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Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

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Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#23

eSIMs are good but it doesn't eliminate the bureaucracy/paper work involved with acquiring an actual network connection, esp for those traveling across countries. Unless ofcourse you are willing to pay those listed roaming charges(some of which appear as hidden charges). Not sure what eSims or even Apple as a company can do about that?

Here in Switzerland eSIMs are actually massively worse - you can't swap them around on most operators without calling (!) their support line to manually release and regenerate the eSIM token.

Meaning that swapping between phones now requires calling, possibly expensive, support lines and you better hope your phone issue didn't happen during holidays. And that you have a working backup phone. And you're not in a foreign country trying to put your SIM back.

It's a massive regression of convenience against simply swapping a small chip.

Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#24
post #19

Out of half dozen of mobile service providers I have used in 3 different EU countries, ONE provides eSIM.

Thanks to Apple, this industry won't make any progress otherwise. You can watch all 3 service providers finally waking up and provide eSIM. You can even watch all the Android manufacturer follow the suit. I am tired of using u-pins to change sim cards. Buying physical circuit to put in the phone just to communicate some numbers is barbaric.

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree, I have to say that 'barbaric' is top-tier hyperbole.

Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#26
post #20
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my country the third major provider still doesn’t support it, the second (Vodafone) started supporting it in 2021. (EU member state.)

Let me guess: Germany?

Some providers in DE also don’t allow eSIM on prepaid plans - you have to be on a contract to be able to use eSIM at all (looking at you, Telekom).

Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#27
Can anyone discuss the privacy implications here please? I assume to use eSim you'll be required to have a working internet connection - there are still many dark spots in the world. What data does eSim need? Can anyone outline the data structures being sent from my device?

It's still possible to access the network pesudo-anonomously with a physical sim, I can only assume a "selfie to activate eSim" is going to happen sooner rather than later.

Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#28
post #23

eSIMs are good but it doesn't eliminate the bureaucracy/paper work involved with acquiring an actual network connection, esp for those traveling across countries. Unless ofcourse you are willing to pay those listed roaming charges(some of which appear as hidden charges). Not sure what eSims or even Apple as a company can do about that?

Here in Switzerland eSIMs are actually massively worse - you can't swap them around on most operators without calling (!) their support line to manually release and regenerate the eSIM token. Meaning that swapping between phones now requires calling, possibly expensive, support lines and you better hope your phone issue didn't happen during holidays. And that you have a working backup phone. And you're not in a forei…

> It's a massive regression of convenience against simply swapping a small chip.

Yeah it's beginning to sound like replacing wired headphones with BT ones

Re: Apple said to be preparing for iPhones without SIM card slot in 2022

#29
post #8
post #4

Esim is a mature and excellent technology. This is overdue.

In my country the third major provider still doesn’t support it, the second (Vodafone) started supporting it in 2021. (EU member state.)

Well, if Apple really goes this way, you will see them support it pronto.
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