a SIM the hands

    , discarding any information that is not a phone n

    stored depends on the SIM; early models would

    ile modern SIM cards can usually store over 250

    cro-SIM (3FF) and nano-SIM (4FF)

    store a number

    e and number"

    l usually not be

    t's software will

    umber. The

    store as few as

    contacts

    http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subscriber_identity_module&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GSM_SIM_card_evolution.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subscriber_identity_module&action=edit&section=9
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    Micro-SIM (from bottom) with mini-SIM and full SIM brackets from Telia in Sweden

    The memory film from a micro SIM card without the plastic backing plate, next to a US dime , which is approx. 18 mm

    in diameter.

    Embedded SIM from M2M supplier Eseye with an adapter board for evaluation in a Mini-SIM socket

    SIM cards have been made smaller over the years; functionality is independent of format. Full-size

    SIMs were followed by mini-SIMs, micro-SIMs, and nano-SIMs. SIMs are also made to be

    embedded in devices.

    SIM card sizes

    SIM card Introduced Standard referenceLength

    (mm)

    Width

    (mm)

    Thickness

    (mm)

    Volume

    (mm 3)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_(United_States_coin)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_(United_States_coin)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dime_(United_States_coin)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disassembled_SIM_Card_Film.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Telia_micro_SIM_with_brackets.jpg
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    Full-size

    (1FF)1991

    ISO/I

    1

    Mini-SIM

    (2FF)circa 1996

    ISO/I

    000

    Micro-SIM

    (3FF)2003

    ETSI

    V9.0.

    Nano-SIM

    (4FF)early 2012

    ETSI

    V11.0.

    Embedded-

    SIM

    JEDE

    4.8, S

    Full-size SIM

    The full-size SIM

    the size of a credit card (85.60 m

    Mini-SIM

    The mini-SIM (or 2FF) card has th

    normally supplied within a full-siz

    arrangement (defined in ISO/IECrequiring a full-size card, or in a d

    C 7810 :2003, ID-85.60 53.98

    C 7810:2003, ID-25.00 15.00

    S 102 221

    , Mini-UICC15.00 12.00

    S 102 221

    .012.30 8.80

    Design Guide

    N-86.00 5.00

    (or 1FF, 1st form factor) was the first form factor t

    53.98 mm 0.76 mm).

    e same contact arrangement as the full-size SIM

    card carrier, attached by a number of linking pie

    7810 as ID-1/000 ) allows such a card to be used ivice requiring a mini-SIM card after breaking the

    0.76 3511.72

    0.76 285.00

    0.76 136.80

    0.67 72.52

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    the previous format to the contact area while maintaining the existing contact arrangements. A

    small rim of isolating material is left around the contact area to avoid short circuits with the

    socket. The 0.67 mm thickness of the NANOSIM is about 12% less than the 0.76 mm of its

    predecessor. 4FF can be put into adapters for use with devices taking 2FF or 3FF

    SIMs. The iPhone 5 , released in September 2012, was the first device to use a nano-SIM card.Embedded-SIM / Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card(eUICC)

    SIMs for M2M applications are available in a surface mount SON-8

    package which may be soldered directly onto a circuit board.

    The surface mount format provides the same electrical interface as the full size, 2FF and 3FF

    SIM cards, but is soldered to the circuit board as part of the manufacturing process.

    In M2M applications where there is no requirement to change the SIM card, this avoids the

    requirement for a connector, improving reliability and security. GSMA has been discussing thepossibilities of a software based SIM card since 2010. [14] While Motorola noted that eUICC is

    geared at industrial devices, Apple "disagreed that there is any statement forbidding the use of

    an embedded UICC in a consumer product." in 2012, [15] The European Commission has selected

    the Embedded UICC format for its in-vehicle emergency call service know as eCall . All new car

    models in the EU will need to have one by 2015 to instantly connect the car to the emergency

    services in case of an accident. In Russia there is a similar plan with the ERA GLONASS

    regional satellite positioning system and in Brazil with the SIMRAV anti-theft system. [16]

    SecurityIn July 2013, it was revealed that Karsten Nohl, a cryptographer and

    security researcher from SR Labs had discovered vulnerabilities in some SIM cards that enabled

    them to be hacked to provide root access . The cards affected use the Data Encryption

    Standard (DES) which, despite its age, is still used by some operators. [19] Cards using the more

    recent Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or Triple DES standards are not affected. [19] Among

    other risks, the hack could lead to the phone being remotely cloned or allow payment credentials

    from the SIM to be stolen. [19] Further details of the research were to be given at BlackHat on July

    31, 2013.

