Now that anyone can buy an unlocked phone, the dream of phone owners like me is within reach: being able to swap my SIM card from device to device depending on my needs. I'd love to have a smartphone for work and professional uses so I can get my email on the go, make phone calls, and surf the web (maybe even an iPhone!) but I don't want to carry a somewhat bulky and likely expensive smartphone out to dinner in the evening or to a bar or club late at night. It'd be wonderful to be able to swap my SIM card into a smaller, more lightweight and affordable phone for situations where I'm afraid I might lose or break it. After all, the SIM card is what holds all of the important data, right?

But there are times when you'll need to edit the data on the SIM card more quickly than a phone interface will allow, or back up your entire SIM card in case it and your phone go missing. I'd also like to update my entire contacts list and addresses, update SMS messages stored on the device or delete them entirely, and add ringtones without having to use my phone at all. The iMONO Direct Access Card Reader and Sim Editor promises to allow me to do all of that. The card reader is a regular multi-function card reader that will read MiniSD and MicroSD cards, CompatFlash cards, IBM and Hitachi mini hard drives, and more, but what stands out is its ability to read and write to SIM cards as well. It has a slot that you can insert your SIM card into, and using the SIM Editor software allows you to back up the data on your SIM card, and its support for USB 2.0 allows you to make changes in a flash.

The card reader is small and portable too. It's tiny enough to fit in your pocket, has a retractable USB cable, and weighs less than a pound. It comes in both white and black, includes a card storage case, and can be yours for $25.