Apple Ready to Hand Out Nano-SIM Design for Free

There are currently two nano-SIM designs competing with hopes to become the industry standard in the near future. One of the designs is currently backed by Nokia, Motorola, and RIM; the other is backed by Apple.

But Apple’s nano-SIM technology might be one step closer to approval by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). According to FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller, a "perfectly reliable source" has revealed that the iPhone maker would offer its patents to fellow device makers at no cost if their nano-SIM technology was approved by the ETSI.

However, that comes with some fine print. Apple will only provide its nano-SIM technology free of royalties to device makers if they adopt it as an industry standard and if they offer the "same terms in accordance with the principle of reciprocity," according to Mueller.

Nokia, Motorola, and RIM all say that adopting Apple’s technology could hurt the industry by giving Apple too much control. It’s expected that those competing with Apple will throw their weight behind their own technology and hope it’s enough to take down Apple.

With competition heating up, Apple has reportedly tried to increase its voting power at ETSI by registering six European subsidies within the governing body.

Source: CNET