    In response, the International Telecommunication Union said that the development was "hugely

    significant" and that it would be contacting its members.

    DevelopmentsWhen GSM was already in use, the specifications were further developed and enhanced with

    functionality l ike SMS , GPRS , etc. These development steps are referred as releases by ETSI.

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    Within these development cycles, the SIM specification was enhanced as well: new voltage

    classes, formats and files were introduced. In GSM-only times, the SIM consisted of the

    hardware and the software. With the advent of UMTS this naming was split: the SIM was now an

    application and hence only software. The hardware part was called UICC. This split was

    necessary because UMTS introduced a new application, the Universal Subscriber IdentityModule (USIM). The USIM brought, among other things, security improvements like the mutual

    authentication and longer encryption keys and an improved address book.

    "SIM cards" in developed countries are today usually UICCs containing at least a SIM and a

    USIM application. This configuration is necessary because older GSM only handsets are solely

    compatible with the SIM [application] and some UMTS security enhancements do rely on the

    USIM [application].

    The equivalent of SIM on CDMA networks is the R-UIM (and the equivalent of USIM is CSIM ).

    A virtual SIM is a mobile phone number provided by a mobile network operator that does notrequire a SIM card to connect phone calls to a user's mobile phone.

    Usage in mobile phone standardsThe use of SIM cards is mandatory in GSM devices.

    The satellite

    phone networks Iridium , Thuraya and Inmarsat 's BGAN also use SIM cards. Sometimes, these

    SIM cards work in regular GSM phones and also allow GSM customers to roam in satellite

    networks by using their own SIM card in a satellite phone.

    Japan's 2G PDC system (which was shut down in 2012; SoftBank Mobile has already shut down

    PDC from March 31, 2010) also specifies a SIM, but this has never been implemented

    commercially. The specification of the interface between the Mobile Equipment and the SIM is

    given in the RCR STD-27 annex 4. The Subscriber Identity Module Expert Group was a

    committee of specialists assembled by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute

    (ETSI) to draw up the specifications ( GSM 11.11) for interfacing between smart cards and

    mobile telephones. In 1994, the name SIMEG was changed to SMG9.

    Japan's current and next generation cellular systems are based on W-CDMA

    (UMTS) and CDMA2000 and all use SIM cards. However, Japanese CDMA2000-based phonesare locked to the R-UIM they are associated with and thus, the cards are not interchangeable

    with other Japanese CDMA2000 handsets (though they may be inserted into GSM/WCDMA

    handsets for roaming purposes outside Japan).

    CDMA -based devices originally did not use a removable card, and the service for these phones

    bound to a unique identifier contained in the handset itself. This is most prevalent in operators in

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    the Americas. The first publication of the TIA-820 standard (also known as 3GPP2 C.S0023) in

    2000 defined the Removable User Identity Module ( R-UIM). Card-based CDMA devices are

    most prevalent in Asia.

    The equivalent of a SIM in UMTS is called the Universal Integrated Circuit Card ( UICC ), which

    runs a USIM application. The UICC is still colloquially called a SIM card

    SIM and carriersThe SIM card introduced a new and significant business opportunity for MVNOs mobile virtual

    network operators who lease capacity from one of the network operators rather than owning

    or operating a cellular telecoms network, and only provide a SIM card to their customers.

    MVNOs first appeared in Denmark, Hong Kong, Finland and the UK. Today they exist in over 50

    countries, including most of Europe, United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and parts of Asia,

    and account for approximately 10% of all mobile phone subscribers around the world.

    On some networks, the mobile phone is locked to its carrier SIM card , meaning that the phone

    only works with SIM cards from the specific carrier. This is more common in markets where

    mobile phones are heavily subsidized by the carriers, and the business model depends on the

    customer staying with the service provider for a minimum term (typically 12 or 24 months). SIM

    cards that are issued by providers with an associated contract are called Sim only deals.

    Common examples are the GSM networks in the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK and

    Poland. Many businesses offer the ability to remove the SIM lock from a phone, effectively

    making it possible to then use the phone on any network by inserting a different SIM card.

    Mostly, GSM and 3G mobile handsets can easily be unlocked and used on any suitable networkwith any SIM card.

    In countries where the phones are not subsidised, e.g. , India, Israel and Belgium, all phones are

    unlocked. Where the phone is not locked to its SIM card, the users can easily switch networks

    by simply replacing the SIM card of one network with that of another while using only one phone.

    This is typical, for example, among users who may want to optimise their carrier's traffic by

    different tariffs to different friends on different networks, or when traveling internationally