EUROPEAN MOBILE operators are stockpiling an innovative miniature Sim card designed for next-generation smartphones for use in Apple’s eagerly-awaited iPhone 5.

In one of the clearest signals yet of an impending launch, Apple’s European operator partners have begun to place multiple orders with chipmakers for a so-called “nano-Sim”, the only physical piece of the phone that is owned by the telecom networks.

Apple has not confirmed any forthcoming device but this has not damped the rumours.

The iPhone 5 has been linked with a launch in September or October this year, and there has been growing speculation about features including a bigger screen, a metal backing and the ability to run on 4G, or LTE, mobile data networks.

The tiny Sim cards, which have not yet appeared on the market, were the subject of a fierce battle between Apple and Finnish mobile firm Nokia to control the design earlier this year.

Apple’s proposal was given approval by the industry’s standards group, although other devices will also be able to use the nano-Sim, which is much smaller than the existing micro-Sim used by many smartphones.

Operators expect that the iPhone will feature the nano-Sim in a slimmed down design, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, and have begun to store millions of the cards in warehouses in anticipation of high demand for Apple’s iPhone.

Apple declined to comment.

Operators were caught off guard by the adoption of the micro-Sim for the iPhone 4 as well as the original iPad two years ago, with some struggling to meet demand with their own micro-Sims in the first weeks of sale.

One informed person said that the big networks were keen to be ahead of demand this time.

He added that the iPhone 5 was likely to be a similar size to the iPhone 4, although slimmer and with a fully metal body.

– Copyright The Financial Times Limited