Most of us today are familiar with SIM cards and how they function. We receive a new phone, plug in a new SIM from our mobile network of choice, and gain access to calls, texts, and data. It couldn’t be easier. Or could it?
Since its initial release in 1991, inserting a physical SIM card has been a requirement for all users who want to make and receive calls and texts. With the invention of eSIM, this requirement has changed.
What is an eSIM?
The eSIM (embedded SIM) is a small chip in a phone’s handset. It serves many of the same functions as a physical SIM, including connecting to a mobile network and allowing the user to make and receive calls.
Unlike physical SIMs, which must be physically installed into a phone, the eSIM is embedded inside a phone and is entirely electronic. It is controlled remotely and can support multiple profiles simultaneously, meaning one person can have several numbers with several carriers.
Mobile marketing and eSIMs
Mobile marketing has significantly impacted eSIM technology, as eSIMs offer a more streamlined approach to managing mobile devices and allow for greater flexibility in marketing campaigns.
With eSIM technology, businesses can remotely provision and manage mobile devices, allowing them to reach consumers directly on their devices through targeted marketing campaigns. This has increased the use of eSIM technology in mobile marketing as businesses seek to leverage its benefits for more efficient and effective marketing efforts.
Why should I care?
The ability to have several profiles creates exciting opportunities for mobile phone users. The eSIM is perfect for travelers who want to set up a local data plan without removing their primary SIM. Businessmen and women could also benefit from the eSIM by using two phones to separate work and home life.
The eSIM isn’t new, having been in the works for several years, but it is quickly rising in popularity. The eSIM market is forecasted to reach an astronomical $4bn by the end of 2023.
With the launch of Apple’s eSIM-only iPhone 14 in the United States, the tech world is on the verge of significant upheaval.
Apple has been pushing for a standardized eSIM card for almost a decade. Despite this, the tech giant only began to popularise the eSIM with the release of the iPhone XS in 2018.
The eSIM is rapidly establishing itself as the future of mobile phones. More mobile network operators (MNOs) are incorporating eSIMs into their technology each year. In February 2023, Google FI announced adding eSIM support to a range of Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
While eSIMs are only partially set to replace physical SIMs, we can expect an increasing number of MNOs to leap into eSIM exclusivity in the coming years.
What are the benefits of having an eSIM?
An eSIM provides benefits such as allowing users to have multiple phone numbers on a single device, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards, and simplifying switching carriers or phone plans.
There are many, many reasons why you should be excited about the eSIM. Here are a few core benefits of owning one that you may have yet to consider.
- Users can sign up for a new carrier in minutes.
- Users can switch between multiple numbers instead of waiting for a SIM to arrive.
- They are more environmentally friendly.
- It’s significantly quicker to switch carriers with an eSIM.
- They are more secure than a physical SIM.
- An eSIM is less likely to get damaged than a physical SIM.
How do I unlock the benefits of an eSIM?
One of the reasons the eSIM is growing in popularity is how easy it is to set up and use. Whereas physical SIMs often take days to arrive in the post, a new eSIM can be purchased, set up, and used within minutes.
Setting up a new eSIM plan
First, check whether your device has two eSIMs (one physical SIM and one ESIM) to begin using two numbers on the same smartphone.
Unlock your phone
Locking your phone is essential, as phones locked to a single MNO won’t be able to activate an eSIM. Every carrier is different, so look up an unlocking guide tailored to your MNO.
Purchase an eSIM plan
With the basics out of the way, head to the carrier of your choice and purchase an eSIM plan. Your carrier will then typically send you a QR code via email that you can use to activate your eSIM.
Next, follow the appropriate steps to set up a new eSIM on your device.
Setting up an eSIM on iPhone
- Go to Settings
- Select either Mobile Data or Cellular
- Tap Add Cellular Plan or Add eSIM
- Scan the QR code you received in an email from your carrier
- If necessary, enter the confirmation code sent by your carrier
Setting up an eSIM on Samsung
- Go to Settings
- Launch SIM card manager
- Tap Add Mobile Plan
- Scan the QR code you received in an email from your carrier
Setting up an eSIM on Google Pixel
- Tap Settings
- Go to Network & Internet
- Tap Mobile network
- Tap Carrier
- Tap Add Carrier
- Tap Don’t have a SIM Card?
- Tap Next
- Tap Scan it now
- Scan the QR code you received in an email from your carrier
- Tap Start to add your eSIM number
- Tap Done
How do I set up two different numbers with eSIM?
To set up a second number with two eSIMs, purchase a second carrier plan and repeat the process list above.
If your device is eSIM compatible but already contains a physical SIM, unlock your phone and set up one eSIM plan with your carrier. You should then be able to switch between your regular SIM and your new eSIM.
Once you have your two numbers set up, there are many ways for you to customize your preferences. View these comprehensive guides for iPhone, Samsung, and Google Pixel to discover how to do so.
How much farther can the technology go?
Dual SIMs are an excellent way to get the most out of your phone. They open hundreds of opportunities for consumers to get creative with multiple devices.
iPhone, Samsung, and Google Pixel even allow users to set different eSIMs (up to a limit of two) to tackle different calls. This means that a worker could call colleagues on a different mobile number to their friends and family without making the switch each time.
Despite these developments, we are only scratching the surface regarding eSIMs. As the technology develops, the eSIM will usher in an exciting new era of connectivity that promises a vastly improved user experience.
