Apple, in its Global Launch Event, which was held in the month of October 2017 first brought eSIM to the spotlight by introducing it its latest Apple Watch Series 3. Since then the discussion on the use of eSIM going on.
With the improvement of smartphone technology, the thickness of the handsets is also reducing day by day. For this, the manufacturers have sacrificed a lot, including our favorite 3.5mm headphone jack and now it seems that our regular sim tray will also be gone in a matter of few days. Google has already introduced it to their latest Google Pixel 2 smartphones.
Now the size of sims had been reduced in the past from full-size SIM to Mini SIM and then to Micro SIM. In 2012 came the era if 12.30mm Nano SIMs with the release of the revolutionary iPhone 5. Now it seems that Nano SIMs will be outdated soon, marking the beginning of the era of eSIMs.
So, What Is The eSIM?
A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a physical card that stores network information and is used to authenticate the subscriber in a cellular network. It is a physical model that the consumer can remove from the device anytime and replace it with another card. But the concept totally changes with the introduction of eSIM. An Esim/embedded SIM or officially known as Embedded Universal Integral Circuit Card comes soldered onto the motherboard of the mobile handset. In size, it is around 6mm in length and 5 mm in width, making it almost 5 times smaller than the currently used Nano SIMs. The eSIMs will come embedded into the device and is nonremovable. So literally there is no need to pop up the SIM tray every time to change SIM cards or network providers. The user just has to install the software provided by his network provider and he’s ready to go.
In the smartphone industry slimness comes at a price and often manufacturers remove some old traditional technologies just like Apple did in iPhone 7, the headphone jack. The headphone jack made us feel nostalgic and we protested but now the removal of our good old SIM slot will again make us feel the same. But for the manufacturers, no SIM slot means extra space so they can reduce the thickness by a millimeter or more, with compromising the battery power.
To the consumers, it will be a hassle-free portability, switching etc. And you won’t lose the ejector pin because it will cease to exist.
In short, the eSIM is a DIGITAL COPY OF YOUR EXISTING SIM.
What Is The Difference?
The main difference is the absence of a physical SIM card on our devices. The ESIM will eliminate the use of our traditional SIM cards. It will be a good thing to the consumers as they don’t have to worry anymore if they want to swap SIM cards or port their numbers. The ESIM will retain all the information just like the Regular SIM. In place of rushing to stores to get a SIM card the consumer just has to install the software of the network provider. Another good this for the consumers will be the competition in the telecom industry. As switching networks will be a minute’s job consumer can switch to the best and cheap network, so telecom companies will also lower their rates to attract more customers. Just like the scene after the introduction of JIO.
Often consumers suffer from the damage of SIM cards, this will be prevented with the introduction of eSIM.
Currently, the Apple Watch Series 3, Google Pixel 2 and Apple iPad Pro supports eSIM.
It can be concluded that eSIM IS THE FUTURE.
