2018 iPhones Said to Feature Both Embedded Apple SIM and Traditional SIM Card Tray

[jpn]

The problem with the embedded Apple SIM in the iPad was the tariffs available were significantly more expensive than if you went direct to the same network and got one of their own physical SIMs. It was just ridiculous. I don’t know if that is still the case as I changed to the WiFi only version when I upgraded to the iPad Pro.

If the situation has improved I would love a dual-SIM iPhone so I could use one SIM for work and one for personal use rather than having to carry two mobiles.

you are correct.
and it hasn't improved.
carrier physical SIMs vs. apple embedded SIM carrier difference in price is too much for anyone who is in these locations frequently, like monthly or weekly.
as a "tourist SIM" even there is only the one benefit that enrollment is quick and without the hassle of getting a physical SIM at the airport upon landing.
this 2 SIM idea of apple's is useful only due to apple leading the way (if we build it they will come) so eventually (within 2 or 3 years) after launch most carriers will learn how to compete and market better using an apple SIM approach.
winners: companies like T-Mobile with market leading aggressive plans. and right now "we're Number 2" carriers the world over.
losers: companies like att

 

[bladerunner2000]

People who would like expandable storage for media.

If Apple goes with dual-SIM, which has valid uses for travelers, everyone can drop the BS line about eliminating the headphone jack to free up valuable internal space.

Except my Sony XZ1C has both... and is waterproof... and has two front facing speakers. Apple's robbing you guys blind. No excuses to remove the headphone jack.

 

[shinyafro]

I hope they would choose to go with dual SIM dual active instead so both sims are active. Then I would drop down to 1 iPhone (I carry two, one work and one personal and both need to be on 24/7).

 

[ddtmm]

Dual SIM will be great for Canadians. Our roaming rates are some of the highest in the world. I always get a local SIM when travelling because it's about 10-15 times cheaper than roaming with my Canadian provider. It would be nice to be able to receive calls and texts on my home plan/SIM and use the cheap local prepaid SIM for data abroad.

 

[saudade]

What are you trying to say?
Hard to know when spelling isn't strong here

Simple. My girlfriend fiancé can call 2 my official phone number and random females that i know from the party and places can call me 2 my second sim. When my woman is at home i can turn off one sim. Very useful for any donjuan lady’s man. You know what i mean? One sim 4 the gurls and one sim 4 the wife so yes. Thiz reduces problems. Double life double sim = gre8 solution

 

[Tech198]

Interesting, I guess like the iPad Pro that has the embedded SIM and physical SIM.

I figure eventually once eSIM catches on with carriers that Apple would love to go eSIM only, and remove another port/opening on the device.

... as in "All carriers world offer wide eSim support?" No more Sim cards ...

 

[pika2000]

Physical SIMS should be illegal.

If one travels a lot sims are a pain in the behind.

Until the likes of AT&T locks your eSIM. Bam, you have a locked iPhone.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I’m not very familiar with dual sims as nobody I know has a phone with this capability or even uses two different SIM cards for that matter. What’s the appeal of this, at least in the states? Is it mainly for travel or do people actually have two separate phone plans that are used on a daily basis?

Outside of business travellers who's company's can afford to pay the massive roaming charges (eg AT&T $10/day or $60/mth for 1gb or $2.05/mb) other than Mexico and Canada LOL

There is millions of expats working in many countries like the USA that can take advantage of their native home country carriers when communicating with relatives etc (EG Granny in India does not need to have an iPhone, data plan or even internet to sms you, she can use local sms rates)

Many of Expats home country services eg E-Banking require a home country sim for security (OTP Codes) so if you need to do home country banking from elsewhere you need an active sim or to see how much your wife is spending whilst your away with sms notifications on withdrawals etc

Now if your a tourist from any country the options and savings are numerous by having a dual sim which allows easy adoption of local sim or to carry an international sim often sold on planes or even those that have legacy sim's as good carriers only require $1 or $2 a year to keep a sim active

Most carriers around the world simply send you an SMS in your native tongue on landing to adopt their roaming options for the country you are in Most of these are very reasonable compared to US carriers roaming fee's and you still have the option to adopt a local sim for further savings and more generous packages.

The EU directive solved many of these issues but step outside the EU and dual sim options are equally useful

Whilst I can see e-sim in the future being useful when internationally adopted for now it's likely to be a pain it allows carriers to charge additional fee's over physical sims, they are likely to be tailored to certain options and not sure how they will get around languages or payments

Additionally It will interesting to see how Apple get around Imessage registered number swapping other than waiting X hours and notifying relatives of new number etc this is where WhatsApp is far better/simpler with Dual Sims

This is before we even note those users who want a combined personal/business on one device or those that chase pricing advantages between carriers or simply have better cell reception with one sim over another in certain locals

 

[snortpig]

It will be nice when the largest mobile provider in Canada supports eSIM.

 

[macduke]

That sounds like something that would be illegal in a country with basic customer rights laws

This is America
Don't catch you slippin' up
Don't catch you slippin' up
Look what I'm whippin' up

 

[bruinsrme]

This is what I would like more info on. I just bought a 9.7 (2018) iPad, (the cheapy one) with GPS for travel purposes and it has the physical sim in it. Once I get an ATT plan for one month say, will it then be locked to ATT forever or what? And what if I travel International ? Then what?

It will be locked. But can be turned off.
If you travel internationally you can use the sim tray.

 

[justperry]

Good luck registering a new eSim at a foreign airport after a 12 hour flight where no one speaks your language and the website isn't in a language you understand

Digital sims should be banned unless they come with a sim slot

Seems like you haven't travelled that much, name me one International Airport where they don't speak English even though it might not be the best English.
You could also do your homework before you leave, most are online now, also in English.

