今天的智能手机用户仍离不开被称为SIM卡的小小塑料片。但如果科技业巨头苹果和三星共同要对SIM卡下手，它恐怕就命不久矣了。

    据英国《金融时报》报道，苹果与三星正在进行“高层对话”，讨论在各自生产的智能手机上开始使用电子SIM卡，让手机用户能够更灵活地切换通讯运营商。

    全球移动运营商行业协会GSMA表示，业内很快就会达成一致，公布新一代SIM卡的详细标准。不过，《金融时报》报道指出，至少一年内不可能诞生新SIM卡。

    GSMF在声明中表示：“大多数运营商都已经加入，（我们的）计划是敲定消费类设备的端到端远程SIM解决方案的开发技术框架，预计到2016年拿出结果。”

    GSMA的首席执行官安妮·布弗罗称，该协会将继续与苹果协商，以“保证得到苹果方面对此行动的支持。”

    布弗罗表示：“我们让大家都回到共同的出发点上来，苹果与三星都同意参与新规范制定，我们一直在与这两家和其他（制造商）合作，共同制定设备的行业解决方案，会就消费类电子产品的解决方案达成一致。”（财富中文网）

    译者：Pessy

    校对：詹妮

    To use our smart phones, most of us are still beholden to pieces of plastic known as SIM cards. But if Apple AAPL 0.86% and Samsung have anything to do with it, those cards won’t be around for much longer.

    The Financial Times reports that the tech giants are in “advanced talks” to start using electronic SIM cards in their smartphones, allowing users more mobility in switching between carriers.

    The GSMA, an industry association that represents mobile operators, said that there’s an agreement soon to be announced detailing standards for the new SIMs. However, the new cards aren’t likely to become available for at least a year, according to the report.

    “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,” the organization said in a statement.

    Anne Bouverot, the CEO of the GSMA, said the organization is continuing to speak with Apple to “secure their support for the initiative.”

    “We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification,” she said. “We have been working with them and others to create an industry solution for machines and will agree a solution for consumer electronics.”