What is Nano-SIM? Nano sim and micro sim, differences you should know. How to make a nano-sim from a micro-sim? What are the differences between modern SIM cards?
Apple, famous for its innovation, continues to introduce new technologies into its devices. Let it go new iPhone Analysts greeted it rather coolly; meanwhile, fans of the brand lined up ready to purchase the desired smartphone.
The iPhone 5 was not greeted as a revolutionary device, but rather as an evolution. Bloggers and all sorts of experts did not see anything fundamentally new in it, only improvements. The biggest hit was the display, whose aspect ratio change caused a whole wave of sarcastic humor.
However, there is one innovation in the iPhone 5 that will create some inconvenience for its new owners - this new standard SIM cards named nano-SIM. Previously, users encountered a similar problem when the iPhone 4 went on sale, which worked with a micro-SIM. Fortunately, the problem was solved with a sharp utility knife in capable hands in the presence of . In the case of nano-SIM, the situation is somewhat different - cutting off the plastic edges will not help, you need to change the SIM card.
Evolution of SIM cards
Cellular communications in the form in which we are accustomed to seeing it originated in the late 80s of the twentieth century, when the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute adopted GSM standard. Cellular networks, built on this standard, can be safely considered outdated, but due to their availability they are still widely used.
At the same time, few people remember that the first SIM cards for cell phones had quite large dimensions: 86×54×0.84 mm, that is, they were identical credit cards. For obvious reasons, they are not used these days.
Large and clumsy subscriber cards have been replaced by mini-SIM cards with dimensions of 25x15x0.76 mm. This standard is still relevant today. Devices supporting mini-SIM are manufactured in large quantities, Besides this format SIM cards are widely used not only in GSM networks, but also others: such as UMTS or CDMA.
The next step in the development of SIM cards was micro-SIM cards, which received dimensions of 15x12x0.76 mm. The owners had to get a new SIM card top smartphones, such as iPhone 4/4S, Samsung Galaxy S II, Nokia N9 and many others. Micro-SIM cards have not supplanted Mini-SIM and are still used in relatively little large quantities devices.
The first company to use nano-SIM in its devices was American Apple, although developments to create this SIM card were carried out in parallel by other manufacturers.
There are currently three known versions of these maps:
- Nano-SIM proposed by RIM with dimensions 11x9 mm;
- Nano-SIM from Nokia company with dimensions 10×8 mm;
- Nano-SIM from the American company Apple (12x9 mm).
It is worth noting that nano-SIM variants from RIM and Nokia had one common feature- they looked like microSD cards. The Californian version is more similar to a traditional SIM card, it only has almost no plastic edges on the sides.
Ultimately, nano-SIM, proposed by Apple, won, being recognized as more practical in production. Despite the obvious similarity of the new standard with the old ones, nano-SIM will not be compatible with them. The pruning method that has become familiar will not help, so owners iPhone smartphones 5 you will have to order a new card. Leading companies cellular communication have already started production of nano-SIM.
The new iPhone brought not only improvements, but also some inconveniences for its owners. Ordering a nano-SIM is required and turn old map you won't be able to get into it. Naturally, this will not stop ardent fans of the brand, but for those who remain neutral, this circumstance may make them think once again about buying a new smartphone from Apple. Although self-respecting operators should exchange cards of the old standard for a new one free of charge, while maintaining the subscriber number.
SIM stands for "identification module") contains a lot of important data that is necessary to connect to the signal. At the same time, it limits the phone to a specific carrier or region.
The main task of a SIM card is to save account information, which allows the user to easily and simply change without changing their account. You just need to move the SIM card to . To perform this task, the SIM card is equipped with a microprocessor with software and data with card identification keys.
In addition, SIM cards can store Additional information– list of user contacts, list of phone calls, text of SMS messages. Although in modern phones Such data is recorded in the memory of the phone itself, and not on the SIM card.
Mini SIM card
Few of them modern users I found a “big SIM”, which was used in the first cell phones and was similar in size to a credit card. After all, today a mini SIM card is installed almost everywhere, most often referred to simply as SIM-. It has dimensions 25x15x0.76. This standard card can store up to 250 contacts, as well as information related to cellular operators.
Micro SIM and Nano SIM cards
The Micro SIM card has an even smaller size - 15x12x0.76. This standard was proposed by Apple and today is used in 4, 4S and all generations. Its main difference is that a significant part of the space around the perimeter of the card was removed from it and only a contact chip was left for connecting to. If you need a Micro SIM card instead of a SIM card, you can purchase a special adapter that allows you to use it in standard card smaller size. At the same time, a Mini SIM card can be easily cut and turned into a Micro SIM, since the built-in functionality of both cards is the same.
