Do WCDMA phones need a specific SIM Card?

Do WCDMA phones need a specific SIM Card?

Do WCDMA phones need a specific SIM Card?

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Yes, WCDMA phones do require SIM cards that are unique from those common to all GSM/GPRS phones. SIM cards in the GSM world hold a user's identity and is a piece of the technology that helps operators manage billing and other information about their customers. With UMTS/WCDMA networks, the SIM card evolves to become the USIM and will play an important role in managing the user experience on the higher bandwidth networks by administering security profiles, access authentication, and application and data downloading policies, etc. Mobile phones with USIMs can still operating on GSM networks. A unique feature of the USIM is its ability to store applications such as network access to information services, prepaid services, banking applications, etc.

This was first published in February 2004

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