A SIM card is essential to establish communication with anyone. Therefore we have been associated with eSIM for a better communication system. Over the years, innovation has seeped into the design of the SIM card, which has transitioned it from a physical form to an embedded form.
In this article, I’ll explain some useful insights about eSIM to help you understand the technology; how it works, its benefits, drawbacks, and some supported devices.
What is an eSIM?
eSIM is not like a physical SIM card. Instead, it’s an embedded chip system installed in your cell phone. However, its objective is the same as a physical SIM. It helps the user connect with the network system of the carrier.
The eSIM isn’t affiliated with any carrier network. Instead, you can seamlessly switch to any different carrier network by installing a configuration file of any particular carrier network and activating it on time.
Benefits
- There is no physical imprint of time.
- Massive amount of space.
- This sim isn’t affiliated with any carrier network. Therefore you can switch between any carrier network seamlessly.
- The absence of slots for physical SIM cards prevents the ingression of dust or water particles inside the cell phone system.
- Using eSim helps the environment because it has no physical appearance; hence, there’s zero waste.
- It is highly secure due to being embedded in your smartphone. And no one can either copy or clone in any manner.
Drawbacks
The primary drawback associated with an item is its functionality. The eSIM technology is new to the cellphone market, and brands are yet to accept it completely. However, this Sim function is found in several smartphone models across some brands.
In addition, some smartphones provide eSim functionality along with a slot for a physical SIM card. However, this process defeats the primary purpose of time. Hence, this technology is relatively new to the markets and needs to gain mass acceptance in the smartphone sector.
A major drawback of this technology is that if your phone gets damaged, you can’t salvage the SIM card and operate it using another phone. This process can be done using a physical SIM card; however, replicating this process isn’t possible with the help of time. Transferring the data is much easier with the help of eSIM, but only if both phones are operational.
Supported Devices
The first brands which spearheaded eSIM technology were Google and Apple, followed by Samsung. Google introduced this technology in Pixel 2 in the year 2017. Apple jumped on the bandwagon in 2018 by providing the functionality on iPhone XS.
The technology has yet to seep into lower-range smartphone segments. Although Google Pixels come up with eSIM functionality, various smartphone brands, such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc., need to accept the technology.
Normal SIM card vs eSIM
The primary difference between a normal Sim and an eSIM is that it comes already installed in your smartphone. While you can easily eject a standard Sim card, there’s no option when your device operates using this special sim. Looking at various aspects, we can determine that eSim provides higher functionality than a normal SIM card.
Switching to an eSIM seems lucrative enough. However, the smartphone sector has yet to accept it completely. As a result, it will take a few more years until the technology becomes the new normal.
Conclusion
eSIM technology offers a promising shift in the way we connect to carrier networks. While still relatively new, eSIMs provide numerous benefits, such as seamless switching between networks, increased security, and a reduction in environmental waste.
However, widespread acceptance and adoption of eSIMs by smartphone brands are necessary for them to become the new norm. As more manufacturers incorporate eSIM functionality into their devices, we can expect this embedded chip system to revolutionize communication.
FAQs
With eSIM, you can switch between carrier networks seamlessly by installing a configuration file provided by the specific carrier you want to use. This file can be activated on your device.
Yes, E-SIM is considered highly secure. Being embedded in your smartphone, it is difficult for anyone to copy or clone it. This adds an extra layer of security compared to physical SIM cards.
Transferring data between phones is typically easier with E-SIM if both devices have the same operational functionality. However, it’s important to note that if your phone is damaged and cannot be used, you won’t be able to salvage the E-SIM and use it on another phone.
