New Apple, Samsung SIM-free phones could transform global roaming
By Chris C., July 22 2015
Imagine landing in any foreign country, switching your phone on, selecting a temporary plan from a local mobile carrier and getting on with your business.
There'd be no time spent hunting down and queuing to buy a local SIM card, nor any excessive global roaming charges from your provider back home.
That appears to be the ultimate goal of mobile phone manufacturers Apple and Samsung, both of which are working closely with the GSM Association to develop a virtual ‘electronic SIM card’ that allows mobile phones to connect to cellular networks without that traditional piece of plastic.
Globetrotters could easily switch between plans and providers as needed – perhaps to take advantage of a better data deal or the superior coverage of another network. The 'e-SIM' is seen as the next evolution of the Apple SIM, which debuted the concept of choosing plans and mobile carriers on the fly earlier this year. Closer to home, mobile phone users could also link two or more plans to the one device: cherry-picking the best features of each – such as free calls between certain hours and networks – without physically changing the SIM card every time. The Financial Times (UK) reports that the GSM Association will finalise and announce the new e-SIM standard soon, with compatible mobile phones from Apple and Samsung hitting the shelves in 2016. Also read: How to get global data roaming with your Apple SIM iPad Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
QF
04 Apr 2014
Total posts 210
You mean like a CDMA phone? GSM catchup.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Yes that is all well and good. But what if Apple and Samsung enter into an agreement with the Telco of each jurisdiction to tie down a user to the telco's preferred international partner, or worse still to lock it down so that the a user cannot independently connect with another telco overseas?
At present, while it is inconvenient, we have the power to disable the sim card in our phones by physically taking it out (and replacing it with another). With that ability gone, how do we safeguard our freedom of choice?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Tend to agree. Particularly given Apple is not exactly known for open standards - eg. Third party access to NFC
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
Suspiciously aligned to the Red Planet survey that I received today about global roaming options...
13 Aug 2014
Total posts 1
Just join Vodafone with Red Roam, much easier than having accounts all over the world. Vodafone changed the way I travel with this plan!! :)
29 Aug 2014
Total posts 22
Skeptical. If the system acts like roaming the local providers will charge like roaming.
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