All about eSIM | Functions, Uses, Secure, History, Full-Form of eSIM?

eSIM

A Next-Generation Technology

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is an eSIM?
3. What is the full form of eSIM?
4. What is the size of the eSIM card?
5. What are the functions of an eSIM card?
6. How many Contact you can save in an eSIM Card?
7. What material is used for make an eSIM card?
8. How secure is the eSIM Card in making calls from different operators?
9. Which Smartphone company is using eSIM technology?
10. How many Countries are currently connected with eSIM?
11. What are the Pros and Cons of an eSIM?

Introduction

In this ever-changing world, where change is the only permanent phenomena, our Traditional SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Card also underwent many figurative and technological changes. From Mini to Micro to Nano the size of SIM Card was reduced to its half and with present technology of eSIM, i.e. Embedded/Electronic SIM, it will further reduce its size drastically but will focus more on technological advancement to facilitate the consumers.

This article will give answers to the major doubts regarding eSIM.

What is an eSIM?

To understand eSIM, first, we have to know what a SIM is. A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is Chip which establishes a network connection between your electronic device and a carrier network and facilitates you to make calls, send texts, browse data, etc. Now an Embedded/Electronic SIM as the name suggests is the programmable SIM, which is embedded directly into the device.

Instead of being available as a physical SIM card, manufacturers integrate a small SIM card inside the phone, saving you the switch between physical ones when you switch your service provider.

Related: What is SIM | Functions, Memory, Full-Form, Size, Uses, Types of SIM

What is the full form of eSIM?

The eSIM stands for Embedded/Electronic Subscriber Identity Module. It is also known as (eUICC) Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card.

What is the size of an eSIM Card?

The normal height of an eSIM is 6.0mm with a width of 5.0mm and thickness being 0.67mm. As eSIM is in-built in mobile devices, there is no need to provide the space slots for SIM Cards Thus making the device more compact.

What are the functions of an eSIM Card?

An eSIM is basically an in-built SIM in cellular devices. Hence it has all the features and performs all functions of a regular SIM, it aids in making calls, sending texts, exploring data packages, etc. Rather this chip has higher network coverage and better signal adaptation features than a traditional SIM. Also, it has a facility to change the carrier mobile network according to the signal availability in a particular area at any given time.

It won’t be wrong to say that it has a better application feature than LTE Technology. In the settings menu of a mobile phone or any electronic device with eSIM technology, there would be a separate option dedicated to eSIM settings containing the usage tutorials and further options to explore the features of this technology.

How many contacts can you save in an eSIM Card?

The present storage capacity of a normal SIM Card (Nano) is around 20MB. It can store up to 5,000 Contacts without pictures or any other information other than Name and Contact Number. An eSIM Card has better storage capacity than the normal SIM to save contacts, messages, pictures, or other relevant data. It is speculated that it can store around 25,000 contacts containing Name and Number.

What material is used for make an eSIM card?

The Electronic chip is the main component of a SIM card, which is made from Silicon alloy, including some added impurities such as phosphorous. It is then plated with metals like Gold to form the outer layer which makes contact with the motherboard of a cellular device.

The making of the eSIM Card follows a similar pattern. The main material used is Silicon Alloy, having phosphorous impurities being coded and covered by a metal layer like Gold and directly embedded in the motherboard of the gadget.

How secure is the eSIM Card in making calls from different operators?

An eSIM works in a similar way as normal SIM works. Here one has to login to a carrier and operate accordingly. There is an option to switch between operators at any time, which eases the consumer's work. The majority of the modern gadget has a complete section in the settings menu dedicated to eSIM settings.

There the user can select the operator for incoming calls or the operator for text messages or a carrier for outgoing calls etc. But right now it is not possible to take calls from different operators at a single time. One could switch Carrier Accounts simultaneously and operate accordingly. The Dual eSIM Card Concept is still in pipeline and will work out soon.

Which Smartphone company is using eSIM technology?

s-SIM Card was first used by Samsung in 2016 in the Samsung Gear S2 smart-watch followed by Apple Inc and Google (Google Pixel2 being the first cell phone to use eSIM technology, launched only in the United States). This technology is considered the future of SIM Card and is used by the majority telecom industry and mobile and electronic device making companies in manufacturing its product accordingly. Such as Microsoft, which introduced eSIM to the Windows-10 operating system in 2018.