With the advent of Micro SIM, it seemed that it would be used in iPhones or iPads for a long time. But when developing the new 5, the developers managed to reduce the size of the card even more and create a Nano SIM card. At first glance, the size of the new generation card has not changed much (9x12), but it has become lighter and almost twice as thin. Thickness Nano SIM cards also became 15% less than that of previous SIM cards. So cut it off regular card under Nano SIM it is now very problematic.
SIM card (eng. subscriber identification module - subscriber identification module) - subscriber identification module used in mobile communications.
With the development of technology in mobile industry and the growing requirements for cell phones, there is a need to create new formats of SIM cards for phones.
This is due to the fact that the hardware today's phone is becoming more and more complex, and the dimensions modern smartphones are getting smaller. Thus, manufacturers have to save as much space as possible when developing new phone models.
The picture clearly shows the differences different types sim cards. the biggest - full size sim(86.60x53.98x0.76). few people caught " big SIM card", such SIM cards appeared in 1991 and were used at the beginning of the development of cell phones. Most people are used to the next largest SIM card mini-sim(25x15x0.76), such a card appeared in 1996 and is installed in almost all GSM phones. next in size is micro-sim(15x12x0.76), 2003, this standard was introduced and is used in smartphones 4, 4s, as well as all the first iPad generations. the smallest card - nano-sim(12.30x8.80x0.67), this standard also introduced in October 2012 and used in phones starting with Smartphone 5 and ipad tablets mini.
Options for the next generation of SIM cards (5ff) are being developed, which probably will not be replaceable.
How to cut a SIM card for micro sim?
Having purchased new phone or tablet (for example, htc, smartphone or ipad), you may find that the standard SIM card does not fit it and in order to continue using your usual SIM card after purchasing a new device, you need to cut it off. The main chip remains in place, only the size of the plastic base is reduced. Make micro sim from regular SIM card at home it’s not difficult, you only need sharp nail scissors, a sharpened pencil, a ruler, sandpaper(or a nail file) and a little patience.
As mentioned above, a regular SIM card is a plastic rectangle with a chip with parameters of 25x15 mm. The dimensions of the micro SIM card must be 15x12 mm. Trim regular SIM card before the right size can be done as follows:
This method is also suitable if you need to cut microsim to nanosim.
If the SIM card after resizing is larger than necessary, this can always be corrected; if the size is significantly smaller, the SIM card will become impossible to use and you will have to change it to a new one.
The opposite situation is also possible - using a micro SIM card in devices with standard slots. To do this, you will need a special adapter for micro SIM cards, which can be purchased at any communication store. this way, your micro SIM card will become universal for most devices.
Do you want to use several SIM cards in your phone at once? Then buy yourself with cash on delivery.
Experienced consultants at communication stores still remember the time when customers were perplexed by the fact that there were no SIM cards. standard size. Nowadays, having several types of SIM cards is commonplace. Manufacturers are giving preference to increasingly smaller cards, because this saves space inside the device body. Standard-sized SIM cards, bulky by modern standards, are about to “sink into oblivion.”
In this article we will tell you about all types of SIM and teach you how to turn a large card into a small one.
In terms of size, SIM cards are classified into 3 types:
Mini-SIM
Mini-SIM– this is the “scientific” name for a standard SIM card. Its dimensions are 25x15 millimeters.
If the phone was released before 2011 (inclusive), you can be sure that exactly what is inserted into it Mini-SIM. For modern smartphones, such a card is too large, but this does not mean at all that Mini-SIM– anachronism. Standard SIM cards are used in simple dialers, in phones with big buttons for the elderly, in secure phones for fishing enthusiasts and factory workers. The listed devices cannot boast of an abundance of functions, so there is plenty of space inside their cases - in some models, manufacturers even allow you to install 3-4 Mini-SIM.
Micro-SIM
First card Micro-SIM began to use Apple company– in iPhone 4 devices. Dimensions Micro-SIM– 15x12 millimeters.
Nowadays, the vast majority of smartphones are installed with Micro-SIM. The “baton” was taken over from Apple by Nokia, which equipped its Lumia devices with slots for Micro, followed by HTC, Samsung, and BlackBerry.
Nano-SIM
Nano-SIM– the newest and smallest card for the phone. Its dimensions are only 12x5 millimeters. Visually, the card is a chip with a minimum of plastic edging.
Apple is again the innovator. Exactly Nano-SIM users had to insert the 5th modification into the iPhone. Later, devices with Nano-SIM slots began to be produced by others. famous manufacturers- For example, Samsung And Meizu.
Understand the differences three types The following illustration will help you separate SIM cards from each other:
How to change the SIM card size for your phone?
