Originally Posted by
relangford
I have the AA Citi Executive MC card, but the "chip" isn't a real chip (compare it with an international card with a chip - it's smaller and has fewer slots). It can be used at the EMV readers, but asks for a signature. I've used mine in Europe a number of times. I did ask AmEX about a chip card for my Delta Reserve account and was told "we'll have it around the end of the year or so, upon request; it's already on the Centurian card".
So are you saying a SIM card without the optional contacts isn't a "real" SIM card? Contacts C4 and C8 are optional. Some credit cards/SIM cards/other smart cards have them; some don't. They're not even used. Their presence or absence makes a card no more or less real.
As for the signature, that's totally unrelated. That's what's called cardholder verification method. Signature sucks, but American banks are using it because they fear customers would forget PINs and thus not use their cards.