Live data from Hacker News

Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

neilzone.co.uk

31–40 of 244 posts

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#31

I wish I knew if this would have helped me on a recent trip out of the U.S. In preparation, I upgraded my older, low-end smartphone to one with a more recent version of Android, NFC (for tap-to-pay), a headphone jack, and support for two physical SIMs. So when I arrived at my destination, I was able to purchase a 30-day SIM for a local phone number and data, but my primary SIM was useless outside of the U.S. so no ac…

[deleted]

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#32
post #30

I always wondered - can you have no roaming if you use eSIM with wifi calling and an exit node in country where eSIM is issued? So, basically: - you bought eSIM in Germany - you are currently in US - you use tailscale with exit node at your apartment in Germany - voila, no roaming when you call German mobile lines Right? [EDIT FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTION] If I have troubles receiving SMSs from Germany to German number wh…

Are there even roaming costs at all when calling over wifi? Would make sense to me if there weren't, since you're not using the mobile infrastructure you would be paying for.

Then again I could also easily see telcos charging roaming anyway, just because they can.

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#33
Haha what a coincidence, I bought a 9eSIM adapter a few weeks ago! There is a new eSIM-only card in Germany where you get 3 GB of data plus unlimited SMS and calls per month for free. To order it I had to use Frida and the Android emulator to fool the app into thinking the device had an eSIM. After that you have to do some JavaScript shenanigans on the website to get the QR code. But after that, everything works flawlessly with the eSIM adapter. The card is called "GMX FreePhone".

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#34
post #21

I wish I knew if this would have helped me on a recent trip out of the U.S. In preparation, I upgraded my older, low-end smartphone to one with a more recent version of Android, NFC (for tap-to-pay), a headphone jack, and support for two physical SIMs. So when I arrived at my destination, I was able to purchase a 30-day SIM for a local phone number and data, but my primary SIM was useless outside of the U.S. so no ac…

I really don't see the connection between an eSIM and your SIM not working abroad here. All an eSIM does is replace a physical one with a "digital" one. You'd still be using your carrier in these places. For your sim to work, your carrier would need to have agreements in place with providers in the country you're in. And then they'd charge you an extortionate amount of money to making any calls or use any data.

He's probably talking about how on iPhones[1] and some Androids[2], you can do something called "wifi calling using cellular data" or "backup calling", which basically enables you to roam for "free" on your one SIM by using wifi-calling over the data connection of the second SIM. It only triggers if the first SIM doesn't have any reception, but there's workarounds for that, but in any case it's not as simple as installing an eSIM and getting free roaming.

[1] https://cdsassets.apple.com/live/7WUAS350/images/ios/ios-18-...

[2] https://lemmy.world/post/58708

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#36
post #30

I always wondered - can you have no roaming if you use eSIM with wifi calling and an exit node in country where eSIM is issued? So, basically: - you bought eSIM in Germany - you are currently in US - you use tailscale with exit node at your apartment in Germany - voila, no roaming when you call German mobile lines Right? [EDIT FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTION] If I have troubles receiving SMSs from Germany to German number wh…

In my experience, wi-fi calling works as if on the home network, regardless of IP location/endpoint. So this would work similarly with an eSIM.

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#37
Is there any effort towards enabling increased privacy against tracking by "rotating" eSIMs amongst a group of individuals? The article mentions capacity for 50 profiles, what would be the legal and/or implementation effects of such a Local-Profile-Agent?

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#38
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheap is very subjective. There is always a way cheaper Esim option, especially if you have high usage. Not the common Esim provider spamming all of Google. But you often find local Esim resellers for local networks. Writing this from my Caravan WiFi, with a small streaming computer, 2 mobiles and a laptop using about 250 GB a month :)

In my experience, getting an eSIM is usually cheaper than the airport SIM card plans, but often there are cheaper plans available when you get to the city. In any case, having both options is nice!

>getting an eSIM is usually cheaper than the airport SIM card plans, but often there are cheaper plans available when you get to the city

I find that for light data users (ie. < 5GB), esims are always almost cheaper than local sims, except for maybe in developing countries.

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#39
post #30

I always wondered - can you have no roaming if you use eSIM with wifi calling and an exit node in country where eSIM is issued? So, basically: - you bought eSIM in Germany - you are currently in US - you use tailscale with exit node at your apartment in Germany - voila, no roaming when you call German mobile lines Right? [EDIT FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTION] If I have troubles receiving SMSs from Germany to German number wh…

Yes, see: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42768735

Re: Using eSIMs with devices that only have a physical SIM slot via a 9eSIM SIM car

#40

Is there any effort towards enabling increased privacy against tracking by "rotating" eSIMs amongst a group of individuals? The article mentions capacity for 50 profiles, what would be the legal and/or implementation effects of such a Local-Profile-Agent?

You can't transfer eSIMs between devices. iPhones support "transfers" but in reality it involves the carrier reissuing it. You'd have to transfer the physical device, which is going to be a pain.
Post reply on HN