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This year Apple removed another long standing port from their devices. This time around it was the sim tray. Apple is going completely portless with their dev

This year Apple removed another long standing port from their devices. This time around it was the sim tray. Apple is going completely portless with their devices. By the time this law is in effect there will be no external ports on Apples devices. Anyone want to take bets on whether Apple introduces its own wireless charging standard at that time or the following year?

zimpenfish 4y ago
> This time around it was the sim tray. Only in the US, I believe. My UK iPhone 14 certainly has a SIM tray with a physical SIM in it - lucky, really, because my provider doesn't support eSIMs. [edit: just checked and it seems my provider is the only big one that doesn't support them.]
- nottorp 4y ago
  > just checked and it seems my provider is the only big one that doesn't support them And how about the small ones? I see eSim as limiting choice. First the provider must support it. Second they have to support it and be compatible with my phone. Third, how do you switch providers with an eSim? Do you need to contact servers for both the provider you're leaving and the one you're switching to? What if one of them is not reachable? How likely is it that the provider you're turning off can put in some innocent administrative hurdles? Physical sims seem to give me a lot more choice since no one has any say in what I plug into the phone.
  - zimpenfish 4y ago
    > And how about the small ones? I see eSim as limiting choice. I think most of the UK's small providers are just virtual providers (MVNOs)backed onto one of the big ones - eSIM support would presumably just be an option they select. > Third, how do you switch providers with an eSim? Haven't checked but I suspect it's exactly the same as porting your number with a physical SIM which, in the UK, is basically either a webform or phoning up to get a code from customer service. > How likely is it that the provider you're turning off can put in some innocent administrative hurdles? In the UK, zero, because they are explicitly prohibited from putting up any kind of obstruction to people wanting to move providers.
    - nottorp 4y ago
      Oh, I wasn't clear. I was thinking of the scenario where you regularly use multiple SIMs. Not of when you port your number. > I think most of the UK's small providers are just virtual providers (MVNOs)backed onto one of the big ones - eSIM support would presumably just be an option they select. And are they big enough for Apple to talk to them? :)

zimpenfish 4y ago

> This time around it was the sim tray. Only in the US, I believe. My UK iPhone 14 certainly has a SIM tray with a physical SIM in it - lucky, really, because my provider doesn't support eSIMs. [edit: just checked and it seems my provider is the only big one that doesn't support them.]

nottorp 4y ago
> just checked and it seems my provider is the only big one that doesn't support them And how about the small ones? I see eSim as limiting choice. First the provider must support it. Second they have to support it and be compatible with my phone. Third, how do you switch providers with an eSim? Do you need to contact servers for both the provider you're leaving and the one you're switching to? What if one of them is not reachable? How likely is it that the provider you're turning off can put in some innocent administrative hurdles? Physical sims seem to give me a lot more choice since no one has any say in what I plug into the phone.
- zimpenfish 4y ago
  > And how about the small ones? I see eSim as limiting choice. I think most of the UK's small providers are just virtual providers (MVNOs)backed onto one of the big ones - eSIM support would presumably just be an option they select. > Third, how do you switch providers with an eSim? Haven't checked but I suspect it's exactly the same as porting your number with a physical SIM which, in the UK, is basically either a webform or phoning up to get a code from customer service. > How likely is it that the provider you're turning off can put in some innocent administrative hurdles? In the UK, zero, because they are explicitly prohibited from putting up any kind of obstruction to people wanting to move providers.
  - nottorp 4y ago
    Oh, I wasn't clear. I was thinking of the scenario where you regularly use multiple SIMs. Not of when you port your number. > I think most of the UK's small providers are just virtual providers (MVNOs)backed onto one of the big ones - eSIM support would presumably just be an option they select. And are they big enough for Apple to talk to them? :)