SIM Cards That Tie You Down Are Going Away |Travel Tech Gadgets

Aug 13, 2018

SIM Cards That Tie You Down Are Going Away

New SIM Cards and Phone Let You Travel Freeer(click to tweet)

That is freer between different countries and also different cell service carriers.

When traveling, your top go-to travel gadget is the smartphone. To make it usable and functioning when you are traveling internationally all of the travel experts and expats would tell you to get a SIM (subscriber identity module) card at your destination. It is a great travel tip as the cards at location tend to be cheaper and also are a lot more likely to work with the local cell service providers.

Not for long.

The physical SIM is being replaced by an electronic built-in one, an eSIM. “e” in eSIM stand for embedded SIM cards. SIM cards contain a unique reference number for your account so that your mobile service provider knows whom to charge and how much access to allocate to you.

The eSIM allows users to switch networks almost instantly. If a particular network provides poor coverage in some areas, the user can switch to a different network with better coverage. This network switch is great for travelers since you don't have to rely on just one provider to keep you connected while you are on the move.

Mobile providers hate this. But it's already available in iPads with the Apple SIM card. This loosens the control that mobile carriers currently have on customers, however, does not eliminate it. We will likely see the providers and services transform to account for these new options.

Moreover, with eSIM, you would not need to go to a store to get a new SIM card and swap it out, with an eSIM the changeover is handled entirely virtually. eSIM is also likely to be integrated into more devices such as smartwatches, tablets, and laptops. With this integration, you can also buy specific amounts of data when you needed while abroad.

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A few folks might not be aware, but Apple iPhones do have SIM cards. Since Apple products are usually a locked down type of device, the assumption is that you would not be able to insert or take out anything from an iPhone without a Genius opening up. However, that has not been the case. The SIM card tray has been available since the original iPhone. It was hidden at the top of the phone. However, the iPhone 4 that came out in 2010, was the first one to have the tray on the right side of the device. SIM card tray is a slot on the right hand of your phone underneath Side button that wakes up your iPhone or puts it to sleep.

Coincidentally, this card tray is also where you can see if your phone insides have been exposed to moisture. The best way to look at the indicator is by aiming a flashlight or lighted magnifying glass into the jack. If the iPhone has been submerged in liquid or has liquid damage, this circular indicator would be triggered and colored red or pink.

How to Remove the iPhone SIM
Removing your iPhone's SIM is simple. All you need is a paperclip (or if prefer a SIM card eject tool)

1. Locate the SIM card tray on your iPhone.
2. Unfold a paperclip so that one end of it is longer than the rest.
3. Insert the paperclip into the tiny hole next to the SIM.
4. Press (but not too hard!) until the SIM card pops out.