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.

苹果(Apple)、三星(Samsung)已就与电信业其他同行一道推出电子SIM卡进入深入谈判阶段。此举可能会从根本上改变消费者与移动运营商签约的方式。

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.

代表全世界移动运营商的行业协会——全球移动通信系统协会(GSMA)已接近公布一项协议，协议涉及的是生产一种面向消费者设备的标准化嵌入式SIM卡，智能手机生产商将参与其中。

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.

传统SIM卡将用户绑定在某个网络上，而嵌入式SIM卡将让智能手机、平板电脑或可穿戴设备的用户能够不再绑定在某一运营商的合约上，或者能够迅速切换运营商。

Networks expected to support the plans include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone.

预计将支持电子SIM卡计划的网络包括AT&T、德国电信(Deutsche Telekom)、Etisalat、和记黄埔(Hutchison Whampoa)、Orange、西班牙电信(Telefónica)和沃达丰(Vodafone)。

Anne Bouverot, chief executive of the GSMA, said all parties were heading towards an agreement for the “common architecture”.

GSMA总干事安妮布弗罗(Anne Bouverot)表示，各方正努力就“共同架构”达成协议。

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，考虑到达成协议还要取决于敲定技术规格，起码要等到一年之后才会有支持电子SIM卡的设备上市。

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：“随着大多数运营商加入进来，现在的计划是敲定将用于消费者设备端对端远程SIM解决方案开发的技术架构，预计将在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，苹果披露了用于其最新iPad的自家SIM卡。然而，该卡只得到少数几家运营商的支持，比如美国的T-Mobile和AT&T，以及英国的EE（仅此一家）。那些了解苹果SIM卡在英国推出情况的人士表示，该卡没有得到广泛采用。

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.

电子SIM卡预计不会取代苹果SIM卡。苹果SIM卡是一块能插进设备里的塑料片，可能会在下一代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“继续与苹果合作，以确保他们支持这项倡议。尽管我们感到乐观，但与他们的正式协议仍在商谈当中。”

Apple declined to comment.

苹果拒绝置评。

“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.”

“我们已把所有人都拉回到一点上，苹果和三星同意参与制定技术规格。”布弗罗表示，“我们一直在与他们以及其他人合作，以求创建一个针对机器的行业解决方案，我们还将就一项针对消费电子产品的解决方案达成一致。”