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Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

arstechnica.com

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Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#11

Post by MisterSandman »

chamakits wrote: post #4

This seems like an inevitability; since eSIMs are already here, and manufacturers are going to be thrilled to have fewer moving parts. But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number. As painful as transferring everything else is with new phones, at least I easily keep the same number. With this (and I’d guess with…

I feel like this is gearing up to bring back contracts or phone locks, in a way. A family member recently bought an iPhone from the US to a non-US country, without realizing that the US models are eSim-only. They have to change carriers because only the fancy, expensive carriers offer eSim. I would not be surprised if they find other ways to make it harder to install an eSim in a different carriers phone.

Also, another thing I hate about having an eSim is that it sorta forces you to install your carriers app, which for some cheap/mid-tier carriers is an ad-infested mess.

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#13

Post by MisterSandman »

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #8
thedays wrote: post #2

eSIMs are less convenient and less flexible than regular SIM cards - will iSIMs be any different? How many iSIMs will a phone support? Will they support dual iSIMs or triple iSIMs so I can use one mobile number for work, another for my personal life and a third to use when I'm travelling overseas and want to avoid expensive roaming charges?

At least on the iPhone you can add many and activate two simultaneously. Most phones weren’t dual-sim!

Which is awesome, but it also means that dual-sim capabilities is completely software based. In 10-20 years, could this be part of a subscribption, or be disabled by certain carriers who don't want you to use a cheaper data plan along with their sim?

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#14

Post by godzillabrennus »

chamakits wrote: post #4

This seems like an inevitability; since eSIMs are already here, and manufacturers are going to be thrilled to have fewer moving parts. But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number. As painful as transferring everything else is with new phones, at least I easily keep the same number. With this (and I’d guess with…

SIM cards were never swappable for me. They were locked to a phone. Changing to a new handset meant going to the carriers store or having them ship me one. I welcome the ease of portability that eSIM brings.

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#16

Post by MrBuddyCasino »

MisterSandman wrote: post #13
MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least on the iPhone you can add many and activate two simultaneously. Most phones weren’t dual-sim!

Which is awesome, but it also means that dual-sim capabilities is completely software based. In 10-20 years, could this be part of a subscribption, or be disabled by certain carriers who don't want you to use a cheaper data plan along with their sim?

They could have demanded this from physical dual-sim models as well. There is always some kind of software involved.

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#17

Post by Reason077 »

chamakits wrote: post #4

This seems like an inevitability; since eSIMs are already here, and manufacturers are going to be thrilled to have fewer moving parts. But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number. As painful as transferring everything else is with new phones, at least I easily keep the same number. With this (and I’d guess with…

> "But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number."

In theory, with an eSIM it's even easier to swap in your old SIM because you don't have to deal with the physical SIM card. Especially so if you don't have the physical SIM because it's lost or whatever. In my experience it's super frustrating to have to wait for a new SIM to arrive in the mail because you lost it or the old one is faulty!

Some carriers [1] also support "eSIM Quick Transfer" which allows you to swap eSIMs between devices instantly in the phone's carrier settings, with no need to contact the carrier or deal with their website/software.

[1] https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209096

eSIMs are a massive win when travelling, too. Instantly activate a data plan at cheap local rates in whatever country your travelling to, without having to first get your hands on a physical SIM...

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#18

Post by LeoPanthera »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #14
chamakits wrote: post #4

This seems like an inevitability; since eSIMs are already here, and manufacturers are going to be thrilled to have fewer moving parts. But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number. As painful as transferring everything else is with new phones, at least I easily keep the same number. With this (and I’d guess with…

SIM cards were never swappable for me. They were locked to a phone. Changing to a new handset meant going to the carriers store or having them ship me one. I welcome the ease of portability that eSIM brings.

This feels like an American perspective. In Europe (and Asia too?), sim-swapping is pretty seamless, and relatively common.

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#19

Post by kube-system »

bilekas wrote: post #5

I feel really old thinking that i remember the model of sim cards that were credit card size and not shown in the diagram.

You still get them in that format (but breakaway into smaller formats) if you buy a bring-your-own-sim kit from many carriers.

Re: Qualcomm wants to replace eSIMs with iSIMs, has the first certified SoC

#20

Post by secondcoming »

godzillabrennus wrote: post #14
chamakits wrote: post #4

This seems like an inevitability; since eSIMs are already here, and manufacturers are going to be thrilled to have fewer moving parts. But it’s disappointing all round. I absolutely love how easy it is for me to buy a new phone, swap in my old SIM and I’m instantly using my old number. As painful as transferring everything else is with new phones, at least I easily keep the same number. With this (and I’d guess with…

SIM cards were never swappable for me. They were locked to a phone. Changing to a new handset meant going to the carriers store or having them ship me one. I welcome the ease of portability that eSIM brings.

In order to test various 5G offerings, I have 3 SIM cards at the moment. All are freely swappable between my phone and my 5G router.
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