Subscriber identity module (SIM) cards are removable and portable memory chips used in cell phones to store and manage personal contacts and related information. The contents of a SIM card may include phone books, text messages, call logs and even media files. Depending on how you use and store this phone information, the amount of data will vary. The direct way of viewing the contents of a SIM card is through an actual cell phone containing the card. You may also find out what is on a SIM card by transferring the information to your computer through a SIM card reader.
Obtain a SIM Card Reader
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Step 1
Obtain a SIM card reader and driver. This can be purchased from a local computer store or online via websites such as www.dekart.com. (See the References and Resources section of this article for direct links to other options.)
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Step 2
Install the SIM card-reader driver in your computer. If you have bought the card reader online, the driver program will be an executable file, ending with the extension ".exe" (for example, SimCardReader.exe).
Step 3
Complete the installation and restart your computer, if necessary.
Transferring SIM Card Data to a Computer
Step 1
Insert the SIM card into the SIM card-reader slot. Connect the SIM card reader to your computer using a USB cable. Plug the USB cable in any USB port in your computer.
Step 2
Allow your computer to detect the device. The SIM card reader might appear on your desktop as a removable drive. Launch the the SIM card-reader program if it does not open automatically. A graphical user interface will display.
Step 3
Click on the "Download" or "Read" button to retrieve the data in your SIM card. Allow time for this process to complete without interruption.
Step 4
Browse through the program's viewing windows to find out the contents of the SIM card.