SIM cards to be used as storage cards and digital rights manager

Orange, a European mobile network operator, has announced that it has plans to launch 512MB SIM cards. The cards are produced by Oberthur Card Systems and empowered by M-Systems' platform. As they offer about 8000 times more memory than standard 64 kilobyte SIM cards, they will allow subscribers to store a music library containing up to 125 songs, three full-length movies, or 80 Java games as well as significant SMS, MMS and e-mail archives, complete with attachments. Moreover, the card is a secure authentication device connecting the subscriber to the network, thus enabling users to retrieve access to their personal data as well as transfer DRM rights from one phone to another. Initially the new SIM card will be available only with the LG U8210 mobile phone.

At the same time, the French microprocessor cards provider Axalto, unveiled its new SIM-based solution, called SIM on the Go. It, like the 512MB SIM card from Orange, stores the DRM rights (currently stored on the phone) and allows users to transfer them with the SIM card to another mobile phone.

Source: Business Wire; Digital Media Europe