ESIM

[bh83]

Where do I get an extra copy of my eSIM for a back up most carriers, email you a copy of it

[LitlLdy]

@softech , @dwh1 , maybe eSIM will eventually be free here since it is with Lucky Mobile & Fido to sign up & to switch to eSIM but who knows they may start charging for them also!

[dwh1]

@softech Just recalled that what was switched on recently on Koodo was the ability to convert my physical sim into an esim.  Now, why would I want to do that?  My sim worked fine and could easily be transferred to another phone.  The answer I come up with is that converting to an esim would allow me to then later transfer that esim to a phone that doesn't have a sim tray.  

This doesn't prove anything, of course.  😀

[softech]

@dwh1 yes, I think the only reason why PM suddenly push out eSIM is that iPhone eSIM only is coming to Canada.

[dwh1]

@softech Agreed.  In addition to the profit aspect, the instant Apple starts shipping sim-try-less iPhones in Canadaa, every PM customer who wants to buy one will be contacting a CS agent to have them generate an esim, assuming device-to-device transfers are not working. 

Update: This Apple support page does state that device-to-device e-sim transfers require carrier support.  It doesn't indicate which carriers support it, so it's possible PM already has this. https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT212780

I'm also confident that our carriers know whether or not that's happening this fall and if it is, are preparing for it.  It's even possible that the current PM esim support is the first stage of that preparation.

[softech]

@dwh1   Yes, iPhone has the eSim transfer between phones recently.  HOWEVER, this is up to the carrier to implement.  I do not think it is working for PM yet

On the other hand, the feature to erase everything except eSIM profile, that could work on PM.  But again, need to test it out, and if it fails, you will need to go back to uSIM.

Yes, I am pretty sure the $5 regeneration will come, it is another source of profit for PM, LoL.   And when it comes , I am pretty sure that is the time when PM finally allows us to change from uSIM to eSIM, that part of the system should be tied together 

[dwh1]

@softech Actually, I just realized that the transfer support was likely added by Apple, since it's still showing up for me on PM.  You can transfer from a nearby iPhone (it removes it from the old phone as part of the process). What I don't know yet is whether that requires carrier support, or whether it's just the two phones doing the switch themselves, just like you can do with a physical card.

As for "resetting the phone to a factory default", I've read that iPhones will ask you whether you want to delete your esim when you do that, so that you can erase everything but the sim if you want - but I can't speak to that personally and I'm not interested in experimenting with it.  So in general, I agree - be careful not to delete it.

I still think that a My Account option to generate a new esim (likely at a $5 cost) will come sooner or later. 

[softech]

@dwh1  thanks for the info.  I am surprised even Koodo has it not long ago.  And they charge you $5 or $10 if you ever need one for new phone, right?

Yes, with the current PM setup, you really have to be careful with it, never to delete it.  Do not change phone , and do you reset your phone to factory default.  All these would mean going back to physical sim card

[dwh1]

@softech I can't see re-use happening, but hopefully we'll soon have a My Account feature to generate a new sim when needed. I'd also hope that transferring between phones (e.g. via the iPhone's Transfer my sim feature) will be possible, though I'm years away from needing to try that out myself.  I know when I was with Koodo until last week, transferring an esim on the phone was only added a few months ago.

All of this will come.  The iPhone 14s in the US do not have SIM trays any more, and I suspect that Apple will be expanding that to other countries this year. That will force carriers towards better esim support.

[hTideGnow · Accepted solution]

HI @bh83   You cannot.  Don't ever delete it.  If you do, you have to go back to physical sim card

[Handy1]

@bh83  You can’t , if you deleted by accident you will need to get a physical SIM card , best to call local Telus Koodo store for pick up . Can get from Amazon also 

[softech]

@bh83   you cannot.  At the moment, the system does not allow you to use the same QR on another phone or re-use if you ever deleted the eSIM profile.

hopefully the system will allow that later