RIM calls foul play on Apple nano-SIM vote tampering

Research In Motion accuses Apple of unfairly swaying vote on new SIM standard

Research in Motion (RIM) has accused Apple of foul play, claiming the iPhone maker is attempting to unfairly manipulate an upcoming vote on nano-SIM technology standards.

RIM made the complaint in a letter sent to the body overseeing the vote, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

The letter accused Apple of attempting to sway the vote on nano-SIM technology, having company representatives change their company affiliation when they cast their proxy votes.

RIM said three Apple employees have registered as representatives for Bell Mobility, KT Corp and SK Telekom, which according to RIM shows that Apple is unfairly attempting to accrue extra votes in its favour.

"RIM is actively participating in ETSI for the ongoing discussions around the standardisation process for nano-SIMs," a company spokesperson told V3.

RIM, Nokia and Motorola Mobility are all currently locked in a heated battle to cast doubt on Apple's nano-SIM technology.

"We believe that Apple is mis-using the standardisation process, seeking to impose its own proprietary solution on the industry and using ETSI merely to rubber stamp its proposal, rather than following established principles and practices," said Henry Tirri, chief technology officer at Nokia.

The vote is of huge financial significance to each company, deciding which technologies will become the new nano-SIM standard.

The ETSI chose to postpone the vote on 30 March, claiming the differences between the companies' proposals was too big for it to make a fair decision.

The news follows widespread confusion over RIM's future plans for BlackBerry, with the company indicating it was going to stop targeting the consumer market, only to backtrack on its statement mere hours later.