Correct. The poster travels to all countries all over the world and so all we need to do is follow what they do.
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Apple Promotes Benefits of Using iPhone 14 With eSIM While Traveling Abroad
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The esim and physical sim combo is the best as it is on the Pro’s.
I have my main network as the esim and then a back up sim on a different network.
When one sim loses data signal the phone automatically starts using the other sim for data seemlessly. It’s come sim handy many times.
I would actually want them to go a triple sum setup lol so I can put a third sim inside.
As for going on holiday having a physical sim slot is most convenient.
I have my main network as the esim and then a back up sim on a different network.
When one sim loses data signal the phone automatically starts using the other sim for data seemlessly. It’s come sim handy many times.
I would actually want them to go a triple sum setup lol so I can put a third sim inside.
As for going on holiday having a physical sim slot is most convenient.
What people say, Apple does and doesn’t do, etc is one. The effects of what Apple does on markets, carriers, countries, etc. is another. Trying to play an ostrich to the influence Apple has, well, that’s another level.
Yes be like Amazon and take over the entire flow. Greatest thing ever to take the crappy shipping carriers out of the equation. Do the same with the Service Providers for Apple
That's great, EXCEPT for one problem: many foreign cellphone companies don't support eSIM. That's even true of technically sophisticated countries like Japan and South Korea.
The one disadvantage someone made a good example for is he has a modern eSIM iPhone and an SE as backup. What happens if the eSIM one craps out. There's no physical SIM to move to the backup to have a smooth transition
That’s not a valid use case. They should upgrade all devices to be eSIM capable. Apple will take care of recycling old phones to ensure zero environmental impact.
It's still shocking how many folks here in the US believe that somehow eSIM won't work for them. I've been using dual eSIMs for the last year, been to a half dozen countries, and never once worried about where I was going to get my data from. There are plenty of domestic US eSIM solutions as well for international (e.g. Google Fi, T-Mobile, GigSky, etc.).
Seems like folks are just uncomfortable with change - yes sure, definitely bumps to be had as more carriers adopt eSIM, but Apple didn't invent eSIM. The GSMA has had this around for a decade. Other phones had eSIM before the iPhone did. Apple is just moving this down the roadmap and taking out the SIM slot. The industry will follow. In a year, it will be as easy as going into a carrier app and downloading a new eSIM.
Seems like folks are just uncomfortable with change - yes sure, definitely bumps to be had as more carriers adopt eSIM, but Apple didn't invent eSIM. The GSMA has had this around for a decade. Other phones had eSIM before the iPhone did. Apple is just moving this down the roadmap and taking out the SIM slot. The industry will follow. In a year, it will be as easy as going into a carrier app and downloading a new eSIM.
Yea they are the extreme world traveler case while I am the simpleton who keeps the same phone until I upgrade and keeps the same carrier and never goes outside the US. My eSIM was working fine on my 13PM when I picked is up at the Apple Store and hasn't given me any trouble.
My opinion is eSim only phones is the biggest mistake Apple has made.
As an example: I'm unloading my boat at an lake 20 miles from nowhere, I drop my 13P on the rocks and now it's useless.
I go to my truck, get my SE3 backup, pop in the Sim card from the 13P and go fishing.
Same scenario with a 14 eSim only. Put the boat back on the trailer, drive 20 plus miles to civilization and try to find an Apple store. Fishing trip over. No, thanks.
I'll will keep my 13's until they disintegrate.
I've used an eSim before for a second line. Worked great. The point is I had a choice that worked for me.
As an example: I'm unloading my boat at an lake 20 miles from nowhere, I drop my 13P on the rocks and now it's useless.
I go to my truck, get my SE3 backup, pop in the Sim card from the 13P and go fishing.
Same scenario with a 14 eSim only. Put the boat back on the trailer, drive 20 plus miles to civilization and try to find an Apple store. Fishing trip over. No, thanks.
I'll will keep my 13's until they disintegrate.
I've used an eSim before for a second line. Worked great. The point is I had a choice that worked for me.
Too true. I remember looking on colleagues' iPhones with envious eyes when they opened Visual Voicemail on their phone, instead of all that mucking about dialling up voicemail and battling the key press menu system. My carrier's "solution" at one point was to introduce a dedicated app where you could pick up voicemail. Shocking. Sometimes, these people need a good kick.
I notice that the iPhone has a settings option to convert your sim to an eSim - but only if your carrier allows that to happen. No, that would make it far too convenient for end users, wouldn't it. Carriers don't really want eSims. They love users to move their physical SIM about because, despite the inconvenience, they are still using (and paying) for their network.