The most obvious way to change the SIM card size is replace it in the operator's cabin. This procedure is completely free, takes only a couple of minutes, and the phone number does not change afterwards. However, this method still has a number of disadvantages:
- On new SIM card there will be no numbers saved in the old memory. Certainly, similar problem easy to solve: in the article “How to transfer contacts from iPhone to computer” we talk about several export methods at once telephone numbers. But, alas, many users consider their time too valuable to spend it on mastering third party software and methods for creating backup copies.
- You have the right to replace your SIM card in the office only its designer and only according to the passport. If the card was given to the user, for example, by his parents, he himself will not be able to replace it. Sometimes this becomes a real problem.
If a consultant changes a SIM card to a person who is not its issuer, this is fraud! For such an operation, the consultant will, at a minimum, be deprived of his bonus, and at maximum, he will be fired in disgrace. Therefore, demanding to “make an exception” is meaningless; no one wants to find themselves unemployed with unflattering wording in their work book.
There are several ways to change the dimensions of a SIM card without resorting to replacement. For example, a user can purchase adapter(aka - adapter). The adapters look like this:
Order adapters for SIM is better on Chinese sites - there they cost a mere trifle. For example, a set of adapters from Noosy along with a needle for iPhone will cost only 17 rubles. When purchasing in a salon, the user may be charged up to 250 rubles - the difference is more than noticeable!
The set usually includes adapters of 3 types: Nano-SIM to SIM, Micro-SIM to SIM And Nano-SIM to Micro-SIM. Since SIM cards of reduced sizes continue to be associated with Apple, manufacturers do not forget to include needles in the kits to remove the SIM card slot. Adapters are easy to use: a small SIM card is inserted into a suitable adapter, then the adapter itself with the card inside is placed in the slot of the mobile device.
Adapters help when you need to increase the size of a SIM card, but what should the user do if, on the contrary, the card needs to be reduced? About what might happen similar need, the owner of the gadget should think about it even at the stage of purchasing a SIM card - and insist on issuing him the so-called Combi-SIM. Combi-SIM is a standard-sized card from which you can make a micro-SIM card in a split second.
Inside a SIM card, standard in size, Micro-Sim is already cut along the contour, so it is easy for the user to press with a finger and break off a piece of plastic.
There is no need to rush to throw away the frame– she is still capable of doing a good service. If it becomes necessary to reinsert the card into the slot under Mini-SIM the frame can be used as an adapter.
Usage Combi-SIM- one of the ways to change the size of the SIM card downwards. Cards Combi provided to mobile users for free- of course, if they are available in the operator’s office.
If the user is already the owner of a standard SIM card and wants to turn it into Micro, without losing contacts, he has no other choice but to cut the SIM card. Pruning is usually done using special device which is called stapler for Sim(aka - Sim cutter, it’s the same - Sim-Cutter).
Make from a standard card Micro-SIM If you have such a stapler, it’s a second procedure. However, expect that the sales office or workshop will carry out this procedure for free, not worth it. The salon employees will demand 149 rubles for trimming and will even knock out a check for providing a paid service. Repair shops will also ask for money, or even send the user to deal with the operator.
Cutting a SIM card is associated with some risk - if the person performing the procedure is in a hurry or is inattentive, he will damage the chip and, as a result, the SIM card will not function. Hence the high cost of pruning services - no one wants to take risks “for nothing.”
How to cut a SIM card with your own hands?
Not all cellular communication stores have SIM staplers - some consultants continue to cut cards with their own hands and with ordinary scissors. The reader may be surprised to learn that no one trains consultants to do this. They hone this skill on their own, and many are able to successfully cut a SIM card the first time.
No wonder - in fact, the procedure is extremely primitive! Usually the main difficulty is finding a template. Consultants usually have their whole table covered with SIM cards. various sizes, working and having served their time - they use them as models. The average user can only dream of such abundance - however, if he still managed to borrow a SIM card of the required size to serve as a template, he can safely try trimming with his own hands. If not, he should resort to using a printer and a template print(here is the relevant link).
To cut a SIM card, you don’t need felt-tip pens, rulers or pencils - if you follow these instructions:
- Take the large SIM in your hand with the chip facing up.
- Place the sample card on top so that it completely covers the chip, press it tightly with your thumb and do not let go. If desired, the template can be attached to a large SIM using double-sided tape, but experts do not recommend doing this - you can damage the chip.
- Carefully trim the sides of the plastic. Try not to have too much, otherwise the SIM card in the slot will “dangle” and the signal will be lost.
- Cut the card according to the template across. Here you can act less scrupulously; The main thing is not to touch the chip.
- Remove the corner and round the edges a little - otherwise the SIM card will not fit into the slot.
