7 ms·

The Rise and (Eventual) Fall of the SIM Card

52 points by lxm 3y ago

wkat4242 3y ago
eSIM is total crap. Networks here refuse to load it on certain phones that weren't 'validated', charge for a SIM swap to another phone, or limit the number of times you can change phones per month. Usually you need some half assed app too. The idea was to make things easier and give the consumer more control. It has completely failed on both counts. A physical sim I can just grab and stick in whatever phone I want, however much I please without the network whining about it or charging me. I don't want eSIM. Luckily here in Europe most networks don't even offer them for prepay and I don't do phone contacts. As many other people. So for now the manufacturers have no choice, they will have to keep making them.
- dghlsakjg 3y ago
  This sounds like a problem with the networks, not a problem with the e-sim technology.
  - hot_gril 3y ago
    I feel like the card forces them to make it easy. Whoever physically holds the card is authorized to use it. eSIM is required to have additional auth steps, and that opens a can of worms that might not be solved so well. It's kinda like audio jack vs bluetooth.
  - bandergirl 3y ago
    Before eSIMs this could not be a problem: eSIMs allowed this to be problem, so I blame eSIMs. Had they mandated the instant validation of eSIMs with a simple QR, regardless of other active eSIMs, this would not have been a problem.
    - hot_gril 3y ago
      SIMs did have issues like this too, usually more about the phone than the SIM itself. Buy used phone, pop in new SIM, find it's locked to the old SIM on AT&T's side. Try to switch carriers, find it's carrier-locked. But eSIMs add extra layers of stuff that can go wrong.
  - wkat4242 3y ago
    It is with the technology because it enables them to do this. With traditional SIMs they have no way to do it.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
someotherperson 3y ago
> The day is coming when you’ll have to bid your trusty SIM card goodbye, and that’s a shame. I'm waiting for the legislative hammer comes down on this. Any government body that has any sort of teeth (i.e EU) needs to clamp down on this and prevent this from becoming a reality. eSIMs are great, but they are no SIM card replacement in their current form. It's as useful (and provides as much benefit) as soldered RAM chips or batteries.
- dghlsakjg 3y ago
  Huh? AFAIK, e-sims can be arbitrarily created and assigned to a phone, there isn't some hardware limitation like soldered ram. I can got to a new country and get an e-sim without having to hunt down a kiosk. On my last extended trip to the US, I just signed up for a prep-pay monthly account with Visible and was able to get going pretty easily without having to fiddle with any actual hardware. The current generation of iPhone supports 8 e-sims. It all seems pretty good to me
  - someotherperson 3y ago
    What happens if your phone broke while in the US? Is your carrier from your home country able to assign you an eSIM while overseas? Or are you stuck until you can return home? What happens if your phone is damaged at 1am? Do you have to wait until the next business day to be able to have a new eSIM issued? I'm not saying eSIM doesn't have value, I can immediately see the value it provides. What I'm saying is that it doesn't replace SIM cards. We're taking something that is device agnostic and forcefully tying it to a device. Both options should continue to exist in parallel, just like we continue to have both internal and cloud storage on our devices. At least until eSIM tech can improve enough to overcome these issues.
    - WirelessGigabit 3y ago
      Mint.com: install app & sign in and load up the eSIM. And that's the hard way. Providers could just support a QR code that I scan with my iPhone.
adamc 3y ago
Of course, regulators (e.g., in the EU) could say no to some of these trends.
glonq 3y ago
Having worked in IoT since before it was called that, I was very happy to see physical SIMs get retired because that's one less potential point of failure. It's not fun to have a card or socket fail on a device that is somewhere on the opposite side of the planet.
criddell 3y ago
Is there any reason for carriers to prefer physical SIM cards? When I put my phone on T-Mobile two years ago, they insisted on a physical SIM. At the time I was told it was necessary to get the fastest speeds.
- znpy 3y ago
  Control. When i was working with the emerging (at the time) nfc technology it was evident it was all about control: the sim card usually holds the secure element, and it’s really a war between carriers, os providers and phone manufacturers. Who controls the secure element controls another big share of the user’s life.
  - enos_feedler 3y ago
    Well carriers own the networks that the secure element grants access to. At the end of the day I dont think carriers care about who owns the tokens/auth data for the network, but that 1) they are furnished by the network under their own control and 2) they get paid for the network access
    - AnotherGoodName 3y ago
      An example where this matters is tethering right now. My android phone won't tether. It's an unlocked android phone bought independently of the carrier. But it won't tether the connection to another device as my provider has a flag that this is not supported and android due to pressure from carriers obeys this on all phones, even non carrier locked phones. Of course I can just swap the sim into a dedicated tethering hotspot and it works. But esim will soon fix that as esims are tied to the phone.
