Blog, Technologies

eSIM: what is it? What are its pros and cons

eSIM is an electronic SIM card. The extra letter "e" means embedded . In other words, it's a small 6x5mm chip that's already built into any gadget. In our case, in a smartphone. But it can also be integrated, for example, into a smart watch or tablet. The most popular company that promotes eSIM technology is Apple. In general, this is a very popular technology that is used in many countries.

Can eSIM and SIM work together?

Yes, they can. There are models of smartphones that have an integrated electronic card and at the same time have a SIM connector. Your SIM card will work normally. It will not interfere with the electronic card in any way.

What are the benefits?

First of all, the device with an electronic card will have a kind of protection against burglars. After all, do not remove the virtual card from the gadget and do not get rid of it. This means that the burglar will either not try to take a risk or simply will not be able to hide the location of the gadget.

A device that has only eSIM will have higher protection against water and dust, as it will not have a slot for a regular SIM card. Also, as you know, over time, SIM cards wear out and need to be replaced for better performance. It is not necessary to do it with electronic. And if you need to change the operator, you do not even need to go to the operator's store. Everything can be done online.

One of the biggest advantages of the electronic "seven" is the support of up to 5 virtual mobile numbers. This can be convenient for people who use two or three rooms. However, it should be noted that only one number can be active. Therefore, this can be attributed, to some extent, to the disadvantages. In this case, a good choice is a smartphone that supports both eSIM and regular SIM.

Also, the electronic "seven" can be applied to IoT devices (Internet of Things). It also allows you to configure devices remotely.

Are there any flaws in the technology?

At this stage, we can say that there are several. In Ukraine, it is supported so far by only two operators. In addition, very few devices have support for this technology. The list of devices can be found in the table below. If we forgot about a gadget, you can add a list in the comments.

Another factual disadvantage is that if you change the device to a new one that does not support e-card, then there will be difficulties with porting the number. Also, if you have communication problems, you will not be able to move the card to another smartphone to find out if there is a problem with the gadget or the SIM card.

To start using eSIM, you need to:

• Purchase a unique voucher (physical or electronic) at stores or on the operator's website;
• Make sure your smartphone has an active Wi-Fi connection.
• Scan the QR code on the voucher;
• Use the prompts to activate the feature.

So, we came to the conclusion that eSIM technology has many more advantages than disadvantages. Later, it should be launched by Vodafone from Kyivstar. But for now, as it is. Interestingly, Vodafone has technology support in other countries, and something is in no hurry to Ukraine.

Tell us about your experience using eSIM. How much more comfortable did you find? Or, do you even want to switch to a virtual SIM card?