SIM stands for "Subscriber Identity Module".

A SIM card is a small IC chip that the user inserts into their cell phone to activate it. The SIM card contains information such as your phone number, your provider, billing information, some phone settins, and usually they have some memory to store information about your contacts (numbers, email addresses, etc.)

There are two types of SIM cards: prepaid and postpaid. Prepaid is self explanatory: they are used with pre-pay phone carriers and minutes muse be paid for in advance. They can be re-charged by contacting the vendor you purchased it from.

Postpaid is the most common in the US. Typically your service provider will furnish you a SIM card with your phone for free upon activation. Some providers may charge a small fee for it.

You can buy either type of SIM card from various places on the web (do a google search), but bear in mind that postpaid cards will have to be programmed by your provider before you can use it.

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by pike edited by Optimized
last modified: 2004-06-10 18:36:00