You may have heard a lot about the major digital shift occurring within the technology industry and mobile phones are next. Technology has advanced so much that we may not even need sim cards anymore. An eSIM will now replace the physical sim card.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a virtual sim card that will be embedded into your phone as a chip and will be provided by your phone network. The ‘e’ standard for embedded. It can be updated when you need it and it is easy to switch between networks if you decide
you want to change. As not all networks support the eSIM concept as of yet, you can still use a physical SIM as part of a dual SIM system. This chip will be placed into the phone and cannot be removed from your mobile.
What are the advantages?
They are easy to set up:
Instead of inserting a physical sim card into your phone, an eSIM can be instantly activated through the use of a QR code that registers your sim profile with your registered phone network. Some networks may require a pin code as part of two-factor authentication.
It is easy to switch networks:
Instead of waiting around for a new SIM to arrive in the post, you can simply download your SIM profile from the cloud and move it to your new phone. You can also eliminate your SIM from your previous phone by phone call or online. This makes it easier to switch to the local network when travelling as it is much cheaper than roaming costs.
It uses less physical phone space:
This is advantageous as smartphone manufacturers could potentially use this space to increase the battery size of the phone and processors to increase the speed of the device or add features to the design. This may also be the case with smartwatches, as customers do not want to wear a large face on their wrist.
What are the disadvantages?
It may take longer to restore a new phone:
This may be a time-consuming process as you have to download your SIM profile from the cloud, depending on your wifi speed and network coverage. When upgrading to a new phone you must also download all previous information in order to restore it.
Tracking can become considerably easier:
As you cannot remove the eSIM from the phone, networks may be able to track your phone by location. This also may have advantageous benefits if your phone is stolen as the thieve may be traceable at all times.
Hacking:
Even though an individual’s SIM card cannot be physically stolen from a phone, it does not mean that eSIMS are completely safe from fraud as hackers may request verification from carriers to change a SIM profile. They may also try and hack vulnerable carrier systems to retrieve users information.
Do smartphones have an eSIM?
Not all smartphones support an eSIM system as of yet, however, some of the latest model have moved towards this system:
– All of Apple’s latest iPhones – the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, plus the new iPhone 12 range, and the iPad Pro
– Samsung’s Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra
– The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL
– Motorola’s Razr (only an eSIM, it doesn’t have a physical SIM card)
– Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 smartwatches
– Apple Watch Series 3, 4 and 5
What carriers support an eSIM System:
Currently, in the UK, there are a few networks that have shifted towards an eSIM, these include:
- EE
- O2
- Truphone
- Ubigi
If you would like to know more about eSIMs or want to know how this can benefit you or your business, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of staff by phone or email on:
Phone: 01925 599 201
Email: info@telecomsolutionsltd.co.uk
Head on over to our business mobile solutions page for more information.
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