- sangnoir 3y ago
  > Is there any reason for carriers to prefer physical SIM cards? I'm not in telecoms, but I suppose they want to disintermediate device manufacturers who are trying to insinuate themselves between networks and their subscribers. Maybe with a hint of reducing points of failure
jdofaz 3y ago
Anyone else remember paying fees to change your ESN with a CDMA carrier?
enos_feedler 3y ago
To me the biggest thing I see happening is that having multiple sims becomes the norm. Just like I have multiple credit cards in my wallet on different networks, I’ll probably have multiple network options and brands in my “sim card wallet”. Especially for traveling. But also attending a local football game and want the best mmWave network access? Make sure you’ve got the right sim in your wallet. Can also see this going the way of credit card rewards programs and linking service discounts to sim subscription for gaming and media streaming and maybe more.
- dspillett 3y ago
  > To me the biggest thing I see happening is that having multiple sims becomes the norm. Dual SIM is quite common now: my last few phones have carried two to save me carrying two devices. It would be nice if true multi-SIM became an option⁰ which by removing the need for physical card eSIMs would enable. If nothing else, this would make testing networks when considering a switch much easier. I go out on trail running and treking events, and carry two SIMs for extra safety², being able to do so in one phone is more convenient than needing to carry an extra device. My main network has better reception/throughput/etc. in a few places that matter to me, and a suitable service/cost balance for my use patterns, the second one is a PAYG arrangement on Vodafone which (mainly because they use a different signal band) gets at least some reception in many places in the middle of nowhere where other carriers do not. I'm not sure is a third option would help here though, IIRC all providers use the same main frequency range with one or two having a bit of bandwidth in one other. -- [0] Unless existing dual-SIM support in Android¹ is actually generic and already supports 3+. [1] I don't know if this is standard or if each phone maker is providing their own additions to support it, or if there is standard support and some are providing their own anyway for [reason(s)]. [2] More chance of having reception if I need to get messages out in an emergency – I've never needed to, but I know people who have.
- turtlebits 3y ago
  Pretty sure it's been the norm for a while - my 3 year old iPhone supports multiple SIMs. I just changed carriers (including porting my number) and it was a pleasant experience. Through an app, the new carrier added a new eSIM (and temporary number) and started the port process. When the port was done, it automatically updated my new eSIM with my original number.
addaon 3y ago
Here’s the feature I want out of (an evolution of) eSIMs replacing physical SIMs. I am a Verizon customer (US). Various other providers have apparently better deals (eg T-Mobile), but I have no way to assess how coverage would be impacted for my specific scenarios. Why can’t T-Mobile issue me a free “advertising” eSIM that doesn’t actually provide service (or provides a ridiculously small amount), but allows me to look at what reception my existing phone (with all its limitations on bands) would have if I were a t-mobile customer? Why can’t an app that I choose to give location permissions to gather that info, and the Verizon connection info, over time and space and show me a map of where things would be better or worse? Why can’t the same system provide just enough connectivity that I can slip them a $20 for a week’s service or whatever if I find myself in a spot where their coverage is better than Verizon’s?
- whoisthemachine 3y ago
  Google Fi just let me do exactly this, and it was great.
  - whoisthemachine 3y ago
    > Why can’t an app that I choose to give location permissions to gather that info, and the Verizon connection info, over time and space and show me a map of where things would be better or worse? Well except for this part, but maybe somebody made such an app.
- erhaetherth 3y ago
  $20! I recently paid 10 GBP to 10 GB for 30 days.
  - addaon 3y ago
    Sure, but the value of me having a second provider is usually zero… and in the cases where I realize it’s suddenly non-zero, it’s substantially non-zero. (E.g. backpacking trip extended a day or two, trying to get weather update to assess flash flood risk.) This distortion is why I feel like providers should be interested.
pjmlp 3y ago
In countries where pre-paid rules, I doubt they will go away, unless operators make it as easy to switch, and they won't per their locking nature.
dangus 3y ago
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it entirely possible for your cellular provider to block you from using their network based on what phone your physical SIM card is installed in? To me, the physical SIM card just seems like an old technical limitation. The concerns surrounding its elimination don’t seem to have strong backing in my mind.
- jaywalk 3y ago
  Absolutely, that's the phone's IMEI. It's how stolen phones can be blocked, for example.
- bandergirl 3y ago
