Apple Promotes Benefits of Using iPhone 14 With eSIM While Traveling Abroad

[UnusedLoginID]

It’s very easy to activate eSim with T-Mobile on their website.

Define “very easy”!
Can you please give us the instructions in 3 lines or less to move a number:
- From iPhone physical SIM to new iPhone eSIM
- From Android phone to iPhone eSIM
- From iPhone physical sim to SAME iPhone eSIM
I looked into the latter a while back and decided it was not worth the hassle

 

[MrAperture]

Define “very easy”!
Can you please give us the instructions in 3 lines or less to move a number:
- From iPhone physical SIM to new iPhone eSIM
- From Android phone to iPhone eSIM
- From iPhone physical sim to SAME iPhone eSIM
I looked into the latter a while back and decided it was not worth the hassle

1. Log into your account on T-mobile.com
2. Click or tap on the line that needs to be updated.
3. Update Device Sim.
4. Current Device.
5. Enter IMEI of device.
6. Select either eSim or Physical Sim Card.
7. Enter in required #s of EID or Physical Sim Card.
8. Wait a few moments.

Voila.

 

[keigo]

I’m waiting for a clever company to come out with a dongle with a sim.

There is, it is call mifi. Just that only give you wifi and sms support.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I had to travel back to my home country for my mom's funeral recently and even though it was a few days, my iPhone X was at the mercy of Wi-Fi. eSIM would have definitely given me a little independence.

 

[d5aqoëp]

This is Apple’s unnecessary “Courageous“ move

 

[Zeke92]

The eSIM debate is honestly a non issue. Everyone is making it so much more complicated than it actually is. There are apps that provide eSIM prepaid cards; unlike what people have said here they are relatively cheap. It really is for the most part a non issue. Type eSIM into the apple store.

 

[bassexpander]

Not looking forward to this in Korea. They already openly discriminate against foreigners and discount phone plans. I believe I heard Korea would only offer eSim use on more expensive plans. Not sure if they have caught up yet. They'll dream up another way to bilk us. Even the government fleeces us. They had a 25% overcharge on my housing tax, and my Korean wife caught it. She called them, and they admitted it's a mistake that is happening to foreigners. Someone figured out how to pocket some extra cash.

 

[ian87w]

Not looking forward to this in Korea. They already openly discriminate against foreigners and discount phone plans. They'll dream up another way to bilk us. Even the government fleeces us. They had a 25% overcharge on my housing tax, and my Korean wife caught it. She called them, and they admitted it's a mistake that is happening to foreigners. Someone figured out how to pocket some extra cash.

This happens everywhere. US also screws foreigners in Visas and customs on a regular basis. Tit for tat. At least you can get away with it.

 

[W£S]

And yet here in Hong Kong I can't buy an iPhone that supports eSim.

We only do dual physical (nano) SIMs in China.

Madness.

Buy from places like Singapore and Malaysia. Still come with 1 physical sim plus esims

 

[ian87w]

The eSIM debate is honestly a non issue. Everyone is making it so much more complicated than it actually is. There are apps that provide eSIM prepaid cards; unlike what people have said here they are relatively cheap. It really is for the most part a non issue. Type eSIM into the apple store.

Yes and no.
Of course, every transition will be painful. I remember the change from micro to nano SIM, and how majority of carriers in the world doesn't even provide nano SIM, forcing people to cut their own mini/microSIM into nano size. eSIM is the next step in the technology.

The problem imo here is in how Apple is not helping. The least Apple could've done is provide transparency of their own carrier partners. Simply show a dashboard on which carrier provide actual eSIM for consumers, postpaid only or not, the fees, etc etc. Transparency will ease many people's concerns, but Apple opted to simply self-pat themselves and told people it's "easy" without any further efforts. Lazy and elitist.

 

[magicvash]

EE told me that they have no plans to support e-sims for their PAYG accounts. Their solution is to use a different phone. Not sure what the goal from Apple is here. This was a dumb decision.

 

[ian87w]

And yet here in Hong Kong I can't buy an iPhone that supports eSim.

We only do dual physical (nano) SIMs in China.

Madness.

For many, those dual nano SIM are the best iPhones and highly sought after.

 

[W£S]

Things will change. I was just in Germany this summer and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get an unlimited everything prepaid plan on eSIM from Telekom Deutschland. It was an amazing experience and the data speeds were so so good I never needed to connect to any WiFi.

Still then, those with iPhone 14 from US can only go to limited places like Germany for holidays

 

[magicvash]

1. Log into your account on T-mobile.com
2. Click or tap on the line that needs to be updated.
3. Update Device Sim.
4. Current Device.
5. Enter IMEI of device.
6. Select either eSim or Physical Sim Card.
7. Enter in required #s of EID or Physical Sim Card.
8. Wait a few moments.

Voila.

So what you’re saying is, instead of taking out the physical sim and putting it into another phone, you need to know things like IMEI numbers, and need internet access in a foreign country in order to use a local phone plan.

 

[Prorege1]

Bad decision. We live in Denmark where I activated the eSIM for my standard carrier however we have a 2nd house in Greece where we spend three months per year. The eSIM is not available with the Greek carrier even though we have residence permits, so I need a Greek physical SIM in the iPhone 12. It's truly naive to believe it's to the traveller's benefit to have eSIM only when it's not fully implemented in many countries. The removal of the physical SIM slot must be a production cost benefit for Apple, it is definitely not an advantage for the user when traveling abroad.

