Forced eSIMs: Difference between revisions

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===Understanding modern sim card & [[wikipedia:ESIM|'''eSIM''' ('''embedded SIM''')]] hardware.===

The current global modern standard by market adoption for SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards are Nano-SIM form factor, universal integrated circuit card (UICC) SOC's (system on a chip) cards.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Developments</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card</ref> This is the smaller SIM card you started seeing in every handset from every major phone manufacturer beginning with hardware releases after 2012.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Nano-SIM</ref> Just like your phone, computer, or any other device, these cards have their own CPU, RAM, ROM and Digital I/O.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card#design</ref> '''eUICC''' (embedded UICC), also known as e-SIM cards, are a form of highly re-programmable SIM typically as [[wikipedia:Ball_grid_array|BGA]] IC chips soldered directly to the phone's logic board during manufacturing.

===iPhone===

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https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/</ref> and has continued this feature to date.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?chkESIM=selected&chkReview=selected&sMakers=48&sAvailabilities=1,2&s5Gs=0&idCardslot=3</ref> With the launch of the US model of the iPhone 14 series, iPhones dropped hardware support of user replaceable UICC Nano-SIM cards.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_14-11861.php

https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> According to Apple, "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network." <ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> In all other Apple model varieties - International and China - Nano-SIM remained supported outside the United States; by the 14 series, 15 series and 16 series. (Most recent release as of writing 2/7/25.)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> According to Apple, "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network."<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> In all other Apple model varieties - International and China - Nano-SIM remained supported outside the United States; by the 14 series, 15 series and 16 series. (Most recent release as of writing 2/7/25.)

This transition raised further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]] in the form of [[Used market resisctions|used market restrictions]] <ref name=":0">https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/</ref><ref name=":1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence</ref>

This transition raised further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]] in the form of [[Used market resisctions|used market restrictions]].<ref name=":0">https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/</ref><ref name=":1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence</ref>

===Future speculation===

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According to unofficial preliminary specifications for the iPhone 17 Air, support for Nano-SIM will be entirely dropped for the model across the world.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_air-13502.php

https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569</ref> <ref>https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/#sim_tray

https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569</ref><ref>https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/#sim_tray

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-thin-iphone-has-no-physical-sims-that-could-dampen-china-sales</ref> This is based on rumors and speculations, however the physical size of the device has been disclosed as "5.5mm" by Ming-Chi Kuo (a medium tech trade blogger described as "TF International Securities analyst who shares observations and predictions of tech industry trends"), which would make Nano-SIM support a significant enough engineering challenge, as it's widely considered unviable and/or unlikely.<ref>https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d</ref>

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ===Understanding modern sim card & [[wikipedia:ESIM|'''eSIM''' ('''embedded SIM''')]] hardware.===
-The current global modern standard by market adoption for SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards are Nano-SIM form factor, universal integrated circuit card (UICC) SOC's (system on a chip) cards.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Developments</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card</ref> This is the smaller SIM card you started seeing in every handset from every major phone manufacturer beginning with hardware releases after 2012.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Nano-SIM</ref> Just like your phone, computer, or any other device, these cards have their own CPU, RAM, ROM and Digital I/O.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card#design</ref>  '''eUICC''' (embedded UICC), also known as e-SIM cards, are a form of highly re-programmable SIM typically as [[wikipedia:Ball_grid_array|BGA]] IC chips soldered directly to the phone's logic board during manufacturing.
+The current global modern standard by market adoption for SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards are Nano-SIM form factor, universal integrated circuit card (UICC) SOC's (system on a chip) cards.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Developments</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card</ref> This is the smaller SIM card you started seeing in every handset from every major phone manufacturer beginning with hardware releases after 2012.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Nano-SIM</ref> Just like your phone, computer, or any other device, these cards have their own CPU, RAM, ROM and Digital I/O.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card#design</ref> '''eUICC''' (embedded UICC), also known as e-SIM cards, are a form of highly re-programmable SIM typically as [[wikipedia:Ball_grid_array|BGA]] IC chips soldered directly to the phone's logic board during manufacturing.
 ===iPhone===
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/</ref> and has continued this feature to date.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?chkESIM=selected&chkReview=selected&sMakers=48&sAvailabilities=1,2&s5Gs=0&idCardslot=3</ref> With the launch of the US model of the iPhone 14 series, iPhones dropped hardware support of user replaceable UICC Nano-SIM cards.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_14-11861.php
-https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> According to Apple, "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network." <ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> In all other Apple model varieties - International and China - Nano-SIM remained supported outside the United States; by the 14 series, 15 series and 16 series. (Most recent release as of writing 2/7/25.)
+https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> According to Apple, "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network."<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref> In all other Apple model varieties - International and China - Nano-SIM remained supported outside the United States; by the 14 series, 15 series and 16 series. (Most recent release as of writing 2/7/25.)
-This transition raised further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]] in the form of [[Used market resisctions|used market restrictions]] <ref name=":0">https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/</ref><ref name=":1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence</ref>
+This transition raised further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]] in the form of [[Used market resisctions|used market restrictions]].<ref name=":0">https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/</ref><ref name=":1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence</ref>
 ===Future speculation===
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 According to unofficial preliminary specifications for the iPhone 17 Air, support for Nano-SIM will be entirely dropped for the model across the world.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_air-13502.php
-https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569</ref>  <ref>https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/#sim_tray
+https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569</ref><ref>https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/#sim_tray
 https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-thin-iphone-has-no-physical-sims-that-could-dampen-china-sales</ref> This is based on rumors and speculations, however the physical size of the device has been disclosed as "5.5mm" by Ming-Chi Kuo (a medium tech trade blogger described as "TF International Securities analyst who shares observations and predictions of tech industry trends"), which would make Nano-SIM support a significant enough engineering challenge, as it's widely considered unviable and/or unlikely.<ref>https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d</ref>