What is an embedded SIM?

We’ve been using SIM cards for decades, and they’ve been getting smaller and smaller as technology has advanced. Now, they’re about to go through another radical change.

The lastest generation of SIM cards, called the eSIM, is a reprogrammable chip that is embedded inside a device (smartphone, tablet, wearable or connected object).  The information on an eSIM is rewritable and can be updated over the air.

Apple first turned to eSIM to add connectivity to the Apple Watch Series 3 and Watch Series 4. With the new iPhone XS and XS Max, it is clear that more and more major players are joining the eSIM revolution. The use of eSIM brings a number of advantages to device manufacturers and networks, but there’s also some advantages for you, too.

The embedded SIM is very smart and lets you change mobile operator by just updating the software settings. So if your contract on one network is finishing, and you’d like to swap to a new operator for a better deal, you will be able to have the new operator update your SIM over the air. No more swapping SIM cards!

For industries this is very useful too. The eSIM can be soldered in place inside a device and then sealed, making it water- and temperature-resistant. This makes it more robust and thus ideal for use in a connected car, for example, which may well be driven in extreme heat and on bumpy roads.

The embedded SIM is just as secure as the normal SIMs you use every day, and if you’d like to know more, read our 9 reasons why eSIMSs are becoming ever more popular.