Are SIM cards supposed to make our lives easier or something? What are they good for? Does anybody know?
I've had a couple of cell phones in my life so far, and never once have I been able to take the Contact List from one phone, stick it on a SIM card, and load it into the new phone.
Is there any consumer-oriented use for them?
The problem here in this country is that both the phones are locked, so that you can't use new SIM cards in them, unless they are from the phone company that sold you the phone. I know this for a fact as I tried to purchase a SIM card in Poland to use while I was there.
So, the simple answer to your direct question is no. However, they have the potential.
2) Why learn about them when you can't put the to full use? The cell phone companies took an open system and closed it. Besides, you think they want you to know that when your phone breaks you can just take your old phone that you used to have (before upgrading to a new 2 year contract) and slip the SIM card into it until you are eligible for a new reduced price/free cell phone? Nope. They want you to buy a new one.