  SIM or eSIM here is irrelevant. The operator will block a specific IMEI that was reported stolen, so any future users will not be able to use a SIM/eSIM from that specific operator in that phone. > To me, the physical SIM card just seems like an old technical limitation The SIM/eSIM is just your ID card to connect to the network, I don't see it as a limitation. The only difference now is that you can verify your identity and download it, rather than visit a store.
- daveoc64 3y ago
  Yes, and some carriers do. Some will have a list of "supported devices", and if you try to use anything not on the list it'll be blocked. This isn't legal in some countries though. The UK telecoms regulator (Ofcom) prohibits any form of restriction on putting SIMs into devices, for example. Previously carriers would do things like saying that a SIM on a plan for phones couldn't be used in a tablet. A physical SIM or eSIM doesn't make a lot of difference with this, although a carrier obviously can't do anything to stop you moving a physical SIM between device. Changing an eSIM often requires contact with the carrier, so that's an opportunity for them to say no/make it difficult/charge a fee.
arek_nawo 3y ago
Happy to see the SIM card go away. eSIM provides just so much better experience. This also enables easier installation and setup for basically any carrier. Just download the app, configure eSIM and you're good. Maybe the easier switching is why adoption is kind-of slow on the carrier side? Easier to keep you locked-in with more obstacles in place. Seen some comments mention potential issues with it vs physical SIM, but I hope these get resolved with time or standard solutions are developed. Personally I had no issues with it, using it for over 2 years now.
- mort96 3y ago
  I often hear about people having issues moving their eSIM from their old phone to their new phone during new iPhone season. I don't see why I would want that failure mode to exist. With a physical SIM, it couldn't be more straight forward; pop the card out from the old phone and in to the new phone. You don't need permission from anyone, you don't need an app, you don't risk having something fail and having to contact support, you just ... do it. And if your phone breaks or something and you need to use your old phone, or borrow a friend's old phone, or whatever, you just move the SIM over. As a consumer, what benefit does eSIM have?
  - jaywalk 3y ago
    Perhaps you've never actually participated in "new iPhone season" but it never involved moving your old SIM to your new phone. New iPhones came with a new SIM, and part of the activation process involved deactivating your old SIM and activating your new SIM. As a consumer, eSIMs are fantastic for international travel. I can have a prepaid international data plan up and running before I even get off the plane.
    - mort96 3y ago
      That must be a US thing. Any time I've gotten a new phone (be it iPhone -> iPhone, iPhone -> Android or Android -> iPhone or even Sony Ericsson -> Sony Ericsson back in the day) I've just popped out the SIM from the old phone and put it in the new. The most recent was iPhone 7 -> iPhone 12 and it just worked then as usual. The only exception is when they've moved to a physically smaller SIM card format.
ropintus 3y ago
My phone broke down a few weeks ago, along with the eSIM inside it. The eSIM was very important to me because I used it for everything. If it had been a physical SIM card, I could have simply bought a new phone and moved the SIM card to it. This was a painful lesson, and I have decided not to use eSIM again.
- jaywalk 3y ago
  Can you explain exactly what you mean when you say you used the eSIM "for everything"?
  - bandergirl 3y ago
    Probably to receive 2FA and connect to the internet. Not specifically the eSIM.
  - ropintus 3y ago
    All my 2FA authentications were linked to this SIM card, including all my internet banking services and other payment systems. Fortunately, I had some money set aside for emergencies. I also utilized this mobile number for various online services and relied on it as my primary method of communication.
    - stephen_g 3y ago
      It’s inconvenient, but surely you’re able to pretty easily get the number ported to a new eSIM…? You should still have the account and basically should just need to find some WiFi to download it on a different device? I travel a fair bit, all this makes me think how hard this would be if I was in, say, Europe and my phone was stolen - to get a new physical SIM I’d need to visit a physical store in Australia! Perhaps I could have a family member visit and send it to me in the mail, but in just a slightly different situation the physical SIM is potentially a lot more problematic!
- tass 3y ago
  What was the “everything” you’re referring to? Physical sims can fail too, so not a good place to store a phone book if that’s what you mean. Some providers are better than others at generating and replacing esims. The worst one I came across was Vodafone which removed passwords from their accounts and instead texted a code to log in - of course this is impossible without access to a sim, so good luck I suppose.
nickpp 3y ago
I recently discovered (and used) the eSIM + Airalo app combo for international travel. I love it! Prepaid data eSIMs you can buy and install in the comfort of your home, before even going out the door. 5$ gets you 1Gb and 1 week in almost any country, but they also offer a global (130 countries or so) eSIM for $9. Genius! Just as game changing as Booking and Uber were for me when then first came online.

