IoT vs Standard SIM Cards

They may well look the same and could even have the same carrier logo on but there are BIG differences that are important to know about IoT SIM cards. 

1, IoT SIM Cards are designed with low power consumption in mind as they are often used in small, battery operated devices and could be in remote places. It is therefore vitally important that IoT SIM Cards and Connectivity are managed in unison. 

2, IoT SIM Cards transform devices into IoT devices so it is key that they are flexible and able to scale and fit the needs of the users. Data plans can be flexible and can be managed over time to ensure expectations are met into the future. 

3, IoT SIM Cards can offer better levels of security due to remote management features meaning they can be turned off if compromised but ultimately the architecture, profiling and nature of the service make them higher security and harder to hack.

4, The network and connectivity of an IoT SIM will be dependent on the service provision and technology used but via global agreements they offer local or worldwide service, prioritising the best connection available. Standard SIM cards only connect to one single carrier within a region and therefore can suffer from outages, black spots and connectivity issues. 

5, In a network that could have huge numbers of devices and IoT SIM Cards it is important to have transparency of data usage per device and when and where the data is being consumed. It is essential for many businesses that they can monitor both the use and also the quality of service they are providing. 

6, Devices that use IoT SIM Cards can have very different requirements to standard SIM cards in terms of how often they transmit or collect data and also they may need to be deployed over many years in terms of a single capital expenditure or investment. Consumer SIM cards however often need higher levels of data over shorter contract lengths and are used in a single network setting. 

7, IoT Sim cards are offered and purchased with different commercial arrangements such as multi network use and longer service provision. It is these factors that make using standard SIM cards almost impossible to use with IoT devices and not financially viable.

8, In some cases a standard sim type and design is just not rugged or durable enough for the service environments where IoT devices can be found. With this in mind additional options and case types are needed and available to ensure they can function well over time in difficult conditions.

Do you have the correct SIM cards for what you need? Do you want to better understand the important factors to take into consideration before you bulk purchase IoT SIM cards that may not suit your requirement?