蘋果三星與業界協商推出電子SIM卡
Apple and Samsung are in advanced talks to join the rest of the telecoms industry to launch electronic Sim cards, in a move could fundamentally change how consumers sign up to mobile operators.
蘋果(Apple)、三星(Samsung)已就與電信業其他同行一道推出電子SIM卡進入深入談判階段。此舉可能會從根本上改變消費者與移動運營商簽約的方式。
The GSMA, the industry association which represents mobile operators worldwide, is close to announcing an agreement to produce a standardised embedded Sim for consumer devices that would include the smartphone makers.
代表全世界移動運營商的行業協會——全球移動通信系統協會(GSMA)已接近公佈一項協議，協議涉及的是生產一種面向消費者設備的標準化嵌入式SIM卡，智能手機生產商將參與其中。
The traditional Sim card locks in the user to a network but an embedded Sim would enable a smartphone, tablet or wearable user to avoid locking themselves into a plan with a single operator or sign up to switch instantly.
傳統SIM卡將用戶綁定在某個網絡上，而嵌入式SIM卡將讓智能手機、平板電腦或可穿戴設備的用戶能夠不再綁定在某一運營商的合約上，或者能夠迅速切換運營商。
Networks expected to support the plans include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone.
預計將支持電子SIM卡計劃的網絡包括AT&T、德國電信(Deutsche Telekom)、Etisalat、和記黃埔(Hutchison Whampoa)、Orange、西班牙電信(Telefónica)和沃達豐(Vodafone)。
Anne Bouverot, chief executive of the GSMA, said all parties were heading towards an agreement for the “common architecture”.
GSMA總幹事安妮布弗羅(Anne Bouverot)表示，各方正努力就“共同架構”達成協議。
However, with any deal still contingent on finalising the technical specifications it will be at least a year before any devices supporting the electronic Sim reach the market.
然而，考慮到達成協議還要取決於敲定技術規格，起碼要等到一年之後纔會有支持電子SIM卡的設備上市。
The GSMA said: “With the majority of operators on board, the plan is to finalise the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for consumer devices, with delivery anticipated by 2016.”
GSMA表示：“隨着大多數運營商加入進來，現在的計劃是敲定將用於消費者設備端對端遠程SIM解決方案開發的技術架構，預計將在2016年交付。”
Last year, Apple revealed its own Sim card for its latest iPads. However, it was supported by only a handful of operators such as T-Mobile and AT&T in the US, and just EE in the UK. Those familiar with its UK rollout said that it had not been widely adopted.
去年，蘋果披露了用於其最新iPad的自家SIM卡。然而，該卡只得到少數幾家運營商的支持，比如美國的T-Mobile和AT&T，以及英國的EE（僅此一家）。那些瞭解蘋果SIM卡在英國推出情況的人士表示，該卡沒有得到廣泛採用。
The electronic Sim is not expected to replace the Apple Sim, a piece of plastic that fits into a device and could be included in the next generation of iPhones.
電子SIM卡預計不會取代蘋果SIM卡。蘋果SIM卡是一塊能插進設備裏的塑料片，可能會在下一代iPhone上使用。
The GSMA said it was “continuing to work with Apple to secure their support for the initiative. While we are optimistic, a formal agreement with them is still in progress.”
GSMA表示，它正“繼續與蘋果合作，以確保他們支持這項倡議。儘管我們感到樂觀，但與他們的正式協議仍在商談當中。”
Apple declined to comment.
蘋果拒絕置評。
“We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification,” said Ms Bouverot. “We have been working with them and others to create an industry solution for machines and will agree a solution for consumer electronics.”
“我們已把所有人都拉回到一點上，蘋果和三星同意參與制定技術規格。”布弗羅表示，“我們一直在與他們以及其他人合作，以求創建一個針對機器的行業解決方案，我們還將就一項針對消費電子產品的解決方案達成一致。”
