SIM Application Toolkit: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Mobile telecommunications standard}}

'''SIM Application Toolkit''' ('''STK''') is a standard of the [[GSM]] system which enables the [[subscriber identity module]] (SIM card) to initiate actions which can be used for various [[value-added]] services.<ref name=CellularZA>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cellular.co.za/sim_toolkit.htm |title=SIM Toolkit |access-date=2006-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207010523/http://www.cellular.co.za/sim_toolkit.htm |archive-date=2006-12-07 |url-status=dead |df= |publisher=Cellular}}</ref> Similar standards exist for other network and card systems, with the '''USIM Application Toolkit''' (USAT) for [[Universal Subscriber Identity Module|USIM]]s used by newer-generation networks being an example. A more general name for this class of [[Java Card]]-based applications running on [[Universal integrated circuit card|UICC card]]s is the '''Card Application Toolkit''' (CAT).<ref name=ts31_11>{{cite web |title=ETSI TS 131 111 / 3GPP TS 31.11 Version 13.3.0: GSM, UMTS, USIM Application Toolkit |url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/131100_131199/131111/13.03.00_60/ts_131111v130300p.pdf}}</ref><ref>ETSI TS 102 223 V9.1.0</ref>

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STK has been deployed by many mobile operators around the world for many applications, often where a menu-based approach is required, such as [[Mobile Banking]] and content browsing.<ref name=CellularZA /> Designed as a single application environment, the STK can be started during the initial power up of the SIM card<ref name=3GPP-t3-99346 /> and is especially suited to low level applications with simple user interfaces.<ref name=gsmmobileNZ>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gsmmobile.co.nz/Sim_Toolkit.htm |title=SIM Toolkit<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011090927/http://www.gsmmobile.co.nz/Sim_Toolkit.htm |archive-date=2007-10-11 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref>

In [[GSM]] networks, the SIM Application Toolkit is defined by the GSM 11.14 standard released in 2001.<ref name=CellularZA /><ref name=gemalto-stk /><ref name=gsmmobileNZ /> From release 4 onwards, GSM 11.14 was replaced by 3GPP TS 31.111 which also includes the specifications of the USIM Application Toolkit for 3/4G networks.<ref name=ts31_11/>

From release 4 onwards, GSM 11.14 was replaced by 3GPP TS 31.111 which also includes the specifications of the USIM Application Toolkit for 3/4G networks.<ref name=ts31_11/>

==Advantages==

* Some manufacturers claim that STK enables higher levels of security through identity verification and [[encryption]], which are necessary for secure electronic commerce.<ref name=gsmmobileNZ /><ref>{{Cite web |title=eSIM Europe |url=https://simify.com/collections/esim-europe |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Simify |language=en}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>[http://bladox.com/devel-docs/gen_stk.html SIM Toolkit<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

* STK has been deployed on the largest number of mobile devices.<ref name=autogenerated4 /><ref>{{Cite web |title=eSIM Europe |url=https://www.travelkon.com.au/product-category/esim/esim-europe-uk/europe-esim/ |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=TravelKon |language=en}}</ref>

==Limitations==

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If a mobile phone does not support SIM Application Toolkit, users may not be able to use the service or network correctly. Issues with several mobile network operators have been noticed on smartphones that don't support STK, like [[Nokia_N900#SIM_Application_Toolkit|Nokia N900]].

==In newer networks=glink=

=

USIM Application Toolkit (USAT) is the equivalent of STK for [[3G]] networks.<ref name=gemalto-stk /> USAT takes advantage of the multiapplication environment of 3G devices by not activating until a specific application has been selected, unlike STK which is activated at startup.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ec-mobile.ust.hk/mobile/toolkit.htm |title=Mobile SIM Tool Kit<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427052032/http://www.ec-mobile.ust.hk/mobile/toolkit.htm |archive-date=2006-04-27 |url-status=dead |df= }}</ref> Some functions are card related rather than application related.<ref name=3GPP-t3-99346/>

==See also==

*[[Unstructured Supplementary Service Data]] (USSD)

*

*(USSD)

*[[M-Pesa]]