Re: Wow
> virtual SIM card system will presumably give you the same abilities as a physical SIM card system.
That's an assumption, and you know what assumption does don't you - it makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me".
However, you are correct that a soft-SIm COULD provide all the facilities a normal removable SIM card can do. That's "could", not necessarily "will".
Those of use with longer memories than a goldfish (7 seconds ?) can look back and see how most manufacturers - especially Apple - have been heading down a road of user lockin. Microsoft had a bit of a go in the 90s, but it took Apple to show them how to do it and only now is MS catching up.
So it's a fairly safe bet that to switch sim you'll need to connect your iThingy to your computer, run whatever Apple software it is by then (currently iTunes), and can then configure the device - but only using carriers that appear on the list of available carriers. SO this will be about who is prepared to give Apple enough dosh to appear in that list. It's no different to applications for your iWhatsit - if you are a developer then you play by Apple's rules, accept Apple's decisions without question, and pay over your Danegelt to Apple.
I really can't see Apple being more liberal with the SIM & carrier choice than they are with applications - all in the name of security of course !
And of course, the carriers win as well. They'll be able to control which devices the 'sim' can be used with - so if you've bought an expensive iThingy, the carrier will now be able to properly enforce you only using their more expensive iThinky tariffs with it.
And even if, if we take leave of our senses and ignore history for a bit, none of this restrictive practice does come about - there is still the issue of practicality.
I can pop the SIM out of my phone and pop it into another device - I used to do that a fair bit when I had a phone that didn't tether. And as above, I can take the SIM out and pop a different one in - I used to do that as well when I used to keep a PAYG one going for backup (patchy coverage round here).
Once you go soft SIM, then the carrier can prevent you moving the SIM to another device, or restrict how often you do it, or require that you be online to do it (tough if you are in-communicado until you've swapped your SIM !), or charge a fee each time (some carriers still charge to unlock a phone that's out of contract).
SO yes, the soft SIM could do everything a removable SIM card can do. But I really really really cannot see that happening. Apple alone has a good track record of doing lockin, it would really have to change it's spots to do something that didn't in some way restrict what users can do with devices it pretends to sell them.