I wish all carriers were like that. I have a physical SIM from the Czech Republic tied to a bank account there to manage a rental property. There is no way to covert to an eSIM without visiting the Czech Republic.
Will those eSIM solutions give you a local number in Sudan? in Uganda? in Iran? Nope. They likely won't work at all in Iran, Cuba or other places the US doesn't like.
Having a local number is critical so that locals can call you without making an international call.
What the heck? SK telecom , KT and LG U+ fully support esim in south korea.
In Japan, I’ve used Docomo and softbank esim without any problem.
Anyone with ATT try converting their physical SIM to an eSIM before their iPhone 14 comes tomorrow? I want to try it but I’m afraid it will mess things up and I’ll have to run to the nearest ATT store.
Ting's problem is likely more so them flip-flopping on their main backhaul physical network more than eSIM. They were on T-mobile and then bolted to Verizon. Then got bought by Dish who has major MNVO deals with T-Mobile (who Ting ran away from) and AT&T while they roll out their own tower & network; so about everyone but Verizon. All of that churn isn't going to get faster eSIM provisioning because likely have to tap into multiple different eSIM provisioning systems. It is doable but expensive which Ting is probably trying to avoid.
The number of real (non virtual) carriers that don't support eSIM in the USA is about zero (there are some super small footprint , rural operators out boonies that are can't/won't do the upgrades due to low operating margins. Not getting 5G (or maybe even 4G) out of them either. ) . The MVNOs that pick a single physical network to deploy over have decent traction on eSIMs. More than a handful are owned by real carriers that is pretty easy ( Tracfone has eSIMs , but at this point owned by Verizon).
Again indicative of old infrastructure all around; not just eSIM. (possibly an older CDMA network provisioning interface. )
Apple didn't do this as a warning. Extremely likely Apple has been telling these operators for years this is the way they would like to go and the operators have been dismissive. "Oh we have leverage, that is just their 'wish list' " and "how much did Apple pay to get their phone through validation process" skipping over rest of Apple's conversation. There are other 4G/5G rollout , 'war' on Huawei infrastructure , etc issues flying around also. If have a "move from forest fire to forest fire" reactive approach to technology upgrades , then this is a new 'forest fire' to fight.
It isn't some much that Apple is big, as the high share they have in the USA. Tourism is big for many of these countries economies. High value dollars being converted into the local currency to "make it rain" on the local economy keeps things running. If Apple has lower USA share and dollar not so high, pretty good chance the response would be bit more muted.
Most international travelers need the physical SIM card option. We won’t buy iPhone 14. Instead we will use iPhone 13, SE or whatever.
Apple has the right to remove the physical SIM (even though nobody wanted it gone). And we have the right to not buy the iPhone 14.
Apple has the right to remove the physical SIM (even though nobody wanted it gone). And we have the right to not buy the iPhone 14.
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The "benefits" of eSIM have been there all along for many models now.
Forcing eSIM only by removing the physical SIM tray brings no benefits to those who need/enjoy the increased flexibility of both options.
It's not even a security benefit.
If one were worried about physical SIM issues on their existing iPhone 13 or older, they could have simply migrated their primary line to eSIM instead of physical SIM and retained the flexibility of both options while having the security of eSIM.
Forcing eSIM only by removing the physical SIM tray brings no benefits to those who need/enjoy the increased flexibility of both options.
It's not even a security benefit.
If one were worried about physical SIM issues on their existing iPhone 13 or older, they could have simply migrated their primary line to eSIM instead of physical SIM and retained the flexibility of both options while having the security of eSIM.
I cannot buy an iPhone 14 for any of my family because I know that some prepaid providers in Europe that I use when traveling there, do not support eSIM. So yes, Apple, US carriers will do your bidding, but not so in other countries.
IMO a significant mistake to not provide an option to buy a SIM tray model on Apple web site in the US.
I love using eSIM with Visible (my US provider) though.
IMO a significant mistake to not provide an option to buy a SIM tray model on Apple web site in the US.
I love using eSIM with Visible (my US provider) though.
I am a little surprised there isn't some hidden "place" on Apple.com to buy a SIM tray model in the US
What is interesting and a bit hypocritical is that Apple promotes the “roamabiity” of eSIM in their US stores (where the iphone 14 are eSIM only) and yet internationally, they continue to sell phones with a physical SIM slot (and eSIM capability). Doesn’t that NEGATE what they are saying about roamability if OUTSIDE the USA they sell a physical SIM capability phone?