iPhone Carriers

The SIM card in your iPhone is about to get smaller. The nano-SIM standard was just approved by the European Telecommunications Institute (ETSI), shaving 40 percent off the size of current micro-SIM cards. The new standard will increase the amount of space available in mobile devices for other components.

Apple's proposed nano-SIM card is pictured above from The Verge, inside the outline of a standard SIM card. The nano-SIM that was approved has the same dimensions as Apple's proposed card, coming in at just 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.67mm. The function of the SIM card will remain unchanged, and the new design can be packaged for backwards compatibility in older devices.

Now there are 13 different carrier choices for the iPhone 4S across the United States. Not only this, but Puerto Rico has joined in the fun with its own local carrier Open Mobile offering the Apple device. The iPhone has come a long way since 2007, when Apple had a deal with exclusive carrier AT&T for the iPhone.

Oklahoma-based Pioneer Cellular is the latest regional carrier to announce support for the iPhone, and has started rolling out the device in its stores. Pioneer will continue to release the iPhone 4S at additional stores across the state every other week. Data plans with the carrier start at $30 per month.

T-Mobile may have missed out on the iPhone party so far, but the company has big plans in the works that will allow iPhone owners to access higher speeds on its network. The company is spending $4 billion to launch 4G LTE with the help of Nokia-Siemens and Ericsson.

Not only will T-Mobile be rolling out LTE, but the company also plans to fire up 1900 MHz band 4G HSPA+ service as well. The wireless carrier plans to cover 75 percent of the top 25 markets with LTE speeds. The failed merger between T-Mobile and AT&T has netted the company AWS spectrum licenses as part of the deal.

If you're looking to save money with your GSM iPhone, Straight Talk provides a pre-paid option without unlocking or jailbreaking. Straight Talk offers iPhone owners an unlimited data, voice and text plan for just $45 per month. This is less than half the price of standard plans from AT&T.

Straight Talk is a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), which means the carrier operates using other networks including AT&T and T-Mobile. Once you get a micro-SIM card from Straight Talk for your AT&T iPhone, the device won't know the difference.

Five new regional US carriers will join C Spire Wireless on April 20 and begin offering the iPhone to customers. The complete list includes nTelos in Virginia, Appalachian Wireless in Kentucky, Cellcom from Wisconsin, and two Alaskan carriers, GCI and Alaska Communications.

GCI is the only carrier with a GSM network, so they will be the only ones launching the iPhone 3GS alongside the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. iPhone fans looking for options besides wireless giants AT&T, Verizon and Sprint will find pricing will come in below the big players, too.