I personally like the idea of eSIM as long as the space saved is utilised for either bigger battery or bigger/better camera hardware
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models could launch without a SIM card tray in France this year, according to information obtained by French website MacGeneration. This means the devices would work with eSIMs only for cellular connectivity.
If the SIM card tray is removed in France, it would likely be removed in at least some other European countries as well, as Apple typically sells one iPhone model in most of Europe. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro model A2890 sold in France is also sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and dozens of other countries.
Apple already removed the SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. last September, forcing customers to use an eSIM, a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. Apple has a support document with a list of carriers that support eSIM technology around the world.
When the iPhone 14 series launched in the U.S., Apple promoted eSIMs as being more secure than a physical SIM since they cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. Apple added that up to eight eSIMs can be managed in the iPhone's Settings app, eliminating the need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards while traveling. iPhone 13 and newer models can have two eSIMs active at the same time.
With eSIM availability rapidly expanding, the removal of the SIM card tray beyond the U.S. seems inevitable, even if the transition takes a few more years to be fully completed. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series in September as usual.
Article Link: iPhone 15 Rumored to Lack SIM Card Tray in France and Likely Other Countries
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iPhone 15 Rumored to Lack SIM Card Tray in France and Likely Other Countries
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He's pretty successful for a guy who is called clueless constantly here
I personally like the idea of eSIM, as long as they utilise the space for something useful and stop making the phones bigger.
I think this is actually a really big part of it right here.
Exactly. None of this was a problem before. The iPhone 13 could already use eSIM, you didn’t have to “deal with a SIM card” if you didn’t want to. But now you can’t. That may or may not be a problem but they created one where it doesn’t exist, and without even replacing it with anything but a block of plastic.
Sure some will say that Apple doing this forces the operators to support it. That’s true, Apple is using their customers against network operators to force them to do what they want. Still doesn’t seem like it’s in the customer’s interest.
I have a few thoughts based on reading this thread
1. I’m glad I have T-Mobile USA which recently added the benefit to Magneta and Magneta Max customers 5gb of free international data per billing cycle. No need to search for a carrier to buy a sim card when traveling abroad
2. I like how Apple is forcing carriers onto esim. it provides more freedom to consumers. I can imagine a near future where you can just simply go onto a website and download a esim from a carrier with minimum hassle. This will allow people to switch from a carrier to another on a more frequent basis which will force carriers to either stay competitive or become more competitive. which will lower prices or increase benefits or both.
1. I’m glad I have T-Mobile USA which recently added the benefit to Magneta and Magneta Max customers 5gb of free international data per billing cycle. No need to search for a carrier to buy a sim card when traveling abroad
2. I like how Apple is forcing carriers onto esim. it provides more freedom to consumers. I can imagine a near future where you can just simply go onto a website and download a esim from a carrier with minimum hassle. This will allow people to switch from a carrier to another on a more frequent basis which will force carriers to either stay competitive or become more competitive. which will lower prices or increase benefits or both.
Won’t bother me too much as I don’t swap sims either from my iPhone but still can’t say people seem too fond of this in US
So help me understand this.
With a physical SIM, I head overseas with my phone and leave it on airplane mode (US carriers are highway robbers on some roaming charges). Arrived overseas and buy a SIM card to swap, then be on my merry way. This process can also be quicker if I have a SIM beforehand and swap while on the plane.
With eSIM only, I head overseas with my phone and also leave it on airplane mode. Arrived over seas and connect to the Wi-Fi to purchase some kind of eSIM while hoping the Wi-Fi is not shady and then wait to "activate" the eSIM? And on the return trip, perform the same "swapping" process?
I am still not seeing the actual benefit to myself as a regular consumer, unlike those big shots at Apple where I have to pay for my own roaming charges.
With a physical SIM, I head overseas with my phone and leave it on airplane mode (US carriers are highway robbers on some roaming charges). Arrived overseas and buy a SIM card to swap, then be on my merry way. This process can also be quicker if I have a SIM beforehand and swap while on the plane.
With eSIM only, I head overseas with my phone and also leave it on airplane mode. Arrived over seas and connect to the Wi-Fi to purchase some kind of eSIM while hoping the Wi-Fi is not shady and then wait to "activate" the eSIM? And on the return trip, perform the same "swapping" process?
I am still not seeing the actual benefit to myself as a regular consumer, unlike those big shots at Apple where I have to pay for my own roaming charges.
Change your provider
My thoughts too. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t think there is a country in this world that does not allow mobile number portability. I’m busy moving mine right now (in Belgium) Such a service has been around for at least the last 20 years. I first did it in South Africa around the year 2000.
My network doesn't support it so I'll not be buying a new iPhone until I can use my network on it.
If Apple force this in the UK then it will only be a matter of time before all networks support it so not really a problem I suppose.
"Change your network" yeah I had never thought of that... the thing is I have tried other networks and get worse coverage/speeds. I'm on the best I can get. I actually tried switching last month but saw my speeds drop from 520Mb/s to 4Mb/s. So no thanks....or will some genius come in and tell me to move house?
If Apple force this in the UK then it will only be a matter of time before all networks support it so not really a problem I suppose.
"Change your network" yeah I had never thought of that... the thing is I have tried other networks and get worse coverage/speeds. I'm on the best I can get. I actually tried switching last month but saw my speeds drop from 520Mb/s to 4Mb/s. So no thanks....or will some genius come in and tell me to move house?
Get a Ubigi eSIM. Their app is zero rated, meaning you can use it for free on any partner network to purchase a plan. Ubigi is not a reseller like Airalo who require an existing regular internet connection to purchase an eSIM, for each region, Ubigi are an actual network operator, requiring only 1 eSIM the world over. (MVNO)
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Still doesn't address the problem.
Fairly sure I can swap a SIM much faster than going through the process to change the eSIM.
Ultimately, I have the control to perform the swap and not at the mercy of the carriers.
SMS can be (and has been) hacked, the protocol isn't completely secure. Authenticator apps (TOTP) are preferable for 2FA.
You wouldn't want to bring a phone with private data china anyway.
e.g.: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/02/chinese-border-guards-surveillance-app-tourists-phones
Anecdotally, I went to egypt a few months ago and got an e-sim for my iphone and a physical sim for my ipad. The e-sim did offer far, far less for the money (around 1gb on the esim for $10 and only valid for a week vs. 30gb for 25$ with the physical sim, valid until you use it up). I'm sure I could have gotten a better deal, but relying on esim only would have instantly limited my options. Also, it required more effort than "just" finding a tool to open the sim card tray and popping a sim into the ipad.
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Afaik, providers have to pay a pretty penny to being able to activate esims on iphones. At least that's the excuse my carrier (three) used for years for not supporting esim in the apple watch - too expensive.
In Orange Poland it’s freaking easy. It takes like 2 min and it’s done. You do not have to go anywhere. You need to have an app or if you transfer e-sim just a compatible iPhone. I moved mine from XS to 14Pro Max without any issues
Probably have to pay a pretty penny to stop using eons old internal software. There is no reason this should be especially expensive or complicated to run once support is made. I doubt many carriers are genuinely going to want to miss out entirely on iPhone sales. Honestly, I think Apple is doing a good thing here. This isn't like the headphone jack removal where there are legitimate reasons to want the ol' reliable 3.5mm. It's just a glorified login and password being stored as a physical card in your phone for zero reason.
Yes, it's some sort of folklore here in Europe that a lot of US-Americans are uneducated, bigot, patriotic gun nuts, who often don't even own a passport.
But I still think that he just meant that markets are different - which they definitely are. E.g., nobody cares about or uses imessage over here.