Does this mean Apple will also allow you to download two copies of the same app, such as two copies of WhatsApp? One WhatsApp for phone number #1, and one WhatsApp for phone number #2?
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2018 iPhones Said to Feature Both Embedded Apple SIM and Traditional SIM Card Tray
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Not sure if Apple even cares if mobile carriers lock their own phones.. Apple only offers eSims but must get mobile carrier cooperation
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.
I live in the U.K. and generally as far as phones go:
- you can buy a iphone from Apple unlocked
- if you buy it from a telco it’s lockec unr you s paid it off - then you can ask them to unlock it and they have to do so. It usually takes a sync to iTunes to finalise this.
So from my POV, a virtual sim is a good thing. It should remove the daft requests that you need to make to your telco - they’re hoping that many people won’t know how to do this or even that you can do this and are happy to take the monthly payment test you’re making beyond your agreed term.
I can understand how useful and convenient it will be for travelers and tourists. Personally I care more about the camera upgrades that Apple always pushes to advance in the iPhones. It is so amazing what you can creatively make and produce with Apple products. Here is a video that was filmed entirely with iPhone and iPad. Very pleased with the result of how it came out.
There’s a reason why the rumor specifically indicates only the 6.1” model is dual-SIM.
The 5.8” model might not have space but the 6.1 and 6.5” will have plenty of space for second set of SIM contacts.
I doubt it, as even on Android space, not many OEMs have this.
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When you travel some calls can still be very expensive and it’s useful for that.
For example, I live in Europe which means that pretty much all phone calls in Europe are included in my forfeit. but if I travel to, say Hong Kong, it cost about three euros a minute, not only to call back to Europe but also to call other numbers in Hong Kong.
Therefore, it can be useful to buy a cheap local Sim card in order to call local numbers at a cheaper rate. And I imagine, it also works the other way around for people coming to Europe.
However, I’m not too sure how useful it is these days. I’ve never actually used it as there are usually other options.
For example, you can buy Skype credit and phone anywhere in the world for almost nothing, and you can use WhatsApp for a lot of calls as well. I’m sure there are other options. I’ve bought those call back cards from the local newsagents in America which worked very well too.
There is probably another reason why they are doing this rather than actually being really useful to anyone.
I have three SE phones in the family as none of my kids want anything bigger, and I would really like to see Apple bring in a small phone that is way less than €500! I mean, honestly, €500 for the cheapest phone in your lineup these days?
Actually dual sim phone is a must in China and India and since they are huge markets for Apple it just has to introduce dual sim at least on these markets.
Which will not happen in China anytime soon, given their stances on eSIM. They want a physical SIM for helping tracking people.
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And with a button-less port-less Internet-connected iPhone, hmm.
This sounds a bit too much.
Physical SIM card will not retire anytime soon worldwide. Plus, it would be possible for the carrier to remotely disable your device when all you have is a digital SIM. This is not good.
Why?
The whole SIM (locking/usage)is a scam, so that providers can/could lock your phone to their own network, there's no reason to do this since you have to pay for the phone.
There are already quite a few countries where locking your phone to a SIM is forbidden by law.
I don't know about Apple SIM. I bought an EE iPad with an embedded SIM, it doesn't let you switch between networks at all. Your only way to use another network in it is to get the SIM tray unlocked (the embedded one is permanently EE only) and use that. Furthermore, if you don't top up the embedded SIM for 6 months they kill it. Permanently. Rendering the embedded SIM completely useless and thus devaluing the iPad if you want to sell it.
There’s some excellent thinking and good concept behind eSIM. Even feels like it goes back to the original iPad with Cellular that allowed you to buy data on the fly as needed. With phones its difficult as you’re tied to a number and it’s not easy to jump around.
You can see from the link that they have a lot of carriers on board. Of any manufacturer Apple likely has the most pull to be able to get carriers to work with them.
Couple issues I see at the moment (having an eSIM on my iPad and checking options once in a while) are relatively expensive prices for data, and not mostly being able to make use of it when travelling out of country. And of course carriers (as have been mentioned) that somehow lock the eSIM (that really shouldn’t be allowed at all).
If at one point we can disconnect or virtualized our phone numbers (essentially separate them from the carrier), it would be much easier to jump between carriers for data as needed. I can’t remember where I read it, but someone spoke about their intention behind it being similar to wifi - connecting to different cellular networks as needed (whichever ones you have an account with, have good signal strength, etc). Of course though I’m sure carriers never want to become dumb pipes...
I hope the UK phones get dual sim tray option.
I hate having to carry my personal and work phone around where ever I go.
I hate having to carry my personal and work phone around where ever I go.
Interesting to note that here in the US, e-sim works with all of our major carriers except our largest Verizon. They are under mandate from the FCC to NOT lock devices. So their phones are sim unlocked.
What I would love to see is a iPhone (6.5" plus please) with one physical sim and one e-sim. I'd move my ATT account over to the e-sim and put a line of Verizon on the physical sim.
You have to know given their desire to remove ports and the like that Apple wants to move to e-sim only ASAP.
What I would love to see is a iPhone (6.5" plus please) with one physical sim and one e-sim. I'd move my ATT account over to the e-sim and put a line of Verizon on the physical sim.
You have to know given their desire to remove ports and the like that Apple wants to move to e-sim only ASAP.
Why not support 4 or 5 sim cards that way if someone uses 4 or 5 carriers prepaid or not they can travel lighter and simply switch among their carriers as needed in their travels.
[doublepost=1530473730][/doublepost]By supporting multiple sim cards it enables those using multiple services to carry just the one device.
I agree that phone SIM lock should be illegal as it encourages user-hostile competition in general. But banning SIM card entirely? What is the point of having a digital SIM besides saving up some board spaces? Oh, I get it, "one SIM for the entire world". What else?
Cases i have seen are mostly always for travel. There are also many who have 2 numbers business and personal that 2 sIM slots makes sense for.
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not true. use wireless for couple of months and you would never think of going back to wired ones. That was right move in the right direction. Sony is continuing with head phone jack coz they want some leverage to sell their phones which still nobody buys.
1. Will I be able to get the Apple SIM for my iPhone 8?
2. When we travel into another country, we normally buy a tourist SIM card, how will it works with the Apple SIM card? Don’t really understand how they can add or remove a number into your SIM card.
Thx
2. When we travel into another country, we normally buy a tourist SIM card, how will it works with the Apple SIM card? Don’t really understand how they can add or remove a number into your SIM card.
Thx
No SIM at all, just a secure chip or software on phones, and it would be usable in all countries, you could easily register your phone before even going to the other country, just do your homework, find a foreign (cheap) provider, register your phone, that's it.
Hate this. I would want to use my phone freely with different carriers internationally. Until eSIMs give us that functionality, eSIMs can suck off.