What's an eSIM, how it works and why it's important to you

15 October 2017
The Google Pixel 2 is one of the first phones to launch with an eSIM. We take a look at the latest revolution in the world of the ubiquitous SIM card and why you should care?

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  • D
  • AnonD-356282
  • PUa
  • 16 Oct 2017

LG Fan, 16 Oct 2017What if I want to switch SiM cards right away? Or if i'm us... moreIn theory, you can simply select the service through the phone. You need to look at this end-to-end.

A traveler from Japan who's visiting Hong Kong can simply select a pay-as-you-go plan as soon as they've touched down. They don't need to seek out a phone store, 7/11, etc. to get the physical SIM.

I'm sure that Operators will put restrictions on exactly how often or quickly one can switch, but it'll take a while to get the balance right. There's also bound to be easy migration services to move from a physical SIM to an eSIM.

I think this is a logical and good change.

    Anonymous, 15 Oct 2017What? Like on a date? Lol.Oh the Hilarity!

    Im talking about if im going somewhere i dont fancy taking a £1000 phone with me, or if im going abroad for a weekend and dont want to risk losing my phone so i take a cheaper one.

    At the moment i just take out a sim and put it in another. Its a pain in the ass if ill have to ring my provider to change over, especially if you need them when their phonelines are closed.

      It is logical evolution. Nowadays phones has everything integrated and sealed, without any user replaceable parts, so no wonder in a future your phone will be embedded with all the hardware and software you need, saving space and make it easier to design

        • L
        • LG Fan
        • wY5
        • 16 Oct 2017

        What if I want to switch SiM cards right away? Or if i'm using a prepaid SiM, change phones or change numbers. The convenience of the removable SiM card is needed and making it built-in will have more disadvantages than advantages.
        Removing the headphone jack for "space" is Bull Sh*t and EVERYONE in the right mind knows that.

        These gimmicks are just cash grabs by greedy companies that force consumers to adapt to their products. Don't get me wrong, change is good. But not every change is.

          • n
          • nix
          • tTd
          • 16 Oct 2017

          e sim looks nice

            • D
            • AnonD-708416
            • GaJ
            • 16 Oct 2017

            AlienNextDoor, 16 Oct 2017This is by far the most useless and stupid thing in the sel... moreYou sound pretty old school. Are you unhappy because you have to adapt to change? Honestly, the evolution of sim cards is not a big deal. I don't see what the problem is.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • ELT
              • 16 Oct 2017

              Oathbreaker, 16 Oct 2017Please read this thread -http://www.howardforums.com/showth... moreI guess, Ahah...! You well said xD thanks in adventure

                • L
                • Luxor
                • tue
                • 16 Oct 2017

                That sim card from 1991 is a freaking huge credit card! Never heard of it and probably cant afford it that time. Having dual sim back then must be unimaginable. Hahaha. It wont take another 27 years before e-sim rules all smartphone. Future people will be like, "Simcard slot? What is that? Never heard it before". Or will smartphone still exist by that time? Hmm.

                  • K
                  • Kabbi
                  • n7F
                  • 16 Oct 2017

                  Oathbreaker, 16 Oct 2017Please read this thread -http://www.howardforums.com/showth... moreWhat you say is true, and has been like this in a long time now. But we can't avoid this.

                    • A
                    • AlienNextDoor
                    • JK1
                    • 16 Oct 2017

                    This is by far the most useless and stupid thing in the selfphone industry EVER! Nothing comes even close to it. Not even stupid edge screens. Not even making batteries nonremovable.

                    Switching from micro to nano sim was such a needless and annoying hassle. But this takes the cake.

                      • K
                      • Khan
                      • uZa
                      • 16 Oct 2017

                      With more flexibility in software there is a price to pay with the "tieing" up our phones/hardware with out being able to remove the knot ourselves. There should be a smaller card but with provision of user programmable shifting of networks after paying the price/bills through simple short coding to enable it.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • UD{
                        • 16 Oct 2017

                        Anonymous, 16 Oct 2017It depends on carriers. For phone makers, the solution save... moreeSim is already used in Sprint phones. just to inform.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • UD{
                          • 16 Oct 2017

                          skimminstones, 15 Oct 2017What if you want to take a different phone out one evening?... moreyou don't need to swap sim physically. it will be done through the system.

                            Please read this thread -http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1882045-Damn-do-I-ever-hate-Sprint/page4

                            It is why I left them because they are the most difficult to deal with when it comes to unlocking and sim swapping. Removable sims forever.

                            Face ID and eSim is just another way to control the mass population. Don't believe anything Apple (ahem, Big Brother) wants. Anytime we walk into a store, our eyes or face will be scanned now that will show advertisements like what we saw in Minority Report. Don't be a slave to them. Say no to eSim and this facial/iris scanning stuff.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • nI8
                              • 16 Oct 2017

                              Anonymous, 16 Oct 2017It depends on carriers. For phone makers, the solution save... morebut there is a lot of space every year components get smaller and smaller and phones bigger and bigger
                              everything above 5" has enough space for headphone jack,microsd, 2sim,3000mah and above, ir blaster, 2cameras and so on
                              just check there is some cheap 2.5" android phones with jack,microsd and 2sim
                              also go to ifixit and see some images of motherboards
                              OEMs keep removing stuff which were there before without a problem

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • tPG
                                • 16 Oct 2017

                                eSim is equivalent to elimination of removable battery.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Kgv
                                  • 16 Oct 2017

                                  I change my SIM cards on an almost weekly basis, yet have my main one. If the system allowed for virtual sims, as in switching them while keeping the plans active that would not be so bad.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • PU%
                                    • 16 Oct 2017

                                    Anonymous, 15 Oct 2017„given the time it will take manufacturers to include eSIM'... moreIt depends on carriers. For phone makers, the solution saves space, material and improves quality. There is no reason for them to defer.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-78335
                                      • 35T
                                      • 16 Oct 2017

                                      so the future of the connected devices and smartphones to be Verizon-ized !! it means we are back to 80's mobile phones with smart features and then it drive us to be more servants to the service providers also when phone or ant IoT devices got damaged or having an issue to get connected we end up buying a whole new device and wait for the provider to register my device

                                      Long Live removable SIM

                                        • A
                                        • Aym007
                                        • Yhc
                                        • 16 Oct 2017

                                        As a Wireless Service retailer, I see a great value in the eSim in that it may once and for all decrease phone theft to a bare minimum.

                                        If the sim is soldered on the phone, and the IMEI/eSim combo is blacklisted, then stolen phones will be useless. Putting another sim after unlocking the stolen phone will not be an option. Once an IMEI/eSim is reported stolen, it will be impossible to use the phone by anyone on planet earth, rendering the phone useless except for parts. The phone can not be even used as a media/WiFi device because the sim can not be removed. The phone will have to check with the network (possible since an eSim is always present) once it is turned on (even if it is not active) to check if it is stolen or not. If it is, then the phone is disabled.