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

neilzone.co.uk

41–50 of 244 posts

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

#41
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.

I have a dual-SIM Pixel 7, the eSIM "slot" has a data-only subscription, the other slot has a pay-as-you-go SIM that I can make phone calls with (I make so few phone calls to actual lines, that having credit that I can top-up every few months is much more cheaper than paying monthly for free minutes). The PAYG SIM offers WiFi calling, and the phone appears to even offer "WiFi"-calling over the data connection, for a much better audio quality.

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

#42
post #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.

AFAIK Only the eSIM issuer can do this. I did it once, it involved the eSIM issuer support emailing me a new QR code.

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

#43
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One announce with eSIM is that you can’t move them freely, despite being advertised as equivalent. Depending on the provider it can get quite complicated (physical visit in store, fees) to move to another device.

Could one make an all-software sim card emulator which would enable this? Or does the esim spec have some kind of DRM to require you to use physical hardware with an embedded yet secret-to-you key?

>Or does the esim spec have some kind of DRM to require you to use physical hardware with an embedded yet secret-to-you key?

Yes. Basically there's an accreditation process by the GSMA, and if your esim doesn't have a certificate chain leading back to GSMA, you won't be able to get your esim provisioned.

https://media.ccc.de/v/camp2023-57190-demystifying_esim_tech...

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

#44
This seems like it might be useful for web scraping. Ive been having a munch easier time scraping/ not having to buy proxies since moving to strictly 5G modems. Something like this might help get past the two sim limit on both devices.

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

#45
Hmm that's kinda nice. I don't like eSIMs because the provider often imposes arbitrary constraints. Either needing their data-stealing app, only allowing so many changes per month, only allowing 'certified' handsets, having 2FA bullshit etc.

I just want to swap my number into different phones like I can with a physical card, without anyone else's involvement or approval.

If I could just grab an esim and download it onto a physical card that would be great.

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

#46

Hmm that's kinda nice. I don't like eSIMs because the provider often imposes arbitrary constraints. Either needing their data-stealing app, only allowing so many changes per month, only allowing 'certified' handsets, having 2FA bullshit etc. I just want to swap my number into different phones like I can with a physical card, without anyone else's involvement or approval. If I could just grab an esim and download it o…

I have a 5ber.esim that appears to be exactly that.

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

#47

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 flaw…

Thanks for mentioning the provider.

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

#48

Hmm that's kinda nice. I don't like eSIMs because the provider often imposes arbitrary constraints. Either needing their data-stealing app, only allowing so many changes per month, only allowing 'certified' handsets, having 2FA bullshit etc. I just want to swap my number into different phones like I can with a physical card, without anyone else's involvement or approval. If I could just grab an esim and download it o…

>Either needing their data-stealing app

that's only needed on non-rooted Android, due to security restrictions imposed by android. OP even mentions using an open source tool (lpac) with his esim adapter.

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

#49
post #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.

What prevents you from doing that? Is an activated eSIM linked to the device's MAC address, making it impossible to use with a different device?

If that is the case, what would happen if we transferred the MAC address along with the eSIM? (assuming you have a jailbroken/rooted phone)

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