Carriers Receiving Nano-SIM Cards Ahead of ‘iPhone 5′ Launch

There have been some speculations that Apple may switch to nano-SIM card for the next generation iPhone, which was recently approved by European Telecommunications Institute (ETSI).

iFun now reports the nano-SIM cards have started arriving at T-Mobile's retail outlets in Germany along with a memo informing them that the new SIM cards were “the latest generation of smartphones expected in the near future.”

Here's the translated note:

“Dear partners, You will receive today a new generation of SIM cards for the latest generation of smartphones that come in the near future on the market. Sort your SIM card please first not in their cards in hand and give it not out to customers. We will inform you shortly about how to proceed.” 

The nano-SIM cards measuring in at 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.67 mm are significantly smaller than the micro-SIM cards which measure in at 15 x 12 x 0.76 mm (required for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4).

Nano-SIM card (left) and micro-SIM card (right)

It won't come as a big surprise if 'iPhone 5' requires a nano-SIM card as Apple was one of the first companies to start using the micro-SIM standard when it launched iPhone 4.

Apple is widely expected to unveil 'iPhone 5' at a media event on September 12, followed by the release on September 21.

[via iFun]