hopefully someone can correct me if I am wrong, but my guess would be you only have 1 data plan. Two cell plans with only one containing data.
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eSIM Functionality Available in iOS 12.1, But Carrier Support is Required
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hopefully someone can correct me if I am wrong, but my guess would be you only have 1 data plan. Two cell plans with only one containing data.
You have to get a QR code from a carrier? Are they not going to support just selecting a carrier from a list? That is what I would want for international travel.
Yes, this is my fear. I'm on the Next Program and I have a feeling it will be locked down until the phone is paid off.
On a separate note, I'm a bit confused how this will work. Once the software update gets pushed, can I chose to designate the eSIM as my primary line (ATT) and keep the physical SIM slot open for when I roam (seeing not all countries use eSIM)? Or is the physical SIM slot always the primary line?
I wouldn't say that is the Chinese iPhone XS/Max are superior. Its just that the dual SIM card tray is more convenient presently. I highly doubt that this advantage will continue to be prevalent. Apple will continue to add more and more carriers that will support their eSim technology. It's only a matter of time before you're able to purchase a cell phone plan in another country before stepping off the plane with eSim tech.
I actually don’t think they were able to lock the eSIM to their network. I believe it was the previous Apple SIM (physical SIM card) that they would lock to their network.
I have Verizon as my active account and AT&T as my secondary that is currently on hold. i'd work with them to set that account as a pre-paid of some sort.
And that's why I ordered my phone from china
I am using this in Germany with T-Mobile / Vodafone - and you can only choose one data plan, even if both SIM cards contain data plans.
In comparison to have to iPhones, the main issue for me is that you can not use both SIM cards for iMessage and FaceTime
Today I frequently send iMessages from both iPhones so only being able to send iMessages from one number is a big problem for me
Also for me both iPhones have different apps, email+calendar accounts, contacts, etc
They work independently from each other with no shared/synced data between the iPhones (other than iMessage communication for file transfer).
For this to work properly for me the iPhone should have multiple accounts, similar to accounts on Mac
Today I frequently send iMessages from both iPhones so only being able to send iMessages from one number is a big problem for me
Also for me both iPhones have different apps, email+calendar accounts, contacts, etc
They work independently from each other with no shared/synced data between the iPhones (other than iMessage communication for file transfer).
For this to work properly for me the iPhone should have multiple accounts, similar to accounts on Mac
Not liking the "default: [P] Primary >" text aesthetic. Is it just that way for the beta? Looks very Microsofty. And by Microsofty I mean crap garbage.
One data plan at a time. You can switch them as needed in settings if both have data service.
[doublepost=1537988206][/doublepost]I am very excited to see how this all works. But so far, this is already better than how most Dual SIM phones work. There will be bugs but I'm so happy Apple has taken a step in this direction. And I am looking forward to ditching the 2nd phone. (I still, and will always, love my SE though.)
Things will get better over time. Verizon will be shutting down it's CDMA network next year as noted. So your iPhone will not see that as CDMA anymore. Sprint will be doing the same after the merger as part of T-mobile. In time you will have two LTE providers.
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Ahhh, yes. I had completely forgotten about the Apple SIM thing. I have an iPad Pro but I’ve never actually popped open the SIM tray. I just activated the Apple SIM on T-Mobile on day one and forgot about it. In my mind, I guess I’ve always thought of it as an eSIM since I never actually put a SIM card in the iPad. Thanks for clarifying.
See above for a photo of what the support document shows. Looks like it will be changed to be more visually appealing.
Correct. Next phones are LOCKED. So both providers would have to be ATT. The Apple support note says that for dual Sim to fully work, the iPhone must be unlocked. That is not available with an ATT Next phone. As an ATT customer you will have to get your phone from the Apple upgrade program-those phones are not locked, or buy it at full price.
What I don't get is why Apple can't provide a "Reset eSIM to factory settings" button. There's no reason the carrier should be able to brick the eSIM.
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Ideally you'd have your home carrier on the eSIM, and still use physical SIM cards when you go abroad.
It's important to note that as of today the iMessage\Facetime platform only allows you to support one phone number. But with Dual Sim in place there is no reason that they could not change this. You can already support several email address's, I would not be surprised to see them add support for 2 phone numbers.
I agree with you on the reset button for eSIM. I have Verizon and T-Mobile. I don't want T-Mobile locking my eSIM, should I decide to change carriers down the road. Would be very disappointing if that happened, especially when I have a SIM-free phone.
Not really. It’s a programmable SIM. CDMA had a fixed ID attached to the device which the carrier provisioned.
Verizon is an LTE carrier. You can use the Verizon network with a pure LTE (no CDMA) device. Just put a SIM into it.
The issue with having both Verizon and Sprint is that the eSIM can’t be programmed to support a CDMA carrier.
Both of these networks can be used without CDMA at all if you really want to, but it’s not something they’d encourage or support, so Apple isn’t going to advertise that.
You can’t use apps that use data while on a call with the line with no data (unless you’re on WiFi). So forget about pulling up Waze to check traffic while on a line with no data.
Only 1 of the 2 lines can use iMessage at a time without switching lines for iMessage in Settings. I have two iPhones now just to be able to iMessage with both lines on both phones. Dual-SIM does nothing to help me carry only one phone. None of the other iCloud features will be available either for the secondary line (FaceTime, Contacts, WiFi calling, text message forwarding/syncing, etc).
So if you carry 2 phones to separate home/work with all the features of iCloud for the 2nd line, you will have to continue to do so.
Why anyone would want to be forced to text someone on their second line using SMS without automatically switching to iMessage is beyond me.
Only 1 of the 2 lines can use iMessage at a time without switching lines for iMessage in Settings. I have two iPhones now just to be able to iMessage with both lines on both phones. Dual-SIM does nothing to help me carry only one phone. None of the other iCloud features will be available either for the secondary line (FaceTime, Contacts, WiFi calling, text message forwarding/syncing, etc).
So if you carry 2 phones to separate home/work with all the features of iCloud for the 2nd line, you will have to continue to do so.
Why anyone would want to be forced to text someone on their second line using SMS without automatically switching to iMessage is beyond me.
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