Why eSIM will make the traditional SIM card disappear
Traditional SIM cards have been intrinsically linked to cellular connectivity since the early days of mobile telephony, but their dominance is about to end.
The eSIM, or embedded programmable SIM, is becoming the new standard for mobile devices. The many rumours of a future SIM-free iPhone 15 show that the market is expecting this major shift.
Ubigi, a pioneer in the eSIM market since 2017 and a provider of connectivity services for travellers, predicts that this innovation is about to become the new model for all mobile devices. Consumers will have to get used to this new technology and the advantages it offers in terms of flexibility, security and cost, which will soon make traditional SIM cards obsolete.
"We are convinced that the arrival of eSIM technology will change the way cell phones are used. Ubigi has agreements with international operators in more than 190 countries to provide users with a more convenient, economical and secure telephony experience," said Jacques Bonifay, President of Transatel.
eSIM, a microchip embedded in cell phones and other connected devices (PCs and tablets in particular), enables consumers to subscribe to a new mobile service by simply scanning a QR code or downloading a dedicated application, without needing a new SIM card. This technology, which allows subscribing to a new operator in just a few minutes, offers many advantages to consumers travelling abroad who do not want to be dependent on the exorbitant roaming charges of their national operator:
● No more waiting at SIM card retailers' counters, no more language barriers to cross or currencies to convert upon arrival to buy a local SIM card. With eSIM, you can activate a mobile data plan instantly, remotely (with a QR code or via an app), and enjoy fast and immediate access to the Internet as soon as you get off the plane in any airport in the world.
● No need to change SIMs in each country. You can accumulate several eSIM profiles (and therefore packages from different operators) and easily switch from one to another, or activate a global eSIM such as the Ubigi eSIM valid in more than 190 destinations.
● You can still be reached on your usual number. Via the device settings, users can decide to receive calls and SMS with their usual operator and use a different operator for mobile Internet (particularly interesting to avoid roaming charges) and continue using their favourite applications such as WhatsApp or iMesssage.
● No risk of losing your own SIM card. No need to find out how to remove your SIM card from its slot and take the risk of losing it. The eSIM works in parallel via a very simple management from the general menu of his phone to activate it, pause it or juggle between its different eSIM.
● The eSIM is more eco-friendly than the physical SIM card by reducing the use of plastic and the CO2 emissions linked to the various transports that a SIM card undergoes from its production abroad to its handover to the consumer.
● Finally, eSIM allows for significant savings when travelling abroad as users can choose the most economical package for each destination. In the case of Ubigi, thanks to all the international agreements signed by the brand, Ubigi subscribers and partners benefit from plans close to the local price, without roaming charges in more than 190 destinations.
In conclusion, eSIM meets the mobile Internet needs of today's travellers: cheaply, securely and effortlessly. It is a practical solution without the drawbacks of roaming (high costs), unsecured public Wi-Fi networks (risk of hacking) and the local SIM (restrictive) which rightly disappears.