Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

macrumors.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

341–350 of 531 posts

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

#341

Post by ignoramous »

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…

eSIMs would make it incredibly easy to switch between mobile phone providers. Startups like airalo.com exist already that magically enroll you with the foreign country's local carrier even before your train/flight's taken off. Roaming around would be so seamless, and there's no dicking around acquiring SIMs by handing handover your IDs to different vendors with questionable document security measures all over the world.

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

#342

Post by hermes8329 »

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…

You make good points but at this point esim is incredibly awesome. it is super easy to use

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

#343

Post by dkonofalski »

takeda wrote: post #310
bellyfullofbac wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the phone hardware also has an IMEI, which it also tells the network: https://weartotrack.com/imei-number-blocked/ So it might be you're basing your knowledge from some fictional show where the writers got it wrong.

I don't know the story, but I'm wondering if IMEI wasn't introduced because of that. If SIM offered an identity in the network, why would phone need to have an unique number?

SIM stands for "Subscriber Identity Module". IMEI stands for "International Mobile Equipment Identity". One identifies the account/person connecting (your plan, usage, etc.) while the other identifies the phone (and its capabilities on the network).

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

#344

Post by eksployted »

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…

In theory eSIMs should make that easier (when all networks support it). They can store multiple numbers/sim cards which you can switch on the fly.

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

#345

Post by hermes8329 »

neon_electro wrote: post #297
throw0101a wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. SIMs come from the phone company. How could it be otherwise as that's where the phone number comes from, and that's how the local physical network determines whether you're allowed to connect or not: *…

From your own link: > A virtual SIM is a mobile phone number provided by a mobile network operator that does not require a SIM card to connect phone calls to a user's mobile phone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Other_variants This isn't about Apple becoming an MVNO, this is about Apple somehow controlling the process of configuring your phone because you no longer have the option to choose a SIM card and ins…

Guess what. Apple can dent physical sims too though

Why do you think you a physical sim for different providers. Because they only work with that provider. Apple can turn the tap off on a class of Sims as it is

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

#346

Post by dkonofalski »

tablespoon wrote: post #224
lajamerr wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine a world where you just a bring a phone anywhere and it you open your network settings, go to your cellular data menu, and then automatically it detects the mobile network providers that support the towers it can see. Then you tap on the one you want, select the package you want, pay for it from that menu and then bam you are connected. All without having an existing Wi-Fi or Cellular data plan. There needs…

> Then you tap on the one you want, select the package you want, pay for it from that menu and then bam you are connected. And what if those menus are in some foreign language I don't understand? And how would that work with cash? I'd have to fork over my credit card (assuming that's even an acceptable form of payment) and may end up with a recurring charge for a cell plan in a country I'll visit for a week. Visions…

>And what if those menus are in some foreign language I don't understand? And how would that work with cash?

The menus will be in whatever language your phone is set to. You can use contactless payment like Apple Pay or Google Pay and there's no recurring charge unless you want there to be one.

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

#347

Post by javitury »

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 have an iphone but I side with apple this time.

Using credentials(esim) for accessing phone networks looks much easier and practical than physical tokens. No need to wait 2 weeks to switch companies. No need to check if your phone supports dual sims, and which slot is the one with 4G/5G. Security won't be worse, remeber that sim swapping already exist.

It's a win for consumers. Would anyone use a physical token to access a wifi network? Even corporate wifi networks use credentials or digital certificates.

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

#348

Post by zimbatm »

According to eSIM.net, eSIMs cannot be moved between phones. This is a pretty big step back IMO.

If you want to keep the same phone number, the only way is to buy another eSIM for the new phone, and then use the PUK to transfer the old number to it.

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

#349

Post by takeda »

mrtksn wrote: post #107
jwr wrote: post #66

I am very worried about this. While I love (and sometimes use) eSIMs, the physical SIM has a huge advantage in that it gives me freedom. It's the revolution that GSM brought: just take your SIM and move it to a different phone. No permission required. Arguably we've become slaves to ecosystems of either Apple or Google at this point, as pretty much nobody uses a phone as "just a phone", you need to have an account wi…

I share your concerns but at the same time I think, why would we even need a SIM? Isn't it simply a device for accessing account on someones system? We don't have SIMs for ADSL or Fiber internet? We don't have SIMs for Reddit ot Twitter? Why would we have SIMs accessing GSM networks? There's no fundamental reason why we simply don't sign in into these networks like signing in to HN. Surely, it adds a layer of anonymi…

> We don't have SIMs for ADSL or Fiber internet?

The reason for it is because they are physically provided to your house so it would be redundant, but if that wasn't a case, imagine if we did have SIM for ADSL or Fiber. Getting access to your Internet service wherever you go without extra charges.

> We don't have SIMs for Reddit ot Twitter? > Why would we have SIMs accessing GSM networks? There's no fundamental reason why we simply don't sign in into these networks like signing in to HN.

We have login and password, which are like SIM, but you can memorize them.

Imagine if your access to Reddit, Twitter, HN was tied to your computer, because that's essentially what you're advocating for.

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

#350

Post by ceejayoz »

Abroszka wrote: post #333
ceejayoz wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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...

Waterproofing is a spectrum (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207043), and seals fail over time. The fewer holes from the outside of the device to the inside, the fewer points of failure for the waterproofing. It was an openly stated reason for the move, and the first Apple phones to ditch the jack were the first to hit IP67 as a result.
Post reply on HN