Hello,
Some updates after a few months usage:
1) Make sure you inserted the SIM adapter in the correct orientation, which is OPPOSITE than what most people would expect.
The adapter must be placed upside-down (with the SIM card chip still facing the pin connectors, of course...).
I have two friends who own this device and complained on SIM card missing for that exact same reason...
2) If you are positioning it correctly, and it still doesn't work, and you switched to a different SIM card, reset the device (advanced -> device -> factory reset). Several messages on forums recommend this, it worked once for me after I switched the SIM card while abroad.
hope it helps.