Things To Know About a Sim Card

Depending on when you got your first phone, you may have heard about SIM cards. SIM cards were better known back in the flip phone days until smartphones took over nearly everything. If you owned one of the flip phones, then you probably knew SIM cards were needed to connect your phone to your carrier. They allowed you to make calls, receive, texts and hold onto your photos. The SIM cards came in handy for extra storage too, and that beat replacing your other devices. 

Although you may think SIM cards are a thing of the past, what you may not realize is your smartphone likely still has one today. These days you don’t always have to pull your SIM card out when you switch phone models, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. You may be wondering, if that’s true, then what do SIM cards exactly do today? Read on for the inside scoop on modern SIM cards.

Storage

One of the most common associations with a SIM card is the storage capabilities. The tiniest card can increase your phone's space, and if you have kids, that can be a great advantage for their gaming experience. We used to know SIM cards were for switching the tiny card to another phone model and being able to keep all our previous contacts and phone information. These days those transfers can be done in your phone carrier’s store without you ever seeing the SIM card removed. Whether you know it for the memory it holds on your phone or the external storage it adds to your kid's device, SIM cards are great for storage.

Evolving

It’s no surprise that the size of a SIM card continues to change and upgrade with the ever-evolving technology. If you’re a fan of Apple devices, then your phone likely has a Nano-SIM card. Known as the smallest SIM card today, it measures a mere 12.3mm x 8.8mm, which is quite the difference from the original size of the Full SIM card at 86mm x 54mm. Although Apple products may use a Nano-SIM card, your Kindle device likely takes the larger Micro-SIM card, measuring 15mm x 12mm.

Possibly the most interesting form of SIM card is the eSIM. This new format is not something that can be removed like the previous ones. It is embedded inside the hardware of your device, making it impossible to remove. This new form of SIM card would allow a person to transfer data remotely to a new device without having to remove the SIM card.

Chances are the SIM card will continue evolving and who knows what size or new formats will be used.

Removal

If you find yourself needing to remove a SIM card, there’s an overall general way you can do this. Even with different sizes, SIM cards typically can be removed by a paperclip. Most SIM cards are held by a tray on the side of the device. You’ll recognize the tray because it will probably have a small circular hole for you to push an ejection tool into — a paperclip will work just fine for this. Once the tray is ejected, pull the SIM card tray the rest of the way out. It should easily slide out, allowing you to grab the SIM card. Remember you’ll need to remove any cases to do this, and if you have a more evolved SIM card, like the eSIM, then you won’t be able to remove it.

A benefit to removing SIM cards is not only to carry over memory and storage, but if it’s a SIM card for your phone, dialing your number will make the old phone ring too. If you're transferring your number and information to a new phone, take the SIM card out.

Whatever the size of your SIM card or the device you use, it’s important to understand the functions it holds. From memory to additional storage to connecting your phone, those little cards can do a lot. Just don’t forget to remove the cards when you’re done using them or want to switch devices.