You can’t make calls on a cellphone without a SIM card, right?
Wrong!
Believe it or not, a whole new technology has emerged that may well make SIM cards a thing of the past. It’s called eSIM, which stands for Electronic Subscriber Identity Module. Put simply, it’s a programmable SIM.
In terms of functionality, eSIMs are no different from ordinary SIM cards. They allow you to sign up for calls, SMS, and data, or any combination of the above.
The big difference is that they don’t require you to mess around with fiddly cards after the initial installation.
If you’ve got an eSIM in your phone, you can scan a QR code to change providers, meaning no more trips to the store or frustrating waits for your new card to arrive in the mail.
Another advantage of an eSIM is that it eliminates the inconvenience of having to think about roaming charges, making it ideal for travellers or, really, anybody who goes abroad for work or leisure.
Not only that, but eSIMs are much more secure than traditional SIMs, which are eminently hackable through methods like simjacking, SIM swaps, SIM cloning, and so on.
In contrast with creaky old SIM cards, eSIMs require an activation code to get them up and running, and they prevent personal information being shared without your explicit permission.
There are tons of providers, including Airalo, which offers plenty of options and a great user experience, Nomad, which offers terrific value for money, and RedteaGO, which is Apple’s official eSIM partner.
And there’s even a chance that you’ll be able to get your data directly from Elon Musk through SpaceX’s cutting edge Starlink service, which is exploring the possibility of becoming a hugely disruptive mobile and internet network operator.
We’re not sure what’s cooler: getting global roaming at bargain prices, or that fact that your data is travelling via literal space lasers.
