Japanese carrier Docomo has announced an interesting concept design that could change the way we use mobile devices: a wearable that takes the SIM out of your phone and puts it onto your wrist to create an authentication device for all your hardware.
It’s calling it the Portable SIM, and it takes the SIM card usually found within your smartphone and puts it into a Bluetooth- and NFC-equipped wearable. The prototype allows the device — a card or smartwatch-style bracelet — to be waved over any tablet or smartphone to allow it connect and login to phone networks.
The idea is to make it easy to allow multiple devices to use the same SIM card, regardless of OS. Alongside the SIM, the devices can carry logins for shopping sites and social networks to be used in much the same way. In terms of security, Docomo suggests that the ascribed SIM’s phone number be locked once the Bluetooth link between device and Portable SIM is broken.
The prototype is currently a credit-card shaped device about the size of a Wi-Fi hotspot, although it’s thought that it should be able to fit into a wearable like a small smartwatch. It’s also worth noting that this is very much a concept, and currently doesn’t work with any commercially available hardware.
But the overall idea is neat: once phone and data contract, and complete freedom to pick up and use any device that comes to hand. Reckon that would be useful for you? [Docomo]
Picture: Simon Yeo/Flickr