52 points by lxm 3y ago

eSIM is total crap. Networks here refuse to load it on certain phones that weren't 'validated', charge for a SIM swap to another phone, or limit the number of times you can change phones per month. Usually you need some half assed app too. The idea was to make things easier and give the consumer more control. It has completely failed on both counts. A physical sim I can just grab and stick in whatever phone I want, however much I please without the network whining about it or charging me. I don't want eSIM. Luckily here in Europe most networks don't even offer them for prepay and I don't do phone contacts. As many other people. So for now the manufacturers have no choice, they will have to keep making them.

dghlsakjg 3y ago
This sounds like a problem with the networks, not a problem with the e-sim technology.
- hot_gril 3y ago
  I feel like the card forces them to make it easy. Whoever physically holds the card is authorized to use it. eSIM is required to have additional auth steps, and that opens a can of worms that might not be solved so well. It's kinda like audio jack vs bluetooth.
- bandergirl 3y ago
  Before eSIMs this could not be a problem: eSIMs allowed this to be problem, so I blame eSIMs. Had they mandated the instant validation of eSIMs with a simple QR, regardless of other active eSIMs, this would not have been a problem.
  - hot_gril 3y ago
    SIMs did have issues like this too, usually more about the phone than the SIM itself. Buy used phone, pop in new SIM, find it's locked to the old SIM on AT&T's side. Try to switch carriers, find it's carrier-locked. But eSIMs add extra layers of stuff that can go wrong.
- wkat4242 3y ago
  It is with the technology because it enables them to do this. With traditional SIMs they have no way to do it.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

someotherperson 3y ago

> The day is coming when you’ll have to bid your trusty SIM card goodbye, and that’s a shame. I'm waiting for the legislative hammer comes down on this. Any government body that has any sort of teeth (i.e EU) needs to clamp down on this and prevent this from becoming a reality. eSIMs are great, but they are no SIM card replacement in their current form. It's as useful (and provides as much benefit) as soldered RAM chips or batteries.

