The virtual sim card: a wind of freedom for teleworking

Another market where ESIM will clearly change the situation is that of M2M, the machine to machine. There are already players who offer multi-operator SIM cards: the company that wants to deploy connected objects can choose the operator whose network coverage or prices are most suitable for its deployment. Likewise, the upcoming arrival of ESIM technology on 4G/5G routers will simplify the deployment of Internet infrastructure in sales or agencies networks. “The ESIM allows you to change the radio operator in real time in the event of a network failure,” argues Arnaud Lecœur, Managing Director of Airmob, a multi-network service operator. “For a 4G/5G box, this provides high service availability and the best possible flows. »»

ESIM: Should we adopt the virtual sim card ?

More and more smartphones are now accepting ESIM, a virtual SIM card to replace the famous physical SIM card inserted in mobiles since their beginnings. Practical or gadget ? We take stock.

• How does ESIM work
• The advantages of ESIM
• ESIM’s drawbacks
• Find the PUK code of an esim
• ESIM’s price
• ESIM compatible smartphones

One of the first operations that we carry out when you unpack a new smartphone is to bring the SIM card extractor, a kind of small metallic pin delivered in the box, in order to insert the SIM card of its operator in the device and connect to its network. Step essential to pass and receive phone calls, exchange by SMS or connect to the Internet via the 3G/4G/5G network. Historically, and culturally too, inseparable from the smartphone and even any mobile phone, the physical sim card will gradually disappear. His replacement ? A virtual SIM card called ESIM for Embedded Subscriber Module Identification (or Identification Module of Boarded Subscription in French). It allows you to free yourself from the small piece of plastic containing a chip while offering the same services as its elder. Many smartphones already accept ESIM “cards” such as iPhones, Google pixel, but also Samsung, Huawei or even Oppo devices. Apple even struck a blow with the release of the iPhone 14 since the models intended in the United States no longer have a SIM card drawer and only accept ESIM. A radical hair the apple firm ? Maybe. Especially since in France, ESIM pierces slowly. All operators offer it, but few really put it forward. The habits of not so easy, even if ESIM has many advantages.

How does ESIM work ?

ESIM is nothing more than a SIM card but in a dematerialized version. Finally, not quite since it is a chip nestled inside the smartphone, and therefore installed by its manufacturer, which replaces it. This chip therefore welcomes all the information stored traditionally on the physical SIM card: data related to the operator’s mobile network, identifiers of the owner’s line, mobile number, access to the Data network (3G/4G/ 5g), without forgetting the famous PIN code to unlock it and access the operator’s network. Rest assured. In the absence of the physical chip that stores all this data, you do not have to enter it yourself to reach the network of your operator. It is enough, using your new smartphone, to enter a code or to scan a QR code sent by email or available in your customer area from your operator to recover all the information essential for your connection.

An operation that can only be carried out when the mobile is connected to a WiFi network since it must download data and therefore be connected to the Internet. Once all the data has been recovered, your smartphone is ready and immediately connected to the mobile network as if you had inserted a physical SIM card.

What are the advantages of ESIM ?

Since ESIM presents the same functions as a physical sim card, why go there ? There are several good reasons to take the plunge.

Shortcuts. When you subscribe to a mobile plan with an operator, it invites you to wait a few days to send you your physical sim card by post. For new customers (without requesting the number portability), this period no longer exists. When your subscription is validated, just scan the QR code provides by the operator to instantly take advantage of your line. If a portability request is underway, you can also take advantage of your ESIM with a provisional number. An update will then be sent to your mobile when the mobile number is definitively activated.

Sharing between several devices. Having an ESIM also allows you to take advantage of connection to the operator’s network to a connected watch or a tablet for example compatible for example. Practical if you want to go for example to jog without clutching your smartphone but while keeping the opportunity to pass and receive phone calls or SMS from a connected watch. The mobile line thus remains attached to several devices simultaneously. Please note, this is an option. For the moment, only Orange and SFR offer an option for connected watches. It is billed 5 euros per month with the two operators (see the list of compatible watches at Orange and SFR) to which are added 10 euros in commissioning fees.

More resistant and more versatile smartphones. By eliminating the drawer assigned to the SIM card, smartphones manufacturers at the same time suppress a potential entry point when the mobile falls into the water. It also saves a little space in this very narrow space. This is one of the reasons why the jack allowed to plug in a wired headphones has also gradually disappeared. For the moment, only Apple with its iPhone 14 has deleted the SIM card drawer on the models sold across the Atlantic. In addition, some smartphones can accommodate several telephone lines. Fixed for a maximum of two with conventional SIM cards, the limit can reach eight ESIM for example on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The multiplication of ESIM lines and cards on the same mobile however requires a small cerebral gymnastics to navigate.

More ecological than a physical sim card. At a time when ecological consciousness is finally gaining importance, ESIM also represents a good advance. Since the “card” becomes virtual, there is no longer a SIM card to make and therefore less plastic produced and thrown away. It is also less paper consumed (since there is no shipment by post) and no transport cost. Better than nothing. This does not prevent operators from charging you the activation of an ESIM at the same price as a classic SIM card. There is no little profit.

