Nano-SIM support in New Zealand hasn’t yet been confirmed.

I made a post at the end of July about the iPhone 5 and more speculation around its release date – the U.S launch-date was speculated to be mid-September, and a month later for us in New Zealand. There is a possibility, however, that we will be knocked back even further due to new information about the Nano-SIM being the data-module of choice for the iPhone 5. There has yet to be confirmation that our national carriers will be ready with Nano-SIM packages on the release date.

When the Micro-SIM was released, replacing the standard SIM card, it was fairly easy to convert using a SIM cutter. The Nano-SIM, however, cannot just simply be cut – there is too much of a risk with harming the circuitry and connectors. We will need to rely on our carriers to provide us with the Nano-SIMs.

PriceBuster has reported that there has been an influx in orders for the Nano-SIM to European countries, since the information leak about the iPhone 5. New Zealand has been considered a European country in the past, and I don’t see why we wouldn’t be this time, in this case.

I have emailed Telecom, Vodafone and 2Degrees in an attempt to gain answers to whether or not they plan to supply the Nano-SIMs before they are injected into the mainstream market (i.e. solely for the iPhone 5), and hope to get a reply soon.

I will be sure to keep you all informed.

Edit (5:51PM, 14/08/2012): Telecom has already gotten back to me. Here’s what they said:

Hi Ben,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the iPhone.

We currently have no information on hand as to when the iPhone 5 and any associated products will be offered through Telecom. As this product does not have an official release date for the US as yet, and we we do not have any advance notice of products becoming available, I’m afraid I can’t provide any further information for you here.

This is the first I have heard of a Nano-SIM however, if this is a device which is needed for a mobile we will be offering, I would imagine we would supply this.

All I can say is keep checking our website for our latest products and services.

Kind regards,

Steph

Customer Care Online

Edit (9:16 AM, 16/08/2012): Vodafone finally got back to me:

Hi there Ben

Thank you for taking the time to email us regarding the iphone 5 and Nano sim

Unfortunately we can’t comment on the next iPhone as no information has yet been made available by Apple.

Please keep an eye on our website or social media channels for any future product announcements.

Kind Regards,
Sandra

Still waiting on 2Degrees, but they don’t seem to be a high-priority carrier in regards to the iPhone. I’m hoping that these companies (well, service reps, at least) have noted that there are concerns based around the Nano-SIMs in New Zealand, and passed that information on through the proper channels. I don’t really want to be missing out on any chance at an iPhone 5, simply because we weren’t prepared for the technology. There has been plenty of warning, anyway.