dghlsakjg 3y ago
Huh? AFAIK, e-sims can be arbitrarily created and assigned to a phone, there isn't some hardware limitation like soldered ram. I can got to a new country and get an e-sim without having to hunt down a kiosk. On my last extended trip to the US, I just signed up for a prep-pay monthly account with Visible and was able to get going pretty easily without having to fiddle with any actual hardware. The current generation of iPhone supports 8 e-sims. It all seems pretty good to me
- someotherperson 3y ago
  What happens if your phone broke while in the US? Is your carrier from your home country able to assign you an eSIM while overseas? Or are you stuck until you can return home? What happens if your phone is damaged at 1am? Do you have to wait until the next business day to be able to have a new eSIM issued? I'm not saying eSIM doesn't have value, I can immediately see the value it provides. What I'm saying is that it doesn't replace SIM cards. We're taking something that is device agnostic and forcefully tying it to a device. Both options should continue to exist in parallel, just like we continue to have both internal and cloud storage on our devices. At least until eSIM tech can improve enough to overcome these issues.
  - WirelessGigabit 3y ago
    Mint.com: install app & sign in and load up the eSIM. And that's the hard way. Providers could just support a QR code that I scan with my iPhone.

adamc 3y ago

Of course, regulators (e.g., in the EU) could say no to some of these trends.

glonq 3y ago

Having worked in IoT since before it was called that, I was very happy to see physical SIMs get retired because that's one less potential point of failure. It's not fun to have a card or socket fail on a device that is somewhere on the opposite side of the planet.

criddell 3y ago

Is there any reason for carriers to prefer physical SIM cards? When I put my phone on T-Mobile two years ago, they insisted on a physical SIM. At the time I was told it was necessary to get the fastest speeds.

znpy 3y ago
Control. When i was working with the emerging (at the time) nfc technology it was evident it was all about control: the sim card usually holds the secure element, and it’s really a war between carriers, os providers and phone manufacturers. Who controls the secure element controls another big share of the user’s life.
- enos_feedler 3y ago
  Well carriers own the networks that the secure element grants access to. At the end of the day I dont think carriers care about who owns the tokens/auth data for the network, but that 1) they are furnished by the network under their own control and 2) they get paid for the network access
  - AnotherGoodName 3y ago
    An example where this matters is tethering right now. My android phone won't tether. It's an unlocked android phone bought independently of the carrier. But it won't tether the connection to another device as my provider has a flag that this is not supported and android due to pressure from carriers obeys this on all phones, even non carrier locked phones. Of course I can just swap the sim into a dedicated tethering hotspot and it works. But esim will soon fix that as esims are tied to the phone.
sangnoir 3y ago
> Is there any reason for carriers to prefer physical SIM cards? I'm not in telecoms, but I suppose they want to disintermediate device manufacturers who are trying to insinuate themselves between networks and their subscribers. Maybe with a hint of reducing points of failure

jdofaz 3y ago

Anyone else remember paying fees to change your ESN with a CDMA carrier?

enos_feedler 3y ago

To me the biggest thing I see happening is that having multiple sims becomes the norm. Just like I have multiple credit cards in my wallet on different networks, I’ll probably have multiple network options and brands in my “sim card wallet”. Especially for traveling. But also attending a local football game and want the best mmWave network access? Make sure you’ve got the right sim in your wallet. Can also see this going the way of credit card rewards programs and linking service discounts to sim subscription for gaming and media streaming and maybe more.

