Steve Jobs wanted no SIM slot on the original iPhone, says Tony Fadell
Steve Jobs' vision of the iPhone was for it to be one seamless device, and initially, it did not include a SIM card slot.
![](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/42862-83319-000-lead-Original-iPhone-xl.jpg)
"Father of the iPod" Tony Fadell, one of the most influential members of the original iPod and iPhone design teams, revealed more details about the original iPhone's development in an interview (spotted by 9to5mac) with The Computer History Museum. The interview was conducted as part of a media tour to promote his new book "Build."
In the interview, Fadell revealed that Jobs wanted the iPhone to have a seamless design and elected to eliminate the SIM card slot from an early mockup
Jobs also cited CDMA cellular technology, which allowed phones to connect to cell towers without interfacing with a SIM card. The then-CEO believed it would make the SIM tray-less design possible.
The former Apple engineer recalled that he had to use existing market data to prove to the late Apple co-founder that the resulting CDMA-based design would result in low adoption. As a result, the CDMA standard was, and still is, not as widespread as the competing GSM standard.
Current rumors suggest that the upcoming "iPhone 15" may ditch the SIM card slot.
Fadell recently talked about Steve Jobs' controversial decisions when it came to developing the iPod and iPhone. The former CEO had initially refused to make iTunes available for PC.
Read on AppleInsider
![](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/42862-83319-000-lead-Original-iPhone-xl.jpg)
"Father of the iPod" Tony Fadell, one of the most influential members of the original iPod and iPhone design teams, revealed more details about the original iPhone's development in an interview (spotted by 9to5mac) with The Computer History Museum. The interview was conducted as part of a media tour to promote his new book "Build."
In the interview, Fadell revealed that Jobs wanted the iPhone to have a seamless design and elected to eliminate the SIM card slot from an early mockup
Jobs also cited CDMA cellular technology, which allowed phones to connect to cell towers without interfacing with a SIM card. The then-CEO believed it would make the SIM tray-less design possible.
The former Apple engineer recalled that he had to use existing market data to prove to the late Apple co-founder that the resulting CDMA-based design would result in low adoption. As a result, the CDMA standard was, and still is, not as widespread as the competing GSM standard.
Current rumors suggest that the upcoming "iPhone 15" may ditch the SIM card slot.
Fadell recently talked about Steve Jobs' controversial decisions when it came to developing the iPod and iPhone. The former CEO had initially refused to make iTunes available for PC.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
eSIM profiles and will be to switch at will, just like you can with WiFi networks.
If people listened to the general public, we would have faster horses and we would be communicating via 2 tin cans.
Everything is possible. Would be cool if an iPhone can simulate 10 sims and switch bands seamlessly. Can’t wait to see what Apple modems bring.
Yeah, because the SIM slot is such a major inconvenience to everyone. Especially the vast majority of people who cover it with a case.
that said, I would like a world where I could have the same number on two mobile phones, a big one and a little one.
I never even notice the SIM slot on my phone.
Using Dual SIM with an eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM. With iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 mini, you can use Dual SIM with either two active eSIMs or a nano-SIM and an eSIM. iPhone 12 models, iPhone 11 models, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, feature Dual SIM with a nano-SIM and an eSIM.1