SIM Card Interface

Question

SIM Card Interface

Someone recently showed me on their Windows lap-top how to take the SIM card out of my phone and plug it into the computer to transfer pictures and movies from the phone to the computer. What do I neeed for my MAC mini to do this? I don't appear to have the interface required. I believe it is called an SD port.

E-Mac, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 15, 2009 7:36 AM

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Answer 1

Euchre

Level 4

1,275 points

Jul 15, 2009 9:23 AM in response to William Martin

It sounds like you may have been seeing someone with a MicroSD or MiniSD memory card in their phone, and using a full size SD card adapter to insert it into an SD card reader on the laptop. An SD card slot by design is not capable of reading SIMs, although you can get card readers capable of reading SIMs. The MicroSD and MiniSD cards can be used to hold pictures, videos, music, and other content. The SIM holds the information needed to allow your phone to connect to the cellular network, and has memory for holding limited address book information and SMS (basic text) messages. If you get a SIM card reader you want to be VERY careful what you attempt to do with it, because if you attempt to edit the information on the SIM you can corrupt it and make it unusable.

Sakar makes a card reader that can handle almost every type of memory card ever made and SIM cards:
http://www.sakar.com/p-1966.aspx?categoryid=141

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Answer 2

Jul 15, 2009 11:39 AM in response to William Martin

It wasn't clear to me whether the referenced card readers were MAC compatible. They only listed Windows versions as being compatible. I don't have a Windows computer--and never have--and never will.....

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,559 points

Jul 15, 2009 12:49 PM in response to William Martin

The card readers need no software, they just attach and provide a means for the various cards to be read by your Mac. If you are reading memory cards they are read by the Mac as external drives, and should be ejected before removing them like all attached drives, or you may damage the card. These cards usually carry just standard data files; photo, music, video, etc. and are easily used by the Mac in iPhoto, iTunes, etc.
If you are reading a SIM card you most likely need software for the Mac to do that, just to access the data it carries, and so as not to damage it.
Dah•veed

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Answer 4

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,559 points

Jul 15, 2009 8:09 AM in response to William Martin

USB SIM card reader. This webpage is in the UK, but you can google and find more, perhaps close to you.
Dah•veed

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