What is an eSim?

ballyblack

Swainy said:

I can't agree that this is the best way to keep in touch on holiday. My nephew talks to his father from South Australia on Signal for free. They speak for an unlimited amount of time and communication is perfect. Sending videos and photos is no problem. 
It's a complete no-brainer!

Same with 'WhatsApp' which is a lot more popular. BUT you need data/wifi to use!

DullGreyGuy

jbrassy said:

These e-sims are fine, but I think it's much cheaper to buy a local (physical) sim card in the airport when you arrive at your destination. 

Exactly, so have your normal UK sim in esim format meaning your physical sim slot(s) are free for a local sim... may be more relevant for iPhone users given the 1 physical sim slot. 

jbrassy

DullGreyGuy said:

jbrassy said:

These e-sims are fine, but I think it's much cheaper to buy a local (physical) sim card in the airport when you arrive at your destination. 

Exactly, so have your normal UK sim in esim format meaning your physical sim slot(s) are free for a local sim... may be more relevant for iPhone users given the 1 physical sim slot. 

I don't even do this. Most people contact me via WhatsApp so I don't need to use my UK sim.

I did use an esim in the Philippines out of convenience, but it was significantly more expensive than the local sim cards for sale in Manila airport.

thefirs

I've used an esim in my Pixel (one physical slot) for about a year, and there's no problems. The physical slot can be used for local card, supplementary mobile data etc.

My wife's just bought a new phone with the same arrangements but was stunned to find that if o2 accepted her request to send an esim pack by post then they disabled service on the line (up to four days) until the switch from existing sim. The alternative is to travel to a not-too-close large town to request a pack in store.

It's a shame the network has not made it easier.

I travel to Canada every year, and local sims are very expensive, but an international esim seller can provide one at acceptable cost. Some markets have a much healthier competitive market for short term local sims from kiosks etc. 

savergrant

jbrassy said:

DullGreyGuy said:

jbrassy said:

These e-sims are fine, but I think it's much cheaper to buy a local (physical) sim card in the airport when you arrive at your destination. 

Exactly, so have your normal UK sim in esim format meaning your physical sim slot(s) are free for a local sim... may be more relevant for iPhone users given the 1 physical sim slot. 

I don't even do this. Most people contact me via WhatsApp so I don't need to use my UK sim.

I did use an esim in the Philippines out of convenience, but it was significantly more expensive than the local sim cards for sale in Manila airport.

You say 'most people contact me hy whatsapp' but what about the others? And what do you do with your UK sim whilst you are travelling? Leave it at home and not be able to use your uk network until you get back home after travelling? Or put it in a special sim card sized pocket in a wallet? Surely it has to be advantageous to have access to your UK plan while you are actually in the country?

PHK

thefirs said:

I've used an esim in my Pixel (one physical slot) for about a year, and there's no problems. The physical slot can be used for local card, supplementary mobile data etc.

My wife's just bought a new phone with the same arrangements but was stunned to find that if o2 accepted her request to send an esim pack by post then they disabled service on the line (up to four days) until the switch from existing sim. The alternative is to travel to a not-too-close large town to request a pack in store.

It's a shame the network has not made it easier.

I travel to Canada every year, and local sims are very expensive, but an international esim seller can provide one at acceptable cost. Some markets have a much healthier competitive market for short term local sims from kiosks etc. 

This sounds like O2 being behind the times.  On EE you can switch to an esim in the app  which takes a few minutes. Lycamobile who use the O2 network, you can download the esim in minutes.

DullGreyGuy

jbrassy said:

DullGreyGuy said:

jbrassy said:

These e-sims are fine, but I think it's much cheaper to buy a local (physical) sim card in the airport when you arrive at your destination. 

Exactly, so have your normal UK sim in esim format meaning your physical sim slot(s) are free for a local sim... may be more relevant for iPhone users given the 1 physical sim slot. 

I don't even do this. Most people contact me via WhatsApp so I don't need to use my UK sim.

Unfortunately my banks haven't moved onto WhatsApp or iMessage and still send text messages for 2FA. Similarly recruitment agencies, corporate clients etc... when I'm overseas for a few months at a time I am typically working, still having to do banking etc. 

km1500

I read the article - I have never used e Sims and I was a bit clearer after but I felt the article lacked detail and was superficial

for example towards the end suddenly there was something about checking an app but an app but never been mentioned before 

I think need a lot more detail about how exactly it works is needed

another example - so you go to a website and buy an eSim for say the USA. How does that get on your phone? do you have to buy it on your phone or can you buy it on a desktop and transfer to your phone? 

the article makes a lot of assumptions about what you know.

savergrant

km1500 said:

I read the article - I have never used e Sims and I was a bit clearer after but I felt the article lacked detail and was superficial

for example towards the end suddenly there was something about checking an app but an app but never been mentioned before 

I think need a lot more detail about how exactly it works is needed

another example - so you go to a website and buy an eSim for say the USA. How does that get on your phone? do you have to buy it on your phone or can you buy it on a desktop and transfer to your phone? 

the article makes a lot of assumptions about what you know.

I think the article is a little confusing as it is promoting a specific kind of esim for international roaming, whereas an esim could simply be a replacement for your normal sim. For example someone had suggested having your UK number on an esim and then using your physical sim slot for local sims whilst abroad.
However I think this bit answers your question about buying and loading your esim;
"You can buy eSims online and activate it by scanning a QR code, and it starts working right away."
So i would imagine how you get the qr code is irrelevant, you just have to scan it with the right device, your phone.

nomad_esim_travel_app

savergrant said:

km1500 said:

I read the article - I have never used e Sims and I was a bit clearer after but I felt the article lacked detail and was superficial

for example towards the end suddenly there was something about checking an app but an app but never been mentioned before 

I think need a lot more detail about how exactly it works is needed

another example - so you go to a website and buy an eSim for say the USA. How does that get on your phone? do you have to buy it on your phone or can you buy it on a desktop and transfer to your phone? 

the article makes a lot of assumptions about what you know.

I think the article is a little confusing as it is promoting a specific kind of esim for international roaming, whereas an esim could simply be a replacement for your normal sim. For example someone had suggested having your UK number on an esim and then using your physical sim slot for local sims whilst abroad.
However I think this bit answers your question about buying and loading your esim;
"You can buy eSims online and activate it by scanning a QR code, and it starts working right away."
So i would imagine how you get the qr code is irrelevant, you just have to scan it with the right device, your phone.

I am new to the forum and (full disclosure) I work for a company that makes eSIM for data roaming and also provides eSIM software to network operators.  In my view, the article about eSIM for roaming is very good in talking about the application of eSIM for roaming but I think eSIM will really make a big impact when operators start to use eSIM in their domestic markets and for the provisioning of devices for Internet of Things applications. We have seen that when eSIM is offered as a way to sign up for service, it is more popular than getting a physical SIM.  Maybe it's a generational thing but there does seem to be growing interest in using eSIM for the telco experience. It's kind of like the appeal of something like Netflix, where something is easier to sign up, the more popular it will be.