E-SIM cautions

[Frank_M]

E-Sims are nice but not as bullet proof as a real sim card.

Right now I can go to mexico, download the Airalo app and install the esim without affecting my public mobile in any way.

I recently used the new USA plan from Public and that worked great too but they currently have no mexico and other Caribbean plans so Airalo is still the best choice.

I was going to go with an esim but swapping from phone to phone nothing beats a real sim card until the technology matures a bit. I bought an esim previously and they would not re-register it when I switched from a Pixel 6 to a Pixel 7 so the idea of having a Public e-sim and then switching to the new Pixel 8 makes me a bit cautious.

For now I will stick to a real SIM card while reserving the esim for my out of country data.

[Handy1]

@KababMan amazon sometimes has physical SIM cards on sale for $4.99

[DennyCrane]

@KababMan Amazon Prime $4.99

Public Mobile Prepaid SIM Prepaid Phone - (Universal/SmartPhones), Packaging May Vary https://a.co/d/e41YmxM

[KababMan]

I chose an eSIM because I didn't want to pay $10 for a physical SIM (the eSIM was free for a promotion).

Is there any way to get the physical SIM for cheaper than $10? I know another brand sells their SIMs at a dollar store for $4, and others waive the fee entirely.

[maple_leaf]

@hTideGnow , Yes, hence why I mentioned it will be carrier/country dependent. But, I also mentioned that I don't think carriers will be able to get away with continuing to charge for new eSIMs (replacement eSIMs) once this feature is accessible in Android and iOS (IMHO). Cheers.

[hTideGnow]

thanks for sharing @maple_leaf 

but I see:

, it does indicate Canadians will need to wait for Canadian carriers to support Android’s eSIM transfer feature.

So, it means it will only works if Carrier willing to give up $5 a eSIM transfer fee  😞

[maple_leaf]

Hello @Frank_M , Transferring an eSIM in Android should be available coming soon (with Android 14+). See here: https://mobilesyrup.com/2023/02/27/google-esim-transfer-tool-android-2023/

It's coming for iPhone as well with iOS 16+. See here: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/06/08/ios-16-iphone-esim-transfer-via-bluetooth/

Some of this is carrier (and country) dependent, but I suspect that once the train leaves the station it won't be long before all carriers/countries allow for eSIM transfers. Customers will not tolerate having to pay for new eSIMs every time they want to make an equipment change IMHO. 

Hope this info. is helpful.

[Frank_M]

No, it's a data only package but I also use Ooma.com for my business so I transfer the number to my Public phone when I travel and I use the Ooma app to call out.

It's not the perfect solution but the only one that works smooth for me.

[hairbag1]

@Frank_M 

using the Airlo in Mx, will I be able to call back to Canada and US as part of the 30 day plan ?

[DennyCrane]

@hTideGnow Yup

The only reason PM and other Tier 3's implemented esim is because the writing is on the wall (starting with the iPhone 15) that phones will only be esim in the foreseeable future.

[hTideGnow]

HI @DennyCrane 

i think all carriers should allow one free esim a year

but they won't, it is a money grabber, that's why they allow phone to make eSIM..LoL

[DennyCrane]

@hTideGnow New esim I get, but a transfer is silly. Ubigi let's me transfer up to 5 times for free. But the key is that I have to remove the esim from the old device first, then I can go into the app and download the esim on a new device. And I ran into a situation where the device became inoperable before I could remove the esim, but customer service was able to send me one manually, for free. 

[hTideGnow]

HI @DennyCrane 

.  I think Freedom does not charge you for new eSIM but most carriers charge you

[DennyCrane]

Yup. Until you can transfer the esim for free, I have zero interest in it. A physical sim leaves more control in the hands of the consumer. 

I appreciate esim for travel purposes though (can set it up ahead of travel, and don't have to remove/risk losing your PM sim), as well as being able to run dual sim in phones that would have otherwise been single sim devices.

[softech]

@Frank_M Yes, you will need to rebuy a new eSIM if you switch phone or if you reset your phone 

[Handy1]

@Frank_M  I agree with you 100%! I change devices often so I prefer  the physical sim myself