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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

#101

Post by kuschku »

metaphor wrote: post #55
kube-system wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Pretty sure the parent is referring to the obsolete 1FF variant, e.g. [1]. The intent back then was to use your personal SIM on a shared cellphone. [1] https://www.telecomkhabar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/C30...

Yes, carriers in EU still send out SIM cards in that format, but you can break the edges off to turn it into miniSIM, microSIM or nanoSIM.

e.g., https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617HebHVIAL._AC_SY355_.j...

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

#102

Post by Reason077 »

KennyBlanken wrote: post #65
Reason077 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "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…

> 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! "Even easier" until eSIMs become commonplace or the default, and then manufa…

> "The push for eSIMs has little to do with "reducing parts counts" or thinner devices, and everything to do with carriers wanting more control over their customers"

And yet, it's the phone manufacturers who are pushing eSIMs. Many carriers seem resistant to rolling them out! Why? If anything, it's because the opposite is true: eSIMs make it easier to switch providers, by eroding the barrier of having to first acquire a physical SIM card in order to switch.

> "Mark my words, we'll start seeing eSIM transfer fees, locks, policies - all designed to keep people from participating in a free market for cell phone services."

I think if that were to happen in Europe, we'd quickly see a regulatory response from the EU (if it isn't illegal already).

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

#103

Post by vinay427 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #100
Reason077 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure there is: competition. Why let your competitor network grab those 10x roaming fees when you can grab the 1x yourself? Last time I was in Thailand, vendors at the airport were practically falling over themselves to sell you their SIM card on their network! Besides, I doubt roaming fees are all that lucrative considering all the "free global roaming" plans there are now days. Those networks that charge crazy per-M…

Free global roaming is paid by the home carrier - it doesn't necessarily make it free at the visited carrier.

It seems like they meant that the existence of free global roaming suggests that roaming fees may not be very lucrative for the visited carrier, and exorbitant roaming rates are mostly to the benefit of the home carrier.

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

#104

Post by Reason077 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #100
Reason077 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure there is: competition. Why let your competitor network grab those 10x roaming fees when you can grab the 1x yourself? Last time I was in Thailand, vendors at the airport were practically falling over themselves to sell you their SIM card on their network! Besides, I doubt roaming fees are all that lucrative considering all the "free global roaming" plans there are now days. Those networks that charge crazy per-M…

Free global roaming is paid by the home carrier - it doesn't necessarily make it free at the visited carrier.

I'm sure that network X would not be offering free roaming on network Y without an agreement in place between carriers that made it free (or, at least, very cheap) to do so.

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

#105

Post by hooch »

Nextgrid wrote: post #71
Reason077 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was really thinking of being able to grab an eSIM directly for a local network, rather than one of the "global eSIM providers". You'd just grab your eSIM over WiFi when you land rather than seeking out a physical SIM from an airport vendor. Obviously it's not the reality that these are easily available in all destinations, yet, but should become more so over time.

There's frankly no reason for a local network to make it easy for foreigners to sign up when they can instead get paid 10x as much in roaming fees if the foreigner stays on their home network instead.

Have you traveled? Mobile vendors at airports and also regular mobile carrier stores will happily sell you an eSIM, not a problem. Scan the QR code and it’s done.

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

#106

Post by Nextgrid »

Reason077 wrote: post #104
Nextgrid wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Free global roaming is paid by the home carrier - it doesn't necessarily make it free at the visited carrier.

I'm sure that network X would not be offering free roaming on network Y without an agreement in place between carriers that made it free (or, at least, very cheap) to do so.

That very much depends on whether the traffic between the two networks is equal. If it's very asymmetric one side can take advantage of the situation. Also keep in mind that in some locations, free roaming is mandated by law so carriers have no choice but to offer it - in this case visited carriers can take advantage.

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

#107

Post by pmontra »

gambiting wrote: post #34
mschuster91 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dual-SIM phones were the hot shit for years when phones were beginning to take off. I remember some weird adapters that cycled through SIMs when the phone was restarted and all kinds of other hacks.

I mean, all top end Samsungs are proper dual SIM phones still(they take two physical Sims). #1 reason why I'm still buying them and not any other brand. iPhones also support dual SIM but only with one physical card and one eSIM.

Also not top end ones. Example, the Samsung A40, a mid range sub 300 EUR phone. There is plenty of space for SIMs in nowadays' ridiculously sized phones.

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

#108

Post by goosedragons »

pilif wrote: post #91
DeathArrow wrote: post #88

Why is this a positive story? Downsides: -it is more cumbersome to replace phones, as you have to move identities from phone to phone and get approvals by carriers and device makers instead of just replacing the physical SIM -you can't just hand over your phone to someone else, you have to unroll yourself and enroll the other person -you don't have anonymity and privacy since is no longer possible to use a prepaid ph…

> it is more cumbersome to replace phones, as you have to move identities from phone to phone and get approvals by carriers and device makers instead of just replacing the physical SIM That really depends on the carrier. In my case, setting up a new iPhone to replace an old one means saying yes in the prompt displayed by the phone. Nothing else. This is more convenient than having to search for the SIM removal tool.…

How much more complicated and annoying is the process if you're going iPhone to Android or Android to iPhone?

You take the SIM card out before handing it someone else.

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

#109

Post by zx8080 »

If I understand it correctly, it's not possible to switch esim to another phone in two scenarious:

- dead battery in the current esim holder phone

- no internet

- crashed or somehow broken esim holder phone

The worst thing is that it probably won't be even possible to buy anything since banks tend to tie 2nd payment factor to phone (notifications) or sms. Complete lock up is very possible.

I won't use esim as much as possible at all.

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

#110

Post by bpfrh »

kuschku wrote: post #98
franga2000 wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They could be doing this already if they wanted to. I agree they shouldn't have this ability in the first place, but this doesn't change anything.

They can't do that with physical SIMs, because at least in the EU, there are regulations against that (to regulate stuff like phones and SIMs locked to each other)

I couldn't find that regulation and looking at wikipedia regulations about that are country specific:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_lock#European_Union

It seems sim locking is legal, but unlocking has to be allowed after some time.

I couldn't see anything that would differentiate between a carrier lock by esim vs a sim.

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