What are the disadvantages of ESIM ?

Going to ESIM remains tempting but also raises some practical questions. Indeed, without physical sim card, you have to review some habits. Some operations become more complex.

How to transfer an esim from one smartphone to another ?

With a classic SIM card, when you want to change your smartphone, just remove the old card, to insert it into the new one, to enter the PIN code and voila. With ESIM, the operation is more delicate. According to operators, it is necessary to deactivate ESIM on the old smartphone and then activate it on the new using the QR code available in the customer area. At Orange, we want to specify that the ESIM should not be removed from the old mobile before having transferred it to the new. In addition, to make the transfer, the new smartphone must be connected to the Internet in WiFi in order to download the user profile of ESIM.

Attention : If for one reason or another you decide to reset your smartphone to factory settings and delete all the data it contains (to give it, resell it or simply give it a little breath for example), your profile Esim will also be deleted. Before this operation, make sure to have all the information and follow all the necessary steps to find your line. To avoid any bad manipulation, find out in the customer area of ​​your operator or in store.

What to do with ESIM in the event of theft, loss or breakdown of the mobile ?

Your smartphone is broken and does not light up ? You lost it or we stole it from you ? Impossible to access your ESIM profile on your mobile to transfer it to another device. Direction to the customer area of ​​your operator. Procedures may vary to recover your line on a new smartphone. In general, you can deactivate your ESIM remotely and reactivate it on your new smartphone using a QR code. At Orange for example, you will have to apply for renewal to a physical SIM card – and by the way to be charged with 10 euros in activation fees – before returning to an ESIM (free operation this time). At SFR, you will have to ask to activate a new ESIM with an advisor. Furthermore, it is impossible in this operator to get their hands on the QR code of activation of your ESIM if it has more than a year. It will be necessary to contact an advisor or request the sending of a physical SIM card (SFR does not specify the costs of this operation). At Bouygues, just request the replacement of ESIM. There too, no cost is indicated. Finally, at Free, the demand for renewal, whatever the reason, is invoiced 10 euros. In the event of theft or loss, it will be necessary to suspend the line. If it is a question of transferring ESIM from a smartphone broken to a new device, it will be necessary to request a renewal. When activating the new ESIM, the old will be disabled.

How to find the PUK code of an esim ?

A memory hole, several bad pine codes seized and here is your blocked mobile line. To get out of it, you need the PUK code. Acronym of Personal Unblocking/Unlocking Key or Pin Unblocking/Unlocking Key, depending on the versions, which can be translated by “Unlocking key to personal identification number”, the Puk code is a kind of backup code that goes Allow you to unlock your line on the smartphone (read our practical sheet to know everything about the PUK code). To find it, again direction the customer area of ​​your operator. Associated with the QR code necessary for activating your ESIM, must also include the PUK code. It may also have been sent to you by email when you activate your ESIM.

How much is ESIM ?

Although only dematerialized and therefore only existing in digital form, ESIM is billed at the same price as a physical sim card is ten euros for all operators (in addition to your mobile package). This format is available from all operators and some MVNOs. In France, Orange was the forerunner on this ground by launching its first ESIM when releaseing the iPhone XS, the first ESIM compatible iPhone in 2018 in 2018. The other operators followed him. Only free is still lagging behind. If the operator offers ESIM for its new subscribers, existing customers have only started since November 2022 to be able to switch to ESIM. But beware, just like at Bouygues Télécom, ESIM is not compatible with connected watches.

What are the compatible smartphones esim ?

To be able to take advantage of ESIM, it is still necessary to have a compatible smartphone, therefore equipped with the famous chip which will accommodate the data linking you to your operator. For the moment, these are mainly medium/high -end models. Here is the list, not exhaustive, of the main models capable of accepting ESIM.

iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 , iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2022),

Pixel 3, Pixel 3A, Pixel 4, Pixel 4A, Pixel 5, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro

P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro

RAZR 2019, RAZR 5G, RAZR 2022

Find X3 Pro, Find X5, Find X5 Pro, Reno 5 A, Reno6 Pro 5G, A55S 5G

Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G, Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Z Flip 2, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G, Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ 5G, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5g, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

Xperia 10 III, Xperia 10 IV, Xperia 10 III Lite, Xperia 1 IV

The virtual sim card: a wind of freedom for teleworking

Technology: the SIM card is dematerialized. ESIM technology allows you to do without the physical sim card. A boon for manufacturers of smartphones and connected objects, and a little freedom gained for users.

By Alain Clapaud | Thursday October 14, 2021

Unveiled in 2015, ESIM technology or virtual SIM card will have taken more than five years to truly reach the general public. Apple implemented it for the first time on its Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017, imitated by Samsung on its Galaxy Watch a few months later. The choice of this technology is then obvious: the dematerialization of the SIM card on a component welded to the motherboard is an obvious asset in terms of design on these small connected objects. The other size asset is for the user: when the latter subscribes to a new mobile subscription, he no longer has to wait for the sending of a SIM card from his new operator. He can activate his subscription in a few clicks.

