iPhone 17 Air Drops Physical SIM Slot Globally, Pushing eSIM-Only Future (yahoo.com)
- Reference: 0179140160
- News link: https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/25/09/10/1935204/iphone-17-air-drops-physical-sim-slot-globally-pushing-esim-only-future
- Source link: https://tech.yahoo.com/phones/articles/apples-move-esim-only-strengthens-191518223.html
Global consultancy firm Roland Berger forecasts eSIM connections will reach 75% of smartphone connections by 2030, rising from 10% in 2023. CCS Insight predicts eSIM-capable handsets will increase from 1.3 billion to 3 billion by 2030. Google offers eSIM-only Pixel 10 models in the US.
[1] https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/25/09/09/1844201/apple-launches-iphone-17-lineup-featuring-ultra-thin-56mm-iphone-air
[2] https://tech.yahoo.com/phones/articles/apples-move-esim-only-strengthens-191518223.html
will apple let phone carriers lock out e-sim chang (Score:3)
will apple let phone carriers lock out e-sim changes?
Also do they have dual e-sims?
Re: will apple let phone carriers lock out e-sim c (Score:2)
Yes and yes. Phones are generally carrier lockable.
Re: (Score:2)
> Also do they have dual e-sims?
According to the specs listed on Apple's site, they do.
[1] https://www.apple.com/ph/iphone-17/specs [apple.com]
[1] https://www.apple.com/ph/iphone-17/specs/
Air Dropping Globally - Wow! (Score:2)
"iPhone 17 Air Drops Physical SIM Slot Globally" - first, I didn't realize you could AirDrop physical stuff - that's cool and very Apple-like to lead in technology - seconds "mind blown" - they did this globally. Wow! Not sure what the value of sharing a SIM slot is, but still pretty impressive. /jk.
Another anti consumer move, limiting options (Score:1)
How do I swap phones on the fly now when running out of battery during travels? Screw you apple taking our freedom one bit at a time.
Re: (Score:2)
Simple: You will no longer swap phones on the fly when running out of battery during travels. Also, you will no longer swap SIMs in the same phone to avoid roaming fees when travelling to another country. Enjoy your freedom to swap SIMs while it lasts, before Android OEMs blindly copy Apple (as they inevitably will), much like when they removed FM radio and the headphone jack.
Pointless (Score:2)
If they have space for a USB C then they have space for a SIM. That said I like e-SIMs for their convenience and don't really care if they disappear. But the iPhone Air itself is clearly a gimped device which will be difficult to repair and so fragile that people will put it in a case negating any reason for it to be thin in the first place. I'm sure some fools will drop cash for this thing, common sense be damned.
Re: (Score:3)
> If they have space for a USB C then they have space for a SIM. That said I like e-SIMs for their convenience and don't really care if they disappear. But the iPhone Air itself is clearly a gimped device which will be difficult to repair and so fragile that people will put it in a case negating any reason for it to be thin in the first place. I'm sure some fools will drop cash for this thing, common sense be damned.
I'm not sure I understand why having space for A means that you also have space for B? You need the USB C port for charging - and in some cases connection. A SIM tray holder with surrounding electronics takes additional space, and it's not strictly needed as eSIM is a viable alternative. The phone is not for me - I'm keeping my current phone until 29, and "thinner" is not a tradeoff I'd make in this case anyway - but I do see them need for removing anything they possibly can to achieve it.
Re: (Score:1)
my phone is thin, has a headphone jack, SD card slot, dual sim trays removable battery and runs all the software I need i guess ill need a new one when 4g is phased out
Re: (Score:2)
I bet cell providers can't wait fir physical things to die. No sim cards to supply, ok the will beed to have backend systems to provision the esims but no supply lines for physical sims, and no need to mail out sims to people, ie a new costumer can start earning them revenue aas soon as the number is ported ( at least here in Norway that's the next business day) no need to wait for snail mail distribution which can be 4 business days)
Re: (Score:2)
I think people forgot the entire point of the SIM card was so that you were not locked into a carrier. Once that sim card physically goes away, so does your ability to switch carriers and use cheaper sim's in countries you travel to.
Re: (Score:3)
You can get a cheaper eSIM from the country you travel to. You go to the local operator, request an eSIM, instead of a physical chip they sell you a QR code; reading it switches to their network. When back home you switch back to your original provider by reading again your initial QR code.
Re: (Score:1)
You don't even need to do that. Modern iPhones (13 and higher) support up to 8 eSIMs loaded on the phone at a time. Two of them can even be active at the same time (e.g. if you want to have both personal + business, home + travel, etc.).
Has anyone on this thread ever even used eSIMs on an iPhone?
Re: (Score:2)
> I think people forgot the entire point of the SIM card was so that you were not locked into a carrier. Once that sim card physically goes away, so does your ability to switch carriers and use cheaper sim's in countries you travel to.
I don't understand what your saying, afaik there are carrier locked phones with sim trays. Seemingly iphones can hold multiple esim [1]https://www.macobserver.com/ti... [macobserver.com] (iphone users feel free to chime in because I can't guarantee that link isn't AI slop).
[1] https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/how-many-esims-can-be-added-to-an-iphone/
Re: (Score:2)
According to TFA, the opposite is true: eSims make it easier to switch providers and cheaper to buy temporary sims when traveling.
Re: Pointless (Score:2)
There's a point. Reduces build cost. Moves hardware function to software. Also, now that its software, they can add whatever new features they want.
Re: (Score:2)
> If they have space for a USB C then they have space for a SIM.
Possibly true for minimum device thickness, but not true for device volume.
Volume is additive: Apple likely considers the volume of the USB C port worthwhile, whereas the volume of the physical SIM not justified.
Re: (Score:2)
It adds additional complexity and parts on the PCB, and one more thing to debug/waterproof.