SIM full form or meaning is subscriber identity module.
However, it is also known as the subscriber identification module.
The subscriber identity module is an integrated circuit that runs a card operating system.
This system is used to securely store the international mobile subscriber identity or IMSI number along with its related key.
Mobile phones and computers are mobile telephony devices on which subscribers are authenticated and identified. It is done by IMSI and related keys.
Contact information is also stored on various SIM cards. These subscriber identity module cards are used on global systems for mobile communication phones, for CDMA phones and these are only required for the long term evolution of capable handsets.
Subscriber identity module cards can be used in satellite phones, computers, cameras, smartwatches etc.
This subscriber identity module is a part of the function of a universal integrated circuit card or UICC physical smart card. These smart cards are made of PVC with embedded contacts as well as semiconductors.
What is SIM (About SIM)?
Subscriber identity module cards are transferable between various mobile devices.
The first-ever universal integrated circuit card or UICC smart card has the size of a credit card. Later the size was reduced many times which normally kept the electrical contacts as same as before. It was for a larger card that can be cut down to a smaller size.
Serial number or ICCID, international mobile subscriber identity or IMSI number, security authentication and ciphering information, a list of the services that the user has access to, two passwords that are personal identification number for ordinary use and personal unblocking key for PIN unblocking, temporary information related to the local network in a subscriber identity module.
SIM history
The subscriber identity module card is like a smart card that is made of a silicon integrated circuit or IC chip.
In the late 1960s, this idea of incorporating a silicon chip onto a plastic card was originated. Since then MOS integrated circuit chips with MOS memory technologies were used by smart cards such as flash memory, EEPROM etc.
In the specification along with the number TS 11.11 the European telecommunication standards institute first specified the system identity module.
As UMTS developed this specification work was half transferred to 3GPP.
This specification of SIM presented the physical and logical behaviours of SIM cards.
The development of USIM, SIM and ETSI are now depending on 3GPP for further development of the physical card UICC.
In 1991 the first-ever subscriber identity module was developed by Munich smart card make Giesecke and Devrient. Giesecke and Devrient sold the first 300 SIM cards to Radiolinja which was a Finnish wireless network operator.
Subscriber identity modules allow over 7 billion devices to connect to cellular networks around the globe as these are universal.
There were around 5.4 billion subscriber identity module cards manufactured globally in 2016 according to the International card manufacturers association or ICMA.
As the embedded SIM or e-SIM and remote SIM provisioning or RSP were introduced from the GSMA. It can disrupt the traditional SIM card ecosystem with the entrance of new players. it specialized in digital SIM card provisioning along with other value-added services for mobile network operators.
SIM function
A lot of information is stored by a SIM card and it brings important data back and forwards to the network of customers. It also holds some private and personal data. Here are some other functions or the information that is stored by a subscriber identity module –
- Text messages
- Data regarding network authentication
- Data of address details
- Data related to personal security keys
- Phone number information and data
Here are some of the essential data types that the subscribe identity module carries –
- Unique serial number
- The international mobile subscriber identity
- Brief details of the local network
- Security information
Interesting facts about SIM
- Initially, when the SIM card was launched, its size used to be very big. How big is your credit card today, in the beginning, the size of the SIM used to be the same.
- Knowing about the memory capacity of the SIM card, you can laugh. Even the best SIM cards of today can store only 128kb of data.
- Nowadays new age sim is also being used in many mobiles where you are connected with your mobile from virtual instead of a physical sim.
Some other famous full forms of SIM
SIM- Space Interferometry Mission (in NASA)
SIM- SIMulator (in NASA and also in Aviation Sector)
SIM- Spatial Information Management (Computing and Software)
SIM- School of International Management (International Business)
Similar full forms
