[indecisive]

I'm thinking of getting a new prepaid card recently, and am having a trouble deciding between the usual mini-SIM and micro-SIM, both offered by my telco.

For prepaid users, we don't really visit the telcos to recontract every 1 or 2 years and get a new SIM that fits a new phone that comes along with it. So having a SIM of a common size will provide the greatest choice of handsets available.

I hope handset manufacturers like Nokia can confirm the standard universal SIM for the long term like 5 to 10 years, clarify and lay down their roadmaps. No one wants to be caught in a position with a SIM card with little or no handset in the market having a slot for it.

For the past 20 years, life has been peaceful for mobile subscribers, telcos and handset makers using mini SIM until the emergence of Apple, that changes the SIM for every new phone model it releases. So much trouble, risks and costs for everyone involved in trying to replace, trim, and purchase SIM card adapters that may damage their phones.

If we get Android phone makers and Windows phone makers specifying and designing their own slots, we have 3 kinds of SIM, one for each OS: iOS, Android and Windows. Worse still if every handset makers decide to do things their way, it's the worst nightmare scenario.

Just wondering would the Asha phones and low end / budget / entry level phones for developing countries still stick with mini-SIM for the next 5 years, or on the verge of switching to micro-SIM now?

So should I get a micro-SIM today for future compatibility or stick with mini-SIM?

Will Nokia be terminating or limiting manufacturing of mini-SIM phone models within 2 years?

Not even thinking about nano-SIM now since Nokia, RIM and Apple are still squabbling over it.

[farby]

Being a Post paid user on Vodafone (without contract) I got my regular SIM that I was using on my Nokia 5800xm replaced by a Micro SIM to be used on my Nokia Lumia 920. Then got a Micro SIM adaptor so that in case of any evantuality of using my Nokia 5800xm again the same Micro SIM can be used. 

Be warned that onsome models using an adaptor may damage the SIM holder / contact pins ..so confirm before using if you wish to do it.

AFAIK, more and more devices will use the Micro SIM in the future ..

[adrianhughes]

Further to Farb's advice, also check websites such as AllAboutSymbian.com who have had detailed articles on microSIM adapters and the pitfalls of using them in devices that use the older miniSIM cards. I made the fatal mistake and got a microSIM in an adapter stuck in the click mechanism of my N8 and had to get the phone replaced at a Nokia Care point. I would proceed carefully.

microSIM has seen adoption through the high-end models, and through some of the middle class now, but has yet to see any, or penetrating share in the lower devices, so it will be a number of years yet before it is in low-end Asha devices etc. NanoSIM is only used by Apple so that will be ages before that filters its way through the ranks.

[indecisive]

Thanks adrianhughes for your reply.

Just to further add, again, it would still be best if handset makers can decide and clarify their stance and make it official and definite. At least with regard to the timeline when they intend to phase out handsets using certain SIM (if at all), and how much support they intend to commit to the various SIM. For example, does Nokia intends to commit to mini-SIM for low end Asha devices for the next 5 years, and micro-SIM for high-end Lumia devices for the next 5 years?

Otherwise, users like us will just keep on guessing and speculating with regard to forward or backward compatibility for current and future phones.

[adrianhughes]

It would be nice if they did clarify but I think there is not enough demand of the everyday common-man to desire that type of information. I personally don't find the change from miniSIM to microSIM that taxing, I can simply go into my nearest network carrier's store and come out with a microSIM card in less than two minutes. But I can also understand your point of view, and I suppose that things such as this will become more and more important in future as a particular type of SIM card is phased out.

[aspergerguy]

Ironically one make of precision Microsim adapter Visionair no longer seems readily available, although would not use in either N8-00 or E7-00. With one of these I use microSIM in a variety of Nokia devices requiring miniSIM as it snaps easily in or out of adapter for use in a number of Lumia devices + 808.