dspillett 3y ago
> To me the biggest thing I see happening is that having multiple sims becomes the norm. Dual SIM is quite common now: my last few phones have carried two to save me carrying two devices. It would be nice if true multi-SIM became an option⁰ which by removing the need for physical card eSIMs would enable. If nothing else, this would make testing networks when considering a switch much easier. I go out on trail running and treking events, and carry two SIMs for extra safety², being able to do so in one phone is more convenient than needing to carry an extra device. My main network has better reception/throughput/etc. in a few places that matter to me, and a suitable service/cost balance for my use patterns, the second one is a PAYG arrangement on Vodafone which (mainly because they use a different signal band) gets at least some reception in many places in the middle of nowhere where other carriers do not. I'm not sure is a third option would help here though, IIRC all providers use the same main frequency range with one or two having a bit of bandwidth in one other. -- [0] Unless existing dual-SIM support in Android¹ is actually generic and already supports 3+. [1] I don't know if this is standard or if each phone maker is providing their own additions to support it, or if there is standard support and some are providing their own anyway for [reason(s)]. [2] More chance of having reception if I need to get messages out in an emergency – I've never needed to, but I know people who have.
turtlebits 3y ago
Pretty sure it's been the norm for a while - my 3 year old iPhone supports multiple SIMs. I just changed carriers (including porting my number) and it was a pleasant experience. Through an app, the new carrier added a new eSIM (and temporary number) and started the port process. When the port was done, it automatically updated my new eSIM with my original number.

addaon 3y ago

Here’s the feature I want out of (an evolution of) eSIMs replacing physical SIMs. I am a Verizon customer (US). Various other providers have apparently better deals (eg T-Mobile), but I have no way to assess how coverage would be impacted for my specific scenarios. Why can’t T-Mobile issue me a free “advertising” eSIM that doesn’t actually provide service (or provides a ridiculously small amount), but allows me to look at what reception my existing phone (with all its limitations on bands) would have if I were a t-mobile customer? Why can’t an app that I choose to give location permissions to gather that info, and the Verizon connection info, over time and space and show me a map of where things would be better or worse? Why can’t the same system provide just enough connectivity that I can slip them a $20 for a week’s service or whatever if I find myself in a spot where their coverage is better than Verizon’s?

whoisthemachine 3y ago
Google Fi just let me do exactly this, and it was great.
- whoisthemachine 3y ago
  > Why can’t an app that I choose to give location permissions to gather that info, and the Verizon connection info, over time and space and show me a map of where things would be better or worse? Well except for this part, but maybe somebody made such an app.
erhaetherth 3y ago
$20! I recently paid 10 GBP to 10 GB for 30 days.
- addaon 3y ago
  Sure, but the value of me having a second provider is usually zero… and in the cases where I realize it’s suddenly non-zero, it’s substantially non-zero. (E.g. backpacking trip extended a day or two, trying to get weather update to assess flash flood risk.) This distortion is why I feel like providers should be interested.

pjmlp 3y ago

In countries where pre-paid rules, I doubt they will go away, unless operators make it as easy to switch, and they won't per their locking nature.

dangus 3y ago

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it entirely possible for your cellular provider to block you from using their network based on what phone your physical SIM card is installed in? To me, the physical SIM card just seems like an old technical limitation. The concerns surrounding its elimination don’t seem to have strong backing in my mind.

jaywalk 3y ago
Absolutely, that's the phone's IMEI. It's how stolen phones can be blocked, for example.
bandergirl 3y ago
SIM or eSIM here is irrelevant. The operator will block a specific IMEI that was reported stolen, so any future users will not be able to use a SIM/eSIM from that specific operator in that phone. > To me, the physical SIM card just seems like an old technical limitation The SIM/eSIM is just your ID card to connect to the network, I don't see it as a limitation. The only difference now is that you can verify your identity and download it, rather than visit a store.
daveoc64 3y ago
Yes, and some carriers do. Some will have a list of "supported devices", and if you try to use anything not on the list it'll be blocked. This isn't legal in some countries though. The UK telecoms regulator (Ofcom) prohibits any form of restriction on putting SIMs into devices, for example. Previously carriers would do things like saying that a SIM on a plan for phones couldn't be used in a tablet. A physical SIM or eSIM doesn't make a lot of difference with this, although a carrier obviously can't do anything to stop you moving a physical SIM between device. Changing an eSIM often requires contact with the carrier, so that's an opportunity for them to say no/make it difficult/charge a fee.