 

[MrAperture]

So what you’re saying is, instead of taking out the physical sim and putting it into another phone, you need to know things like IMEI numbers, and need internet access in a foreign country in order to use a local phone plan.

No, I answered the person‘s question about switching T-mobile phone to eSim.

 

[dancefreak]

So what you’re saying is, instead of taking out the physical sim and putting it into another phone, you need to know things like IMEI numbers, and need internet access in a foreign country in order to use a local phone plan.

Your response was concerning activating e-sim with T-mobile. That's the answer you got. Now you're talking about something entirely different.

 

[chickeneaster]

I'm just astonished at how much Apple has become so arrogant. Serioulsy, has anyone here in the past few months tried to activate an eSim with any carrier in the US? Well, I have tried many times with Verizon and T-Mobile and I have to say it's a nightmare!! Yes, surely they may have fixed and trained the carriers here in the US to activate eSims, but, can you imagine going to somewhere like Greece (Trust me, I was there and tried with Cosmote - impossible), Ghana, Guatemala etc where there is perhaps no such thing as an eSim or, you simply can't speak the language to activate an eSim at the local corner store?

I'm from Nicaragua and I travel there frequently and the carriers there are nowhere near close to doing esim. Nicaragua got LTE in 2015...

 

[ian87w]

So what you’re saying is, instead of taking out the physical sim and putting it into another phone, you need to know things like IMEI numbers, and need internet access in a foreign country in order to use a local phone plan.

I think the steps shown is only for converting physical SIM to eSIM on the same phone.

Traveling with eSIM, the ideal way, in how I experienced, is close to these:

With M1 Singapore: At Changi airport, I simply bought the piece of paper with the QR code (convenient store in the airport sells them), scan it with my phone (connected to wifi in the airport), activate, done.

With yoodoo Malaysia: Before even flying out, I downloaded their app, bought the eSIM. They emailed me the QR code, I scan them with my phone, done (the line is on my phone). Once I landed there, I simply turn on the line and be on my way. To me this is the best and most ideal way. eSIM can be fully digital, no need to even have anything physical (likes a piece of paper, that's dumb... )

 

[chickeneaster]

GOOD MORNING!

When traveling abroad, it's so easy to just swap a physical SIM.

If you've never tried swapping eSIMs or activating new eSIMs, you don't understand how frustrating it can be. It sucks.

Hopefully by us removing the SIM slot in the US we can force all the carriers to fix eSIM issues.

I've done esim with T-Mobile and AT&T and I've had absolutely no issues

 

[ian87w]

I'm just astonished at how much Apple has become so arrogant. Serioulsy, has anyone here in the past few months tried to activate an eSim with any carrier in the US? Well, I have tried many times with Verizon and T-Mobile and I have to say it's a nightmare!! Yes, surely they may have fixed and trained the carriers here in the US to activate eSims, but, can you imagine going to somewhere like Greece (Trust me, I was there and tried with Cosmote - impossible), Ghana, Guatemala etc where there is perhaps no such thing as an eSim or, you simply can't speak the language to activate an eSim at the local corner store?

You are astonished that Apple being arrogant? Where have you been?

 

[chickeneaster]

the funny thing is, when you are in Greece and you go to Cosmote or another local carrier, most people that work on the island's don't use iPhones! They are too expensive! They think you are a posh tourist...so, to ask to activate an eSim just adds another sense of confusion. LOL PS: Just to add to the fun here, Cosmote in Greece which is the main carrier doesn't even offer an English version of the app.

But Apple isn't the only phone maker to have esim

 

[Paddle1]

The eSIM debate is honestly a non issue. Everyone is making it so much more complicated than it actually is. There are apps that provide eSIM prepaid cards; unlike what people have said here they are relatively cheap. It really is for the most part a non issue. Type eSIM into the apple store.

You can't make phone calls or send SMS with those eSIM apps. And I'm not sure $10 for 1GB that expires in 7 days is "cheap".

And that's assuming the eSIM actually works, I can tell you, that's not always the case.

 

[babyexercise]

Apple US big carriers partners offer esim for sure lol xd

 

[thephoenixking]

The question isn't whether or not carriers abroad support eSIM, the question is, can I, a visitor to the country who doesn't have a local address, local bank account, local government ID, and who may not speak a word of the local language, get a plan with an eSIM before I walk out of the airport?

It's usually easy enough to buy a physical SIM card when you arrive, some countries have vending machines for them in the airport.

I'm going to Turkey next year. According to Apple, there are 3 carriers there that support eSIM. Fantastic. How do I get one? The carrier's sites are in Turkish. I stumbled through one of them with Google Translate. I think I need to already have a Turkish number to sign up. I'd most certainly need a Turkish address, possibly a Turkish bank account to pay for it.

Hell, I went to see what the options are for the UK, to at least remove the language barrier. Seems like none of them support eSIM for PAYG. I guess as a visitor, I'm not getting an eSIM.

And yes, I know about Airalo and the like. They're convenient, but expensive compared to local plans. They also don't support voice calling if that's something you need. Airalo is probably fine for most people for short term travel, but if you're spending a lot of time abroad, it's not going to cut it.

Hey, I am Turkish and if you have questions you can ask me. Btw, there are three carriers in Turkey and I guess all of them support it. If you have the budget Turkcell is the fastest and most reliable one but it is more expensive. TurkTelekom is slower but cheaper. Vodafone is somewhere between.