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I see a lot of concern here and elsewhere about getting local pre-paid SIMs when traveling. Wouldn't widespread eSIM support be a boon for those carriers? As I
by ericbarrett 4y ago
I see a lot of concern here and elsewhere about getting local pre-paid SIMs when traveling. Wouldn't widespread eSIM support be a boon for those carriers? As I understand it all they need is a thin app and a sign-up process. It's not a high barrier to entry and most pre-paid markets are very competitive, so I think there soon will be many choices. (The iPhone won't be the last to drop the physical SIM port.) The real losers will be the corner stores.
- 8ytecoder 4y agoIt already exists. There is both Truphone and Airalo that I’ve used and actually quite liked. Much easier than finding a store to buy a sim. You can literally just activate it at the airport with WiFi. Also how I tested a domestic carrier before switching over, I didn’t have to order a sim and wait 10 days. This is a non-issue.
- daveoc64 4y agoHow do you use an app without a data connection? A physical SIM requires no data connection to use. You can collect it from a vending machine, put it in your device and it works immediately. Carriers often don't let people outside of the country sign up for service - even prepaid. Perhaps in the long run we'll see consumer-friendly options, but so far, carriers all over the world have shown how anti-consumer eSIM can be. They have many new found opportunities to restrict competition, consumer choice, and make additional profit from unfair charges.