A rapidly growing business is emerging with eSIMs. Not nearly as low cost as buying local SIMs when travelling internationally but the convenience might be priceless to many.
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Just had a good look at e-sims, sims because we are planning a trip to Europe for a couple of months. You really need to read the fine print, check data allowances, network strength… we ended up taking the $5/ 5GB per day roaming option from Optus.
Keep in mind also, that most of our phones now are identified devices that identify us and allow for banking, shopping etc. This is not possible, if you change the SIM card.
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If a phone supports both a SIM and an eSIM, then having both will not affect your ability to use your original number when needed. We travelled NZ using an Aus SIM and a NZ eSIM with no issues.
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I had a good look ar eSIMs for using in a few weeks’ time, and was just about to buy one, when I found oit the ones I’d seen were data only, and not for voice calls nor SMS.
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Sometimes the internet does not provide the answers one expects.
I eventually found a formula that seemed to return a positive outcome. Just a random sample to show that eSims do exist with data, calls and SMS, depending on destination?
EG Europe.
I was surprised to note same as you the most offered solutions were data only. IE one needs to rely on a seperate VOIP service for voice calls or your Apple/Android specific messaging and call features using data only. I’ve only recently upgraded from an iPhone 8. We relied previously on a roaming plan from our Aussie Telco. Not cheap, but relatively seamless. Some of us feel a need to always be contactable 24x7 and in touch with home.
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People tend to call and SMS the mobile number, rather than use, for example, Signal, and I’ll be with a couple of other people, so data-only doesn’t quite work.
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While this following link is about eSIMs for iPhones (because Apple provide the links), the providers do not limit their service to iPhones. We used Spark in New Zealand on a prepaid plan, I still have the prepaid number in case we go back. Many of the providers have cheap prepaid plans, so if not in a Country for very long just buy a really cheap pay as you go type plan that has a limited amount of calls and SMS. If you have to use your Optus roaming then you only pay the $5 on the days you do use it, all other times you are just using the prepaid you have in the Country. If travelling with friends, you will all be on the same network, you only have to share the changed eSIM numbers when you buy in the next Country. Mostly, the convenience would be based on how long a user intends to remain in any one Country, if only a few days then just keep using the Optus roaming (or whomever Telco’s roaming plan a user is on). If a few weeks then get an eSIM from a provider in the Country and a plan that suits the needs.
Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service – Apple Support (AU)
While I’m not a fan of Google, their website translation will make many of the non-english sites much easier to navigate.
Google Translate link for website addresses
Some of the links from the page
Wireless service providers that support other eSIM activation methods
In addition to eSIM Carrier Activation and eSIM Quick Transfer, these service providers support other ways of activating eSIM on iPhone, such as scanning a QR code or using a service provider app.
Albania
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
amaysim
Optus
Telstra
Truphone
Vodafone
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Bell
Fido
Freedom
Koodo
Lucky Mobile
Rogers
Shaw
Telus
Virgin Plus
Chile
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia
Finland
France
Bouygues Telecom
Free
Orange
SFR
Truphone
Ubigi
French West Indies
Georgia
Germany
1&1
O2
Telekom
Truphone
Vodafone
Greece
Guam
Guatemala
Hong Kong
1010
3
csl
China Mobile Hong Kong
SmarTone
Truphone
Hungary
Magyar Telekom
Vodafone
Yettel
Iceland
India
Ireland
Vodafone
Japan
au
NTT DOCOMO
Rakuten Mobile
Softbank
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kcell
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
MTX Connect
Orange
POST
Tango Mobile
Ubigi
Macao
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands
KPN
Simyo
T-Mobile
Truphone
Ubigi
Vodafone
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Movistar
Orange
Pepephone
Truphone
Vodafone
Yoigo
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
APT
Chunghwa Telecom
Far EasTone
Taiwan Mobile
Taiwan Star
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkcell
Turk Telekom
Vodafone
Ukraine
Uruguay
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Appalachian Wireless
AT&T
Boost Mobile
Carolina West Wireless
Cellcom
Chat Mobility
Consumer Cellular
Copper Valley Telecom
Credo Mobile
Cricket
C Spire
FirstNet
GCI
H2O Wireless
Metro by T-Mobile
Mint Mobile
Nemont
Nex-Tech Wireless
NorthwestCell
Optimum Mobile
Pioneer Wireless
PTCI
PureTalk
Red Pocket
Republic
Spectrum Mobile
Straight Talk
Strata Networks
Thumb Cellular
T-Mobile USA
Tracfone
Truphone
Ubigi
Union Wireless
United Wireless
UScellular
Verizon Wireless
Viaero
Visible
West Central Wireless
Xfinity Mobile
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Wireless service providers that support eSIM activation on pre-paid plans for international travellers
When travelling, you can stay connected through an international roaming plan from your existing service provider. Alternatively, these service providers offer pre-paid plans if you would like a local line while travelling internationally.
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Bell
Koodo
Lucky Mobile
Rogers
Telus
Virgin Plus
Dominican Republic
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
UAE
UK
United States
AT&T
Cricket
Metro by T-Mobile
Mint Mobile
T-Mobile USA
Visible
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I suppose it depends on how you use your phone. I looked into e-sims, as well as buying local sims in Europe. - Decided that $5 per day added to my Optus plan are a better way to go. It allows me to just keep using my phone, as if I was here.
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