Plintron, a giant in cloud CAAS (Communication As A Service) provider industry, also implemented the “IOT” Internet of things product, based on eSIM support for the devices and available in 28 countries. And recently Motorola released the 2020 version of the Motorola Razr, a foldable Smartphone that only supports eSIM and doesn’t have any physical SIM slots.

An eSIM is even smaller than an average human’s fingernail; with such small size and better network coverage facility this technology is not limited to telecom devices rather is used in many different devices such as smart-watches. This technology is used by European countries in the Automobile industry also; in 2012 the European Commission finalized the embedded UICC format for its in-vehicle emergency call service known as Call.

All new car models in the EU have been directed to incorporate one by 2018 to instantly connect the car to the emergency services in case of any accident emergency. Even Singapore is seeking public polls and opinions on the introduction of eSIM as a new standard as more and more compatible devices are entering the market.

How many Countries are currently connected with eSIM?

This emerging technology is supported by many countries and its mobile carrier network organization. Most European countries, as well as India, Canada, Hong Kong, the USA, Taiwan, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, and Kuwait, being the major countries to support this booming technology. But presently beside the United States, the eSIM technology is available in nine other countries – India, Austria, Canada, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom.

In India, Bharti Airtel was first to introduce eSIM technology causing a huge uproar in the telecom industry. Even Reliance JIO followed the footsteps and incorporated this technology to stay competitive in the market. Now both the companies have this facility in India as well all the 9 countries.

What are the Pros and Cons of eSIM?

Advantages of the eSIM Card Technology

1. Space Saving- Due to the eSIM physical SIM Card isn’t required, hence removing the components to read a SIM card, and the SIM card slot itself, which removes a handful of complexities in Smartphone Device design and remove a big hole in a Smartphone device. So removing the physical SIM card will provide space for new technology. Hence enabling the makers to use this saved space for installing other useful components or to optimize the Smartphone’s design to create a better-looking phone.
2. Hassle-free Inter-Portability between Carriers- Activating and switching between the carriers is super easy. You don’t need to go to a shop to get the SIM and wait for it to get activated. All you need to do is LogIn to your carrier account and link your eSIM.
3. Easy Traceability- In case of phone theft, the eSIM is a default in-built SIM and cannot be taken out, hence using the phone with another SIM is out of option. So there is a high chance of tracking the phone and getting it back.
4. No additional charges- One of the advantages of this bubbling technology is that the consumers will not have to wait or pay any additional amount for the SIM as the eSIM is already in-built in the device.
5. Higher security and efficiency- Another advantage of this technology is that the eSIM-based gadgets generally offer potentially higher security along with re-programmability features, and are more power-efficient over the traditional SIM card solutions.

Limitations of the eSIM Card Technology

1. Not so easy transferability- Since it is not a physical SIM and is permanently in-built in the phone or other device, it is impossible to take it off the gadget and put it into another Smartphone or other device. In case the phone runs out of battery one doesn’t have the option to change the SIM and in the worst case where the gadget breaks or is destroyed, all the data in eSIM is gone with it and is very hard (nearly impossible) to retrieve.
2. Complex Working- The switching and activating of the carriers could be a difficult task for a layman. And as the eSIM is in-built and removing it is impossible, so at times when one passes his phone, it will be important to take all the important data from the eSIM and create a backup or to erase the data from that. This could be a tedious task for some.
3. Always stays connected to Network- An eSIM will always be connected to a network once provisioned. That makes phones far more traceable and track-able. This could be a problem for those who love their privacy and don’t want themselves to be located. It is a little bit far removed from what an average person deals with but it could be a problem to some who adore their privacy.
4. Hacker’s Threat- An eSIM gives users the power to download a profile directly onto their phone. This means, in theory, that a hacker might be able to push a new profile onto someone else's device and take control of it, making devices vulnerable to hacker’s attacks.
5. No Dual eSIM Concept- Those who wish to use two or more phone lines at a time, eSIM doesn’t facilitate this. This concept is still not adopted and is in the planning stage but in the future, we might see dual eSIM devices.
6. Still in Emerging Stage- Since this technology is just still in the emerging stage, there aren’t a lot of carriers/operators which support eSIM, and some countries, like China, are openly opposing the idea but it will come around eventually.

I hope this article was helpful in creating a basic idea of eSIM and busting a few myths regarding the same.