It is no secret to us that Apple played a major role in reducing the size of SIM cards from the standard size to the smallest "nano" size. With the announcement of the iPhone XS and XS Max, Apple announced that these devices contain two SIM cards, one actual and the second virtual called eSIM. What is meant by this technology? Why does Apple offer two SIM cards only in China and not in other countries of the world? And does Apple really intend to cancel the physical SIM card and limit itself to the default eSIM in the near future? All of these questions and more will be answered in this article. Follow up with us.


It is known that eSIM technology is not a newborn today and it is not Apple that introduced it first. Google introduced it in its Pixel 2 device, and Samsung introduced it on its Gear S2 3G watch. Apple introduced it two years ago in the iPad Pro 9.7-inch, but this technology did not spread widely until after Apple introduced it in its Apple Watch Series 3.

ESIM technology

The eSIM, Embedded-SIM, or the embedded chip, also known as the global integrated circuit card “eUICC” short for “Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card” is a digital chip also called the eSIM IC or an integrated electronic circuit, which is made of silicon within the internal components of the phone. Exchangeable or removable only by professional technicians, as they are soldered directly to the motherboard as part of the manufacturing process.


A digital or virtual eSIM enables cellular connectivity without the need to use a physical SIM card that requires a card tray, a docking station, special electronic circuits "ICs" to operate and process its own operations and other capacitors, resistors and transistors that occupy space in the motherboard, all of that is replaced With one very small circuit called eSIM, it is easy to program by the communication companies, and easy to deal with by the users, so that the concerned telecom companies are provided with the serial number, or the identifier of the chip, to be programmed in a simple and fast way remotely and then start using the network.

Users can move between more than one mobile network with ease without being restricted to a specific company’s segment, and resorting to constantly switching between slides.

The eSIM is seen as the technology of the future, and the physical SIM will be dispensed with in any way to replace it with the default, given that it is easy to use. One of its advantages is that it is easy to move to another local network in another country.

This technology targets a wide range of electronic devices such as wearables, tablets and mobile phones, with the aim of providing a better cellular communication experience.

It is worth noting that the International Association of Mobile Phone Networks, symbolized by the acronym “GSMA”, in 2010 discussed the issue of replacing the SIM card with a system built into the devices, so it can be controlled and mobile networks through programs and not by changing the SIM cards from time to time. While Motorola indicated that the "eUICC" or eSIM system is directed at industrial devices, for example: they are placed in cars for emergency calling service.

Apple has not agreed with any statement prohibiting the use of UICC technology or eSIM in any consumer product. In 2012 the European Commission adopted this technology for in-car emergency calling service, known as eCall. And Apple has also integrated this technology in the Apple Watch Series 3. It was assumed that this technology is integrated into all new cars in the European Union in this year 2018 to contact the emergency immediately after an accident. And many countries are now seeking to adopt this technology extensively.


Why is Apple adopting digital eSIMs now?

And here is Apple expanding the use of that virtual chip and establishing it in the new iPhone XS devices. It is assumed that other mobile companies will follow the example of Apple and introduce in its new phones this virtual chip, and its hour will be the communications companies acquiesce and support this technology, so that the Apple devices are ready and ready for that event, and you do not have to buy a new iPhone that supports this new technology, and its time is With you the iPhone for a year, two or even three years, you are assured that your phone supports technology that will emerge after a period of time for quite some time.

Unfortunately, only ten countries currently support eSIM technology: Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. As for the communication companies that support that chip, as Apple mentioned, they are: Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Bell, EE, Vodafone, Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Truphone, GigSky and Ji, and certainly the rest of the companies will support this technology in the near future.


Why does China get dual-SIM iPhones without the rest of the world?

Although major Chinese companies support this technology, such as China Telecom and China Mobile, and support for two cities except Beijing, the iPhone devices will contain two SIM cards, so you can switch between them as you like, like many Android phones. This is due to reasons:

◉ The importance of the Chinese market, it is rare for Apple to allocate its products to certain markets. Because design standardization makes the manufacturing process efficient and fast. China is the largest market for Apple after the United States, in addition to being the main production base for iPhones and iPads in the world. Consequently, Apple must make sacrifices to access the world's largest smartphone and internet market. Where Apple achieved $ 45 billion in revenue from China in its fiscal year 2017, equivalent to 20% of total annual sales.

◉ Competition with strong companies that have weight in the Chinese market, such as Huawei and Xiaomi, which are subject to Chinese domestic trends and provide more services.

◉ James Yan, analyst at Counterpoint Research, said, “Using an eSIM would allow customers to change carriers more easily, a situation most Chinese carriers do not want. The negotiations between Apple and those companies have not ended yet, making the actual two tranches a better option.

Apple should surrender to the censorship-critical dictates of the Chinese market. Last year, for example, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese telecom companies had discontinued cellular connectivity on Apple's third-generation watch because it supports eSIM technology, and analysts said this makes it difficult for telecom companies to trace the identity of the device's user.

And Apple made concessions to comply with Chinese law, in 2016 Apple closed the iBooks store and iTunes Movies. Last year, Apple removed hundreds of apps from the Chinese app store, especially VPN apps that allow people to hide their locations and circumvent official efforts to block certain websites.

◉ Apple has not responded with an official statement about the reason for the existence of iPhones containing two real SIM slots in China alone.

Of course, it will be possible for you to use both types of iPhones in the Arab world.

What do you think of the eSIM technology? Will it replace the actual SIM? Let us know in the comments.

Sources:

the verge / digitaltrends / wikipedia / st / techradar

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