[LINK] Numbering/identification systems

[Ash Nallawalla]

My Optus-supplied iPhone 3gs was unlocked (for free) and I can use an
overseas SIM in it. I haven't tried a Telstra SIM in it from my work phone
but I expect it to work. Since I am locked into a contract, Optus won't care
too much if I pay my capped amount and use a rival network SIM locally. They
just won't get the cream when I exceed the cap.

This is how I interpret the article:

When I travel to random overseas countries in the future with the new Apple
SIM, I won't need to think about the high cost of roaming with an Australian
number, but I will probably get a local number provided by a local carrier
with a relationship with Apple. I expect that my phone bill will come from
Apple and not Optus, but when I buy the phone I would get to choose the
local carrier. Better still, Apple could make it a no-brainer and I could
choose carrier features that I need and Apple would choose the carrier for
me or even change carriers silently when a better plan was available.

Ash

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kim Holburn

> Don't we already have SIMS that can work in different devices?  What's the
> problem this is a solution to, again?
> 
> As I understand it the reason iPhones are locked in to a carrier is
because
> carriers want it that way and it's part of the contract.  You can buy an
> unlocked iPhone outright and put any SIM into it.  You certainly can in
> Europe.  Don't know about Australia.  You do have to pay full value for it
> though.  If you buy a locked phone on a contract the phone company will
find
> a way of locking it, no matter what else happens or they probably won't
sell it
> to you so cheap.  How is this going to change anything?  Locked phones is
a
> financial, contractual problem, which no technical fix is going to alter.
> 
> In Japan they already use phones to make small transactions.
> 
> 
> On 2010/Oct/28, at 5:50 PM, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:
> 
> > Bernard writes,
> >
> >> The person needs to be  decoupled from the device - just like an
> >> internet address is decoupled from a physical location. The question
> >> would appear to be - who owns the information that links the person
> >> to a device at a particular moment in time. The side issues of
> >> potential solutions then fall very much into the domain of privacy and
risk.
> >
> >
> > How about a multi-device SIM & RFID card, swap-able in any IT device?
> >
> > Eg, one sort-of developing example ..
> >
> > Apple developing open SIM for iPhone service, RFID sales
> >
> > By Daniel Eran Dilger  http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/10/
> >
> > Apple is reportedly working with chip manufacturer Gemalto to deliver
> > an iPhone SIM card capable of working with multiple carriers. The deal
> > likely also involves authentication for contactless, RFID mobile
> > transactions.
> >
> > According to a report by Gigaom, the codeveloped SIM would be
> > integrated into future iPhones to enable users to activate service
> > without having to call or visit a mobile carrier after purchasing their
phone.
> >
> > Instead, users will be able to shop for service from competing
> > carriers right as they purchase their phone.
> >
> > Currently, users must set up a contract with and obtain a special,
> > carrier-specific (and carrier-locked) SIM card from a given provider
> > after they purchase their iPhone.
> >
> > The new Gemalto SIM, the report notes, "is embedded in a chip that has
> > an upgradeable flash component and a ROM area. The ROM area contains
> > data provided by Gemalto with everything related to IT and network
> > security, except for the carrier-related information. The flash
> > component will receive the carrier related data via a local connection
> > which could be the PC or a dedicated device, so it can be activated on
the
> network.
> >
> > Gemalto will provide the back-end infrastructure that allows service
> > and number provisioning on the carrier network."
> >
> > In addition to saving iPhone customers the step of having to visit a
> > mobile provider to obtain a carrier-specific SIM, a programable SIM
> > could also enable users to roam across regions and obtain service
> > without requiring a unique SIM for each different location.
> >
> > Open SIM, contactless transactions
> >
> > While observers have hailed the concept as a way for Apple to open up
> > the market for phone service to increased competition, a larger aspect
> > of the reported Gemalto-Apple partnership is likely to involve NFC
> > (near field communications), a technology that enables users to
> > authenticate themselves with electronic terminals in order to make
> > retail purchases, obtain tickets, and perform other transactions using
> > RFID (radio frequency identification).
> >
> > Gemalto already operates as a Trusted Server Manager to facilitate
> > secure, contactless purchases using NFC technology. Additionally,
> > Apple has already filed patents and hired a product manager, and has
> > reportedly started testing prototypes of iPhones using NFC features.
> >
> > Working with an established NFC expert to deliver a SIM-based way to
> > make contactless transactions from iPhones could quickly establish
> > Apple as a major player in handling secure authentication for
> > convenient retail transactions.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Stephen
> > _______________________________________________
> > Link mailing list
> > Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> > http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
> 
> --
> Kim Holburn
> IT Network & Security Consultant
> T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
> mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn skype://kholburn - PGP Public
> Key on request
> 
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