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Forced eSIMs: Difference between revisions

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==Hardware==
==Hardware==


=== Understanding modern sim card & [[wikipedia:ESIM|'''eSIM''' ('''embedded SIM''')]] hardware. ===
===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 etc. 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 phones 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 etc. 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 phones logic board during manufacturing.   


===iPhone===
===iPhone===
Apple Has introduced eUICC chips & eSIM support alongside the release of the iPhone 12 series in quarter 4 of 2020. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_12
Apple has introduced eUICC chips & eSIM support alongside the release of the iPhone 12 series in 2020. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_12


https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_12-10509.php
https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_12-10509.php


https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/</ref> apple has counited 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> in 2022 with the release of the iphone 14 series USA model iphones dropped hardware support of user replaceable UICC nano sim cards<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_14-11861.php
https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/</ref> Apple 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> In 2022, with the release of the iPhone 14 series USA model, 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>  "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network. How to set up an '''eSIM''' on '''iPhone'''." <ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref>(the normal sim card most US and international users are familiar with.) 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 1/26/25.)  
https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref>  "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network. How to set up an '''eSIM''' on '''iPhone'''." <ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669</ref>(the normal sim card most US and international users are familiar with.) 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 1/26/25.)  


this transition raises further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated through [[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 raises further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated through [[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===
===Future speculation===
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*iPhone 17 Air:
*iPhone 17 Air:


According to Unofficial preliminary specifications for the iphone 17 air, support for nano sim will be entirely dropped for the model in all markets not just the united states.<ref>https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_air-13502.php
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 psychical 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.) would make nano sim support physically speaking a significant enough engineering challenge it's wide considered not viable & 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>
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>


'''''End note -'''''
'''''End note -'''''


industry transition to '''Integrated SIM (iSIM)''' to the end user this is indistinguishable to EUICC e-sims however with isim the soc is embedded directly in the phones SOC or CPU dye. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM</ref> this unfortunately irreversibly even by highly technical means such as microsoldering ties data identifiers like a sim id history with the device IMEI and hardware id's <ref>https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9847909/#sec001</ref> Which this transition would raise further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated through [[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" /><ref name=":1" />
Industry transition to '''Integrated SIM (iSIM)''' to the end user this is indistinguishable to EUICC e-sims however with isim the soc is embedded directly in the phones SOC or CPU dye. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM</ref> this unfortunately irreversibly even by highly technical means such as microsoldering ties data identifiers like a sim id history with the device IMEI and hardware id's <ref>https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9847909/#sec001</ref> Which this transition would raise further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated through [[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" /><ref name=":1" />


===Samsung Galaxy===
===Samsung Galaxy===
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