It does NOT matter what it is. The question is did you PAY for the mobile broadband hardware?????

It says in the instruction book its for a sim card. Im wondering if it needs a holder or something.

Possibly nothing - there are different SIM card sizes, and while Dell ships WWAN cards that support AT&T, I've never seen that it supports T-mobile (the SIM card is useless without a supported WWAN card).  What WWAN card do you have?

Are mobile broadband sims a different size to normal sims then?

Mobile broadband isn't even an option on the 1564 as far as I can tell - I tried configuring it just now, so I am not sure what makes you think that is a SIM slot.

Even if was a SIM slot, if you didn't order mobile broadband, sticking a SIM into such a slot won't make it work withOUT the hardware.

You are not going to get something for nothing.

IT MATTERS TO ME, IF THE BOOK SAYS ITS FOR A SIM THEN A SIM SHOULD FIT, CORRECT!!!!!!

It is possible your SIM is of a different size than what AT&T uses -

Actually the SIMs are the same size. I have T-mobile cell phone service. I used to have AT&T's mobile broadband service that required a SIM.

It DOES matter whether you have the WWAN card - without it, the SIM is useless.

LOL. I guess that thought hasn't pentrated the guysie's brain yet.

An AT&T SIM should fit - since AT&T is the only US service Dell has a WWAN card for, which requires a SIM (Verizon and Sprint do not use SIMs).

It is possible your SIM is of a different size than what AT&T uses - in which case you'll need either a USB WWAN adapter or an Express Card adapter (only the internal WWAN uses the internal SIM - and unless you subscribe to AT&T,  you're not going to be able to  use either).

It DOES matter whether you have the WWAN card - without it, the SIM is useless.

OK, im in the UK and we use Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 etc and there sims dont fit. There was no option for this WWAN card when i bought the laptop, what does it look like and how do i go about getting one please?

Next time I see your username here, I'll be sure to skip the post. Ungrateful know-nothing.

who the h*ll cares?

There is no need to get nasty.  The SIM socket is used together with an internal WWAN card.  If you use an external USB WWAN adapter or an Express Card adapter, the adapter has space for the SIM built into it.  The internal WWAN does not, so the internal SIM socket must be used.

As you have been told by two separate people now, the SIM card by itself is not useable - you MUST have a WWAN card that is supported by the carrier with whom you have a broadband data contract.  Note:  such a contract is in addition to your voice contract - you can't simply take the SIM from your phone and use the broadband - data plans cost extra.

ahh not so clever now, bless

Finally!  The light has pierced the darkness.

If there was no option for WWAN offered, there is nothing you can do about it after the fact. Your option is to contact the mobile broadband provider you want to use and buy the mobile broadband device usually USB.

With O2, the USB modem is £20 plus the cost of the service. You might be able to find a used one on eBay for less.

But the sim does not fit........ thats my whole point