A New Mini-SIM Wins Approval.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute has approved a controversial proposal for an optional miniature subscriber identity module card that one day could be used to connect handheld computers, digital cameras and other devices to wireless networks.

The vote last month by members of ETSI's Smart Card Platform group pitted Japan's No. 1 network operator, NTT DoCoMo, against one of Europe's largest GSM operators, Telecom Italia Mobile. The new standard promises to yield the first change in the physical size of the SIM in more than 10 years and could determine the way all SIM cards are manufactured for years to come.

Preparing For 3G

DoCoMo pushed hard for the new mini-card option, which it says it needs to enable customers to send digital photos and other large data files over its "third-generation" high-speed network from a range of devices. DoCoMo already uses a standard plug-in-size SIM, 25-millimeters-by-15mm, in its 3G mobile handsets. But, in order to hook the other devices-such as PDAs and digital cameras-to the network, it wants the miniature …