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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

#331

Post by traceroute66 »

tablespoon wrote: post #193

I don't like it. Having a physical object the embodies your phone's identity is a lot easier to deal with in many ways than an ethereal emulation of said object. For instance, if I'm traveling I can just buy a SIM card at a kiosk and pop it in, even if I can only communicate through little more than pointing and grunting. Another example: I got a new phone recently, but since all my stuff was still on my old phone, a…

> If I'm traveling I can just buy a SIM card at a kiosk and pop it in

I don't understand this comment.

Pre-COVID I used to travel a lot for business, with an iPhone.

iPhone has physical SIM + virtual SIM.

My "home" SIM would stay in my iPhone.

Meanwhile I would have one of the many eSIM apps (Truephone, GigSky etc.) on my phone, which I would activate for international data for X days which would enable me to continue doing VoIP and messaging apps as normal.

I don't see the need to go buy local SIMs (and indeed, in some countries, buying SIMs as a foreigner is difficult for legal not language barrier reasons).

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

#332

Post by seanmcdirmid »

takeda wrote: post #315
truculent wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other features like battery life are clearly more important to people than thinness and that seems to be catching on with manufacturers (although weight still matters). I would speculate that removal of the physical SIM card is more likely to be about one (or a combination) of: * Apple taking even more control over the device * Making it marginally more difficult to switch to another brand's ecosystem * Resilience (e…

> * Resilience (e.g. water/dust proofing). Phones already were water proof when they had sim cards and phone jack. While I never owned an iPhone, those changes annoy me immensely. The reason for it is that Android manufacturers are copying all of that. I'm currently want to update phone, and want one with sd card and phone jack. Those two things make my selection much smaller. And looking at trends looks like very so…

> Phones already were water proof when they had sim cards and phone jack.

Water resistant you mean. Eliminating more holes will just make them more water resistant, it’s a spectrum of course.

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

#333

Post by Abroszka »

ceejayoz wrote: post #115
mrfusion wrote: post #69

Could we use that space for an SD card?

Could? Probably. Should? Maybe not. One goal of removing SIM and headphone jack is to reduce opportunities for water intrusion.

But my phone with USB-C, 2 SIM, SD card and headphone jack is alraedy waterproof. I literally wash it with soap and water to clean it...

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

#334

Post by takeda »

timcederman wrote: post #229
tablespoon wrote: post #193

I don't like it. Having a physical object the embodies your phone's identity is a lot easier to deal with in many ways than an ethereal emulation of said object. For instance, if I'm traveling I can just buy a SIM card at a kiosk and pop it in, even if I can only communicate through little more than pointing and grunting. Another example: I got a new phone recently, but since all my stuff was still on my old phone, a…

I don't understand the comments here at all. Advocating for a far less convenient physical solution over a digital solution - on HN? Has anyone here actually dealt with eSIMs vs regular SIMs? I've been using phones since SIM cards were the size of a credit card, and eSIMs are amazing in every way compared to physical SIMs. What am I missing?

I on the other hand have been on Verizon's no-SIM CDMA network. Didn't like it, and don't want to get back but this time giving the power to phone manufacturer's. SIM is giving power to the customer, and I actually don't understand those sheepish comments on HN.

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

#335

Post by smoovb »

hdhdhf wrote: post #58
KMnO4 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think that’s correct. You can have 1 nano sim and 1 esim, but not 2 of either simultaneously.

They are correct, and you are not. The 12 is as you say. With 13, you can have either 1 nano and 1 esim or two esim simultaneously. You can also have other esim plans stored and not in use.

Also, you can have 9 (or more) inactive eSIMs installed and one active eSIM and switch between them at will.

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

#336

Post by ksec »

amelius wrote: post #211

Why do people love Smartphones, but hate Smart TVs?

While The name is Smartphones, but it actually acts like a computer. It is a multi function, multi paradigm devices. There is nothing "phone" about it other than the name.

Smart TV is an appliance with software applied on top. No one wants all that smartness interactivity. You are fundamentally still just viewing content on it. But those smart features often did nothing "smart" other than complicated the hell out of the process.

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

#337

Post by saltminer »

sandworm101 wrote: post #260
wodenokoto wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s not like that kind of control isn’t possible with the ports installed today. The Bluetooth can ask what devices it’s connected to, the SIM card reader can read which SIM card is inserted and the lightning port can ask what’s at the other end of the cable.

My android phone still has a USB port on it that comports with USB standards. Google cannot limit which devices can charge my phone, which USB cables I use to tether my devices.

Actually, they can, and do. The Pixel 6 will not charge with cables and chargers Google deems "low quality", which seems to be anything that doesn't meet the USB-C spec.

https://9to5google.com/2021/11/29/pixel-6-reject-charging-ca...

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

#338

Post by conradev »

sandworm101 wrote: post #253
tablespoon wrote: post #193

I don't like it. Having a physical object the embodies your phone's identity is a lot easier to deal with in many ways than an ethereal emulation of said object. For instance, if I'm traveling I can just buy a SIM card at a kiosk and pop it in, even if I can only communicate through little more than pointing and grunting. Another example: I got a new phone recently, but since all my stuff was still on my old phone, a…

>> For instance, if I'm traveling I can just buy a SIM card at a kiosk and pop it in That is exactly what apple doesn't want you to do. They don't want users making deals with local ISPs for service. They want in on that transaction. Virtual SIMs, controlled by phone manufacturers, will allow them to exercise a degree of control over wandering users. If you are a local ISP, you better be part of the program if you wa…

To me, there is nothing to indicate this is a power grab by Apple.

Google supports eSIM. Google can sell you cell service for your iPhone from the couch.

If any phone manufacturer is trying to compete with the carriers, it would look a lot like Google, which made a global MVNO.

Yes, there is usually a business motive behind every business decision. The GSMA makes it sound like the carriers want it, as well as the phone manufacturers:

“Simpler device setup without the need to insert or replace a SIM card;

Devices that can operate independently of a tethered smartphone, with their own subscriptions;

A range of new, enhanced mobile-connected devices.”

Emphasis on “with their own subscriptions”

https://www.gsma.com/esim/about/

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

#339

Post by smoovb »

pentae wrote: post #60
johnebgd wrote: post #4

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

Not everywhere, as others in this thread have mentioned. As a frequent traveler I'll be probably holding onto the last physical sim iPhone for many years until everywhere I travel to has it all ironed out.

As a traveler you can have 10 or more eSIM profiles. That means you can have a great 130 multi-country eSIM like the AIS eSIM2Fly or if you go to a single country you could get their local travel eSIM ( for example the Thailand DTAC Tourist eSIM ). Just switch between your active eSIM as needed. iPhones have more than enough eSIM slots to accommodate your travels, with no more need for plastic chip fiddling.

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

#340

Post by Isthatablackgsd »

nojito wrote: post #271
sandworm101 wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My android phone still has a USB port on it that comports with USB standards. Google cannot limit which devices can charge my phone, which USB cables I use to tether my devices.

Maybe they should because of how easy it is to brick phones with crappy USB cables/chargers these days.

IMO, this is on manufacturers. If they stop messing around with the USB standard and stop the hybrid approach with USB and propriety crap along with it, then we would have this issue minimized as possible. Nintendo did with their USB-C propriety thing and it blew up on their face. Because they changed the internal (which is not in compliance with USB standard) and ended up multiple consumers have their Switch bricked.
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