This is the reason why smartphones have started to offer this technology. Apple introduced it in 2018 on the iPhone XR. Today, the iPhone 13 can support up to two ESIM, two mobile subscriptions without requiring physical sim card. Facing Apple, around twenty Android smartphones are compatible with ESIM, mainly the high -end models of Samsung, Oppo and Huawei, as well as the Google Pixel. It should be noted that no model Xiaomi today offers ESIM compatibility. According to the Strategy Analytics study office, 225 million smartphones in service are already compatible at the end of 2020, and this figure should grow by + 40 % in 2021, not to mention the compatible portables ESIM, smartwatches and other connected objects.

With the Apple Watch Series 3 and the iPhone XR until 13, Apple showed the voice by implementing the first ESIM. Android manufacturers have followed the movement and death of the traditional SIM card now seems inevitable in the medium term.

The lack of electronic components that strikes SIM card providers, but also the ecological concern for not seeing these cards systematically thrown at each change of package, could well boost the adoption of these virtual cards.

Mobile operators that are bugger. slowly

If the technology is attractive in many ways for users and manufacturers of connected equipment, it is much less so for mobile operators. Esim bricks the physical link that unites them with their subscribers, and the spectrum of being able to activate/deactivate a line in a few clicks presents a certain risk of increased churn, and drop in income for them. It was therefore with a senator train that operators announced their management of ESIM, Orange and Sosh in 2019, SFR since January 2020, Bouygues Telecom in June 2020 and Free Mobile at the end of 2020.

The fears of lowering operators’ income is justified on the target of large travelers. Thus Mysim offers data packages activated very quickly. “ESIM provides the advantage of avoiding logistical concerns related to obtaining its SIM card (often sent by post)”, explains Olivier Dauny, co -founder of Mysim.

The subscription in a few clicks of an internet package abroad helps reduce roaming costs by more than 90 %, without removing its main SIM card.

– Olivier Dauny, co -founder of Mysim

“The approach demonstrates all its interest, with its instant connectivity, which allows you to subscribe to a package in a few clicks from your smartphone, as is the case with the iPhone 13 and iOS 15. For travelers, ESIM is the ideal solution to avoid roaming costs (roaming), a concrete example thanks to our “my esim” application. In Japan, Orange invoices the MO at 13.31 euros where Mysim offers with its My Esim application the 6 GB for 9.99 euros. »»

For companies, ESIM will greatly simplify the logistics of a change of operator: “In the professional world, smartphones fleets require that the company or its provider configures and parameter the security and businesses applications, which is expensive and time-consuming, ”underlines Christophe Seillier, telecommunications consultant at LentrePrise-Connee.Fr. “ESIM will facilitate the commissioning of equipment. It is not uncommon for customers to lose, confuse or damage their physical sim card. »The change of operator should be facilitated by this dematerialization of the SIM card and individuals and businesses should compete their operator much more easily than in the past, the rocking being much less restrictive when it concerns a large fleet of mobile.

ESIM allows you to connect several connected objects with a single number. From there, we can extend the equipment interconnections. Operators who offer several networks have an advantage because they meet the need for better mobile coverage.

-Christophe Seillier, telecommunications consultant at the company.Fr

The virtual SIM card also supports new nomadic uses and teleworking, as the consultant explains: “ESIM allows operators to associate two numbers with the same terminal which has only a location for SIM physical card. This allows the implementation of its professional number and personal number. The two lines can also have separate utilities: Data Mobile + SMS or voice calls, multiple connectivity as needed ”.

M2M, a potential pool for ESIM

Another market where ESIM will clearly change the situation is that of M2M, the machine to machine. There are already players who offer multi-operator SIM cards: the company that wants to deploy connected objects can choose the operator whose network coverage or prices are most suitable for its deployment. Likewise, the upcoming arrival of ESIM technology on 4G/5G routers will simplify the deployment of Internet infrastructure in sales or agencies networks. “The ESIM allows you to change the radio operator in real time in the event of a network failure,” argues Arnaud Lecœur, Managing Director of Airmob, a multi-network service operator. “For a 4G/5G box, this provides high service availability and the best possible flows. »»

The king is so important that it even allows you to integrate the change from the smartphone to an ESIM compatible model. For the M2M, ESIM allows you to change the contract from one operator to another by avoiding all the logistics.

– Olivier Dauny, co -founder of Mysim

“In this configuration, the major interest of ESIM is to be able to activate a service in real time. Sending a physical sim card requires manipulation and takes a day, or even two or three days if it is shipped by mail. Airmob based its offers on very fast responses. The ESIM will allow us, for example, to activate a rescue link in less than two hours if the customer already has a 4G/5G router. “The operator’s infrastructure allows the user to keep their number, even in the event of a SIM change. With ESIM, he can change radio network depending on the coverage while keeping his number.

The operator expects the arrival of the first 4G/5G compatible ESIM routers in 2022.

The latest Apple iPhone models no longer have a physical location for a SIM card. Good news.

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By Alain Clapaud | Thursday October 14, 2021