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Verizon Expected to Implement eSIM Support for iPhone XR and XS on December 7

Wednesday December 5, 2018 8:54 pm PST by Juli Clover
Verizon is expected to implement support for the eSIM in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR on December 7, according to an internal employee memo that was shared with MacRumors.

Apple's newest iPhones have supported eSIM functionality since the October release of iOS 12.1, but to use the feature, carriers also needed to add support. At the time iOS 12.1 was released, U.S. carriers that include Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T said that support would not be implemented until later in the year.


AT&T at the time said that there were issues with visual voicemail, while Verizon had to work out some issues that would cause performance problems when its customers activated eSIMs from other carriers.

According to the document seen by MacRumors, Verizon will be implementing dual-SIM support and it will start activating eSIMs on Friday, December 7.

"Verizon will support Dual SIM activations on physical SIMs and eSIMs on select iPhones. Please visit the training portal to learn how to activate," reads the document.

Following today's release of iOS 12.1.1, several additional carriers around the world began rolling out eSIM support, including AT&T in the United States, so it's no surprise that Verizon would will shortly after.

The eSIM, or digital SIM, is a non-physical SIM card slot that pairs with the physical SIM 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.

Related Roundups: iPhone XS, iPhone XR
Tags: Verizon, eSIM
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Neutral), iPhone XR (Buy Now)
[ 95 comments ]


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rbalkun
6 weeks ago
The esim server is active, call Verizon and ask them to force change the imei number listed on the number to your digital sim imei listed in the about section of your phone, say that’s all you need done, they don’t need to change anything else, if the system for some reason changes the sim number listed on your account that’s fine, the IMEI for the esim just needs to be associated with your account, give it a few minutes then scan the qr code attached, it’s the same for everyone on Verizon, and make sure you are on Wi-Fi when you do it or it’ll error out.
Rating: 4 Votes
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cwosigns
6 weeks ago

As expected.....what a s#$t show, Verizon......
I have called 3 times and chatted 3 times.
The calls ended with not supported, telesales call was disconnected, and totally clueless as to what an esim even was...
The chats were, one disconnect, one telesales transfer where I was told it couldn't be done, and a disconnect when the person said they were creating the QR code for me.......
Sigh........I guess I'll give it a few days and hopefully they will get their act together.....

It only took me 4 hours on the phone with Verizon. I too was transferred to telesales (twice) and eventually they disconnected and I got a text stating they'd call me back, and they never did. So I went to the store. This is what worked for me. And I asked the rep what he did on his end. This is it.

[LIST=1]
* Call Tech Support 1-866-221-4096 and be clear that you're NOT looking to start a new line of service, but transfer your existing service from a physical SIM to the eSIM.
* They should delete your physical SIM card information
* They will input the IMEI number under the Digital SIM info in Settings.
* This will begin activation and generate a QR code they will email you.
* Scan it, and it should work.
* Activation and connection to LTE takes about 5 minutes.
Rating: 2 Votes
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acgmph
6 weeks ago
Still no word from TMobile. Their reps keep promising it will be by the end of December. Hopefully they’ll support it starting this weekend.
Rating: 2 Votes
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riverfreak
6 weeks ago
Seems like it would make more sense for Verizon to use the eSim and keep the physical sim slot open — will be much easier to acquire a physical sim in my locations for a long time yet, I expect. Not sure if that configuration is supported?

Also, what about apps that are associated with a phone number, like WhatsApp? How will THAT all shake out?
Rating: 2 Votes
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cwosigns
6 weeks ago

If I have my Apple Watch paired to the eSIM, will that be a problem? I wouldn't think so, since you can have more than 1 eSIM line.
[doublepost=1544220493][/doublepost]Verizon emailed the QR code but it keeps saying it is invalid.

No problems with my Verizon eSIM and the Apple Watch account.
Rating: 2 Votes
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ianmb
6 weeks ago
Is anyone aware of any news from the UK carriers?
Rating: 1 Votes
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AngstyKylo
6 weeks ago
Does the Chinese version work outside of China? Somehow that seems a much easier solution and not reliant on carriers.
Rating: 1 Votes
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phantom5251
6 weeks ago
Here's a link to the guide Verizon sent me: http://spr.ly/6017EGSxN ('https://t.co/AOG5Q0PY77')
Rating: 1 Votes
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tooloud10
6 weeks ago
So does this mean that I can use a Verizon SIM as primary and a Verizon eSIM as secondary without the secondary line being limited to 2G? For months now I've been reading that I wouldn't be able to have two fully functional Verizon lines active on the same iPhone. Anyone know?
Rating: 1 Votes
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cwosigns
6 weeks ago

Got it working; have them get someone from Telesales on the line..I was the first that both reps had done, but once he got the esim IMEI number tied to the QR code properly it went right through. Put my physical ATT sim in the sim card slot and both are now working. It was a long process, but hopefully they have it figured out now.

I wish we knew exactly what they did, because now I'm on with technical support and they still can't figure it out.
[doublepost=1544202254][/doublepost]Here is what worked for me. Per the tech support rep:

Put the digital eSIM (IMEI number under Digital eSIM in settings) in place of DEVICE ID on Verizon's system and the physical SIM needs to be erased in their system. This will reactivate, and it randomly activates a sim card number. When that's done, it generates a QR code to be emailed to the customer and then there's about a 5 minute activation wait for the phone to connect to their system.

And test with Verizon rep before you get off the phone. :)
Rating: 1 Votes

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