Next, put the template aside and try to install the cut card into the phone to check its functionality. If the SIM card does not fit into the slot, carefully trim the plastic and try again. If the card slot is just the right size and can be read by the phone, rejoice - you just cut a SIM card with your own hands!
note that not just any card can be “cut” to the desired size. Easiest to redo Mini-SIM V Micro SIM – Such pruning should not cause any difficulties for the user at all. Trim under Nano-SIM always more difficult; plastic around the chip on the card Nano almost none, so the risk of snagging the chip with the blades of the scissors is quite high.
Old-style SIM cards with large chips are still in use:
Cutting such SIMs is a real nightmare! With some luck, from such a card you can make Micro-SIM, but turn it into Nano It definitely won't work.
Conclusion
The fact that smartphone manufacturers have begun to produce gadgets that support SIM cards different types, salon sellers have become quite rich. Of course, not all paid services pass through the cash register - in many cases, the money for trimming is sent to the consultants' pockets. Cutting SIM cards for sellers is a “bread and butter” business, which means free there is no need to count on help from consultants.
Therefore, a user who does not want to “feed” salon employees is better off mastering pruning skills himself. This procedure is quite simple and does not require “surgical precision”.
Immediately after purchase new SIM card there is a need to activate it. Usually, the subscriber does not have to puzzle himself with this question, since the activation of the number is carried out by a sales consultant. However, this does not always happen, so many subscribers often think about how to activate a SIM card for Megafon, MTS, Beeline, etc.
This article will provide detailed instructions for subscribers of the Megafon operator. There are several activation methods new SIM card and within the framework of this publication, the Internet assistant will introduce you to the most relevant ones today.
- Attention
If you are interested in how to activate a Megafon SIM card after blocking, we recommend that you immediately proceed to reading the article “”. Here you will also find instructions relevant for new SIM cards.
How to activate a Megafon SIM card from a phone, tablet or modem
Megafon's services are used by owners of phones, tablets and USB modems. Therefore, it is advisable to consider ways to activate a Megafon SIM card from a phone, tablet or modem. In principle, the methods for activating a number do not imply significant differences depending on the device used, however, there are still some differences, so we recommend using the instructions that are relevant to you. Also you can just paste new sim card into the phone, activate it, and then place it, for example, in the modem. Which option to choose is up to you, but we will consider them all in detail.
- Attention
In most cases, SIM card activation occurs automatically, immediately after the first call or access to the Internet (relevant for a modem). If this does not happen, use one of the methods below.
Activating a Megafon SIM card from your phone
Most often, the need to activate a megaphone SIM card arises among phone owners, so you should start with the methods that are relevant for of this device. Before activating a Megafon SIM card using one of the methods below, you should take into account the fact that the waiting period for number activation can take up to three days after concluding an agreement with the operator. Usually you don’t have to wait that long, but you should be aware of this feature.
You can activate your Megafon SIM card:
- Via USSD command;
- Through Personal Area;
- Through the contact center;
- Through the communication salon.
Let's look at each of the above methods in detail. 
Activating a SIM card on a tablet
In principle, to activate a SIM card on a tablet, you can use any of the above methods. Special attention should be paid to the process of activating the Megafon SIM card on the iPad.
To activate a megaphone SIM card on an iPad, follow these steps:
- Insert the SIM card into the tablet and turn it on;
- Connect your iPad to your computer;
- Launch iTunes and go through the simple registration procedure. After this, the SIM card will be ready for use.
Activating a SIM card on a USB modem
Megafon has provided the ability to activate a SIM card directly on a USB modem. First of all, you need to insert the modem into the computer and wait for the necessary installation to complete. software. After that, open any browser and enter the address lk.megafon.ru. In the page that opens, you need to fill in all the necessary fields, namely, indicate the phone number and PUK code of the SIM card that you want to activate. We mentioned earlier where to look up the phone number and PUK code. An example is shown in the picture on the right.
After logging in to self-service activation will occur numbers. You can also activate a SIM card for the modem using any of the above methods by inserting a SIM card into the phone, however this is not always convenient, so it is better to use the described method.
How to activate a blocked SIM card megaphone
The process of activating a new SIM card was described above. However, it often becomes necessary to activate a SIM card that has been blocked by the operator or voluntarily by the subscriber himself. We wrote a separate article on this topic, so here we will consider only the main points.
- Important
If the SIM card was blocked due to repeated incorrect entry of the pin code and then the puk code, then it will not be possible to restore the number.
You can activate a blocked SIM card:
- By replenishing your balance (if the reason for blocking is a large debt);
- By calling the Megafon operator at 8 800 333 05 50 ;
- Through your personal account;
- Megafon office.
This is where we will end this article. Now you know how to activate a megaphone SIM card. As you can see, there are more than enough options, and if the newly purchased SIM card was not activated automatically upon first launch, you can activate it yourself, following the instructions above.
