Mobile carriers in Europe are reportedly stocking up on new nano-SIM cards in anticipation of Apple’s next-generation smartphone launch. According to The Financial Times, the Cupertino-based company’s European partners have begun to place orders with chipmakers for the miniature cards, which will be used in place of the micro-SIM cards found in Apple’s current iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models. While Apple has not revealed any details surrounding its next-generation iPhone, the SIM card is the only piece of the phone the telecom companies control and carriers are likely looking to stay ahead of consumer demand when the device launches this fall. The publication notes that Apple’s “iPhone 5” will likely be similar in size to the iPhone 4, although it is expected to be slimmer and feature a metal body.