arek_nawo 3y ago

Happy to see the SIM card go away. eSIM provides just so much better experience. This also enables easier installation and setup for basically any carrier. Just download the app, configure eSIM and you're good. Maybe the easier switching is why adoption is kind-of slow on the carrier side? Easier to keep you locked-in with more obstacles in place. Seen some comments mention potential issues with it vs physical SIM, but I hope these get resolved with time or standard solutions are developed. Personally I had no issues with it, using it for over 2 years now.

mort96 3y ago
I often hear about people having issues moving their eSIM from their old phone to their new phone during new iPhone season. I don't see why I would want that failure mode to exist. With a physical SIM, it couldn't be more straight forward; pop the card out from the old phone and in to the new phone. You don't need permission from anyone, you don't need an app, you don't risk having something fail and having to contact support, you just ... do it. And if your phone breaks or something and you need to use your old phone, or borrow a friend's old phone, or whatever, you just move the SIM over. As a consumer, what benefit does eSIM have?
- jaywalk 3y ago
  Perhaps you've never actually participated in "new iPhone season" but it never involved moving your old SIM to your new phone. New iPhones came with a new SIM, and part of the activation process involved deactivating your old SIM and activating your new SIM. As a consumer, eSIMs are fantastic for international travel. I can have a prepaid international data plan up and running before I even get off the plane.
  - mort96 3y ago
    That must be a US thing. Any time I've gotten a new phone (be it iPhone -> iPhone, iPhone -> Android or Android -> iPhone or even Sony Ericsson -> Sony Ericsson back in the day) I've just popped out the SIM from the old phone and put it in the new. The most recent was iPhone 7 -> iPhone 12 and it just worked then as usual. The only exception is when they've moved to a physically smaller SIM card format.

ropintus 3y ago

My phone broke down a few weeks ago, along with the eSIM inside it. The eSIM was very important to me because I used it for everything. If it had been a physical SIM card, I could have simply bought a new phone and moved the SIM card to it. This was a painful lesson, and I have decided not to use eSIM again.

jaywalk 3y ago
Can you explain exactly what you mean when you say you used the eSIM "for everything"?
- bandergirl 3y ago
  Probably to receive 2FA and connect to the internet. Not specifically the eSIM.
- ropintus 3y ago
  All my 2FA authentications were linked to this SIM card, including all my internet banking services and other payment systems. Fortunately, I had some money set aside for emergencies. I also utilized this mobile number for various online services and relied on it as my primary method of communication.
  - stephen_g 3y ago
    It’s inconvenient, but surely you’re able to pretty easily get the number ported to a new eSIM…? You should still have the account and basically should just need to find some WiFi to download it on a different device? I travel a fair bit, all this makes me think how hard this would be if I was in, say, Europe and my phone was stolen - to get a new physical SIM I’d need to visit a physical store in Australia! Perhaps I could have a family member visit and send it to me in the mail, but in just a slightly different situation the physical SIM is potentially a lot more problematic!
tass 3y ago
What was the “everything” you’re referring to? Physical sims can fail too, so not a good place to store a phone book if that’s what you mean. Some providers are better than others at generating and replacing esims. The worst one I came across was Vodafone which removed passwords from their accounts and instead texted a code to log in - of course this is impossible without access to a sim, so good luck I suppose.

nickpp 3y ago

I recently discovered (and used) the eSIM + Airalo app combo for international travel. I love it! Prepaid data eSIMs you can buy and install in the comfort of your home, before even going out the door. 5$ gets you 1Gb and 1 week in almost any country, but they also offer a global (130 countries or so) eSIM for $9. Genius! Just as game changing as Booking and Uber were for me when then first came online.