It looks as though Orange is moving to a SIM-based option with a trial run at Carphone Warehouse and Hugh Symons, permitting connections of non-Orange handsets. If other networks follow suit this could be good news all round, since distributors and dealers will not have to stock so many network-specific handsets. The phones will still have to be approved by the network for connection, so this does not mean a free-for-all; but it will enable the network operators to cut inventory overheads