Apple has said it will grant royalty-free licences to rival companies for any patents essential to its nano-SIM card technology, according to a source at Dow Jones Newswires. Apple is attempting to make its own technology the standard for the next generation of SIM cards, which will be an important step in the miniaturisation of smartphones. Apple is providing access to the IP provided it is adopted as a standard and other patent holders reciprocate, the source said. It was reported last week that other smartphone vendors are opposing Apple’s nano SIM plan with a decision expected to be made by ETSI this week.