{"id":11572,"date":"2016-03-16T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=11572"},"modified":"2016-09-15T07:05:05","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T11:05:05","slug":"virtual-sim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/virtual-sim\/11572\/","title":{"rendered":"What are virtual SIM cards and what do they do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently engineers who have been working to improve legacy cellular technologies, were stricken with\u00a0a thought: \u201cWhy would one need a SIM card, if it\u2019s nothing more than a protected data storage plus a simple computing unit?\u201d These types of data containers can be stored in the internal memory of a handset, so no one would need to produce, sell and\/or replace SIM cards; ultimately making them an outdated and legacy element.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

In that case we would end up with the likes of programmed phones, which were a thing back in the times of DAMPS<\/a> or CDMA-800<\/a> networks. One of the key benefits of the GSM standard is its \u2018detached\u2019 nature. The only thing you need to do in order to make a handset customized for you is to insert a SIM card: thus the owner does not have to go anywhere and have his device programmed.<\/p>\n

But this approach was convenient when an average subscriber had only one SIM card. Today\u2019s consumers use dual- and triple-SIM handsets, as well as tablets, USB modems, and many other types of connected devices. Some people use several SIM cards only for Internet connectivity, as carriers have unstable coverage \u2013 not to mention roaming, which has to be discussed separately.<\/p>\n

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The evolution of the SIM card \u2013 what has changed, what has not? https:\/\/t.co\/VUa9NdEWiY<\/a> #mobile<\/a> #cell<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/w3Ef9jVqzl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kaspersky (@kaspersky) January 5, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n