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Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Won't Support eSIM Until Later This Year
Apple today released iOS 12.1 with support for the digital eSIM that will allow for dual-SIM functionality on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, but eSIM support isn't going to be immediately available from U.S. carriers.
AT&T, for example, is telling customers that eSIM activations are being delayed until later in the year due to technical issues in part related to Visual Voicemail.
According to one AT&T store manager who spoke to MacRumors, retail outlets have been told that AT&T is not supporting dual-SIM or eSIM at the current time, with stores advised not to sell eSIM cards to customers.
Verizon and T-Mobile will also not be supporting the eSIM at the current time, according to company spokespeople who talked to PCMag. T-Mobile said that eSIM support is in the works and will be available "when its software is ready" with no timeline provided. Verizon, meanwhile, said that eSIMs will be available after some kinks are worked out.
It's also worth noting that Verizon customers should not activate eSIMs from other companies at this time because of performance issues. As outlined by PCMag, when a physical Verizon SIM is relegated into a "secondary" position by an eSIM from another company, the Verizon connection gets downgraded to the 2G CDMA network.
Verizon says it is working with Apple to resolve this issue to allow its customers to use eSIM without a performance hit.
The eSIM, or digital SIM, is a non-physical SIM card slot that pairs with the physical SIM card in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR to enable dual-SIM dual-standby, a feature that lets iPhone users have two phone numbers available at once.
With dual-SIM support, iPhone users are supposed to be able to swap between the two phone numbers readily, alleviating the need for a second phone or SIM swapping for work and travel.
While eSIM support will not be available from the major carriers in the United States at this time, it is available in other countries around the world. Apple has a list of all the carriers supporting eSIM functionality on its website.
On Apple's site, eSIM support for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile says "coming later this year," suggesting the three carriers are aiming to launch the feature before the end of 2018.
AT&T, for example, is telling customers that eSIM activations are being delayed until later in the year due to technical issues in part related to Visual Voicemail.
According to one AT&T store manager who spoke to MacRumors, retail outlets have been told that AT&T is not supporting dual-SIM or eSIM at the current time, with stores advised not to sell eSIM cards to customers.
Verizon and T-Mobile will also not be supporting the eSIM at the current time, according to company spokespeople who talked to PCMag. T-Mobile said that eSIM support is in the works and will be available "when its software is ready" with no timeline provided. Verizon, meanwhile, said that eSIMs will be available after some kinks are worked out.
It's also worth noting that Verizon customers should not activate eSIMs from other companies at this time because of performance issues. As outlined by PCMag, when a physical Verizon SIM is relegated into a "secondary" position by an eSIM from another company, the Verizon connection gets downgraded to the 2G CDMA network.
Verizon says it is working with Apple to resolve this issue to allow its customers to use eSIM without a performance hit.
"Wireless customers will be able to activate Verizon service eSIMs as soon as we're confident you'll be able to have the great, high-quality service you expect from us on both your primary and secondary line. If you are a Verizon customer and you activate another carrier's service on your iPhone's eSIM, your Verizon service will be degraded due to the current software configuration.The fourth major carrier in the United States, Sprint, is not on Apple's list of carriers that are going to be implementing eSIM support, but Sprint has said it will add support at some point.
"Based on our discussions with Apple, we believe these concerns will be resolved quickly and you should be able to add our great Verizon service on your secondary line before the end of the year. Until the secondary line can deliver Verizon's full suite of voice and high-speed data services, we won't activate Verizon service on any eSIM. This includes our own customers' iPhones with dual SIM capabilities as well as iPhones on competitors' networks."
The eSIM, or digital SIM, is a non-physical SIM card slot that pairs with the physical SIM card in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR to enable dual-SIM dual-standby, a feature that lets iPhone users have two phone numbers available at once.
With dual-SIM support, iPhone users are supposed to be able to swap between the two phone numbers readily, alleviating the need for a second phone or SIM swapping for work and travel.
While eSIM support will not be available from the major carriers in the United States at this time, it is available in other countries around the world. Apple has a list of all the carriers supporting eSIM functionality on its website.
On Apple's site, eSIM support for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile says "coming later this year," suggesting the three carriers are aiming to launch the feature before the end of 2018.
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Neutral), iPhone XR (Neutral)
[ 100 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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16 weeks ago
I hate how much this sucks. I was looking forward to combining my work and personal phones finally and keeping my numbers. I hate using google voice and carrying two devices. This would have solved that issue. I made sure to buy the new phone for this ONE feature, and now I feel that I was led on the entire time.
Anybody else thinking of returning their new iPhone?
Anybody else thinking of returning their new iPhone?
16 weeks ago
Pretty much everyone saw this coming right?
Requiring permission and support from a phone company is exactly why physical dual SIM is the only real dual SIM
Requiring permission and support from a phone company is exactly why physical dual SIM is the only real dual SIM
16 weeks ago
Carriers are sticking to their age old practice. Asia is far ahead of technology, and its pity we can’t use latest technologies due to carriers here in US
16 weeks ago
Is it complicated? They had it on watch right away,
Software and hardware on Apple’s side handles the hand off between eSIM and SIM activity
The complicated part is working out how to bill you the most while technically allowing customers to leave
16 weeks ago
I don't get why they couldn't just allow dual physical SIMs worldwide instead of just in some countries.
Are the dual-sim capable sim slots really that hard to make?
Are the dual-sim capable sim slots really that hard to make?
16 weeks ago
I hate how much this sucks. I was looking forward to combining my work and personal phones finally and keeping my numbers. I hate using google voice and carrying two devices. This would have solved that issue. I made sure to buy the new phone for this ONE feature, and now I feel that I was led on the entire time.
Anybody else thinking of returning their new iPhone?
16 weeks ago
Sprints not on the list, because well... who uses Sprint? Joke of a carrier.
16 weeks ago
I'd rather have the true dual-sim version now because of this mess. Is there any way Apple would take back a phone purchased on launch day? It's well outside the 14 day return window, but I fee like I bought something based on promises that weren't delivered. Apple's keynote stated that the big 3 carriers in the U.S. would be supporting esim "at launch" and when 12.1 is available. Here we are... and nothing.
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