GSMA, a commercial body that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, had since 2010 launched a series of discussions on the possibility of activating the use of a version of SIM cards based exclusively on a software implementation. The e.g they are just that: virtual SIM cards integrated into devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and so on. There are also eSIM-compatible Windows laptops.
The eSIMs had already been known for some time in the old continent because the European Commission has ordered their use on vehicles new generation. The goal is to have a timely automated call to single emergency number 112 in the event of an accident.
What are eSIMs and what features do they integrate
The eSIM, acronym of embedded Subscriber Identity Modulemade their debut in Europe around November 2019. Not being physical cards like traditional SIMs, eSIMs are extremely practical and convenient: it is not necessary to physically insert one SIM card or worry about losing or damaging it because everything is managed through software.
I operator changes are much easier with eSIM: you can choose the new provider and activate the connection through the device settings. This happens because eSIMs are born by putting the remote management in first place: they can be activated, deactivated and managed remotely by the various operators with whom the user signs an agreement (subscription or prepaid plan).
During the foreign trips o before moving across national borders, you can temporarily activate an eSIM with a local data plan. In another article we have seen where to buy eSIM for any country in the world.
Lo physical space previously dedicated to installing a dedicated slot capable of accommodating plastic SIMs with eSIMs becomes available for other uses. The producers of smartphone they can thus reuse this space to add functionality or to make the device thinner and more compact. Removing the eSIM slot, like the one for inserting external memory cards, helps create more resistant to immersion in water.
eSIM increasingly present on user terminals: great advantages also for operators
Even on newer terminals, there is still a tendency today to combine support for inserting traditional SIMs with eSIMs. In the future, however, the use of eSIM alone could become an almost obligatory choice. Not to mention that iSIMs are also on the horizon (integrated SIM) embedded at the level of SoC (System-on-a-Chip): therefore the chip dedicated present in mobile devices that today allow the use of eSIM.
Lastly, eSIMs are a great convenience for those who often find themselves working or in any case managing devices forInternet of Things (IoT) that must remain constantly connected to the data network. Each device, thanks to a new eSIM, can virtually become not only dual SIM but also multi SIM.
On the telecommunications operator side, the adoption of eSIMs allows huge savings (think of the cost cut deriving from the reduction in the number of traditional SIMs produced) but, at the same time, facilitates the migration from one vendor to another because users no longer have to wait for the receipt of a physical SIM card to conclude the portability.
In this regard, it must be said that eSIMs are identical to the more classic SIM cards: they are in fact equipped with a codice ICCID unique using which you can start, at any time, the number portability to another operator. THE phone numbers connected to the eSIMs are not lost and can be migrated between eSIMs or to traditional SIMs.
Set up an eSIM and configure its use
To use an eSIM, it is usually sufficient to point at a codice QR provided by the telecom operator. It contains all parameters for configuration of the eSIM in your mobile device. Thus, quite simply, you will find yourself with a device that is capable of sending and receiving phone calls/SMS, surfing the data network without ever having opened the slot for inserting a physical SIM. This is the case with smartphones. For other devices, for example, you can benefit from the automatic configuration of the connection to the data network.
L’setting up an eSIM on each device varies slightly depending on the operating system and manufacturer. In general, however, it is always essential to verify the compatibility of the device with the eSIMs and then request an eSIM profile from the chosen telecom operator.
At this point it is possible to access the device settings, the SIM configuration and then the option to add an eSIM: here is the aforementioned routine for scanning the QR code provided by the provider or for manual entry of the serial of the eSIM.
How to do on iOS and Android
Apple details the steps to follow for set up an eSIM on his iPhone to this address. After scanning the QR code you agree to see a preview of the cellular plan to which the eSIM refers. The wizard is very quick to complete and is realized by choosing first Install the cellular plan Therefore Add cellular plan.
As a last step, just assign a name to the newly added plan and then choose which services of each SIM/eSIM you want to use (for example whether to activate the data connection with the SIM or with the eSIM).
To activate an eSIM on devices Android that support this feature, simply go to the operating system settings, select the item for SIM card management and then choose Add rate plan and finally Add with QR code to then frame the QR provided by the chosen operator.
How eSIMs work from a technical point of view
Around 2000, along with the communication standard 3G UMTS, a new application for that standard has appeared – USIM. Acronym of Universal Subscriber Identity Module, SEASON it is an advanced version of the traditional SIM card and offers advanced functions compared to traditional cards.
USIMs have a higher memory capacity than previous SIM cards, support multiple technologies (such as GSM, 3G, LTE/4G and 5G) and enable advanced features such as high-speed connection, support for mobile data and multimedia services. In addition to user identification information, the USIM can store network profiles, user preferences and other useful information.
USIM can only have one SIM profile composed of data such as contract details and authentication keys. In the case of eSIM, a virtual version of USIM, the SIM profile is separate from the physical chip and it is therefore possible to install more SIMs. The chip that governs the operation of an eSIM is called eUICC (embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card).
What is the eUICC
The content of the eUICC is structured on several levels: below is what is called eUICC operating system while above is what is called “profile enabled MNO“. A disabled profile is expected next to it: “profile disabled MNO“. eUICC, in other words, stores two separate profiles of which only one is active. It’s possible to save a large number of profiles in eUICC, but they cannot be activated at the same time, and if one is activated, the other profiles are disabled accordingly.
The types of virtual cards
There are three eSIM types: eSIM M2M, eSIM consumer e eSIM IoT. These three types share the name simply for marketing reasons: the respective contents are in fact quite different.
M2M stands for machine-to-machine: This is a server-based mechanism that allows machine owners to remotely configure new profiles.
Consumer cards: what is theStarting download
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