Until the likes of AT&T locks your eSIM. Bam, you have a locked iPhone.

Then vote with your wallet and vote other politicians which make it illegal.

 

[FourDegrees]

I’m not very familiar with dual sims as nobody I know has a phone with this capability or even uses two different SIM cards for that matter. What’s the appeal of this, at least in the states? Is it mainly for travel or do people actually have two separate phone plans that are used on a daily basis?

I flit between NZ and Aus so have two sims, both prepaid that I switch out as needed.

 

[Vjosullivan]

Not having to have a physical SIM will free up a tonne of space in a phone. I think that’s probably Apple’s main attraction to this.

Increased lock-in and control is the main attraction for Apple.

 

[nottorp]

Increased lock-in and control is the main attraction for Apple.

Exactly. With the current set up I can remove the physical sim, put it in another non Apple phone and start talking.
If they remove the physical sim slot i'll need Apple's permission to do that? No thanks.

 

[bluecoast]

Increased lock-in and control is the main attraction for Apple.

Do you think? I read that they had wanted to do this for years and that there’s no reason why the sim can’t be virtual but the telcos insisted on it... for reasons of lock in and control!

 

[nottorp]

Do you think? I read that they had wanted to do this for years and that there’s no reason why the sim can’t be virtual but the telcos insisted on it... for reasons of lock in and control!

I think the US mobile phone market is so different than the rest of the world that you can see this "virtual sim" as something liberating, while we see it as restricting choice elsewhere

In the US a new phone still works just with one provider, right? As in it's physically restricted, not contract lock ins.

In the rest of the world a new phone (except the ones locked because they were discounted on a contract) can work with any provider, the only thing you need to do is remove provider A's sim card and insert provider B's. In which case, the virtual sim thingy restricts switching, because you need to talk to Apple to switch it. I bet that takes more than the 30 seconds needed to physically switch a sim card in the current iphones.

 

[cmaier]

you are correct.
and it hasn't improved.
carrier physical SIMs vs. apple embedded SIM carrier difference in price is too much for anyone who is in these locations frequently, like monthly or weekly.
as a "tourist SIM" even there is only the one benefit that enrollment is quick and without the hassle of getting a physical SIM at the airport upon landing.
this 2 SIM idea of apple's is useful only due to apple leading the way (if we build it they will come) so eventually (within 2 or 3 years) after launch most carriers will learn how to compete and market better using an apple SIM approach.
winners: companies like T-Mobile with market leading aggressive plans. and right now "we're Number 2" carriers the world over.
losers: companies like att

Since when I am abroad it is generally because of work, my employer pays for the use of my embedded iPad sim connection. I’m looking forward to esim on iPhone for the same reason.

Though for now, in my iPhone, I’ve switched from using local phone sims to just using My carrier’s international plan which charges 10 dollars a day. Again, compensated by my employer.

 

[Mcmeowmers]

Meanwhile US carriers are now all touting “free international”

I’m loving it. I can travel the world and literally use my phone like normal. No need to switch SIM cards or anything

How about Canada's $7-12/day to be able to use the data included in your plan internationally. Which is generally about 500mb to 1gb.

 

[darngooddesign]

Except my Sony XZ1C has both... and is waterproof... and has two front facing speakers. Apple's robbing you guys blind. No excuses to remove the headphone jack.

I never said anything about waterproofness being the reason for the jack's removal.

 

[bladerunner2000]

I never said anything about waterproofness being the reason for the jack's removal.

Wasn't the point. Sony managed to fit so many features into a flagship phone of it's size and still include the headphone jack. Apple lied to all of you.

 

[PlainviewX]

Will this allow two lines on one phone? Having a business phone and a personal phone is so last decade.

 

[winglet69]

Wait, I hope this is not the “dual SIM” solution for the next iPhone. Simply because there are still a lot of carriers worldwide not supported officially by Apple, so this will just be another single SIM iPhone for many.

Since Apple cannot even control AT&T locking their eSIM in the US (which defeats the whole purpose of eSIM), I vote for actual dual SIM slots. Plus in emerging markets, people change their SIM frequently to a new number (due to the frequent promotions on starter SIMs by carriers).

If Apple do a dual SIM iPhone, they also better come up with a solution for an app like WhatsApp that only works with one number. Many Android OEMs allow dual apps so users can have two apps (eg WhatsApp) each with different accounts.

I couldn't agree with this more. Dual-SIM phones are incredibly common worldwide, just another example of Apple playing catch-up on features that Android phones have had for ages. If there were one feature that tempts me leave the iPhone for Samsung for, it would be dual-SIM (with dual radios, not just slots).

The flexibility of being able to get data packages wherever you travel for a few dollars is amazing. You really do realize just how much the US and Canada are a massive ripoff on service pricing once you've traveled a lot. Seriously backwards thinking.

 

[darngooddesign]

Wasn't the point. Sony managed to fit so many features into a flagship phone of it's size and still include the headphone jack. Apple lied to all of you.

Don't worry, Sony will pull their headphone jack as well and give you a notch. Just a matter of time.

 

[Moccasin]

Sceptical that they’ll have two versions - one with 1 and another with 2 physical sim trays. Space is at a premium inside and so few need dual sims that it doesn’t feel an Apple-like decision. More likely that all phones have a physical sim tray & Apple sim to drive uptake of the e-sim so that a future generation of iPhone can drop the physical sim tray. On my X, the sim tray isn’t entirely flush & can imagine Jony Ive wanting rid of it as soon as possible.