eSIM Horror: "Cellular" morphed into "Mobile Data"

App & System Services Core OS Beta iOS

Created Oct ’18

Replies 21

Boosts 0

Views 7k

Participants 7

To my absolute shock, in the latest iOS12.1 beta, "Cellular" seems to have been changed to "Mobile Data", and the section where one could activate an eSIM is now renamed "Add Data Plan".

***?!?!?!?

Worse, got an eSIM QR Code from an Austrian carrier, since I want to have both a US and Austrian SIM activated at all times.

Scanning the QR Code gives me an error, saying that this carrier is not supported, even though of course, that carrier's nano SIM worked just fine.

Callin the Austrian carrier's support line, they claim that Apple's eSIM isn't GSMA standard compliant, in other words, it seems to be some proprietary thing that requires each carrier to make special arrangements with Apple, making Apple the gatekeeper between users and carriers.

Frankly, if that's true, I'm more than just appalled! It would seem that Apple is actively working to curtail the choices we have from carriers. A regular SIM, I can transfer from any phone to any other. I don't need the carrier's permission to use an iPhone and I don't need Apple's permission to use a particular carrier. With GSMA eSIMs, the same would hold true: scan the QR code, and off you go, regardless of what device you have.

But with Apple seemingly playing gatekeeper, that means carriers can restrict plans based on the device you own, and Apple can restrict your choice of carriers. That to me is outrageous!

So not only is iOS 12.1 regressing from finally turning the iPhone into the dual SIM dual standby phone I supposedly bought, by turning it into a single SIM phone with an optional second data plan, indicators are strong that the eSIM Apple implements isn't even standards compliant.

Can anyone at Apple confirm or deny, whether or not Apple's eSIM is a vendor and device neutral GSMA compliant eSIM, or whether it's some proprietary mess that turns Apple into a gatekeeper between users and carriers?

And what's with this "Mobile Data" crap? When do we finally get two lines back in iOS 12.1?

Boost

Edwin Tam OP

Oct ’18

"Apple shouldn't have a problem with selling dual SIM phones elsewhere but China, where likely the government blocked a non-standard SIM."

I don't think that is the reason. In theory, eSIM is more secured than the normal SIM. However, in China, almost every one have two SIM cards, mainly because of they have no MNP (that is you cannot carry your mobile number to another operator) availalble in China and a lot of public and private services (ePayment especially) are tied to a phone number. Having to migrate to eSIM would introduce too great a barrier for the Chinese to buy the new iPhones, thus may have no business case from the Telcos' point of view, and likely seen from Apple, too.

Claude31 OP

Oct ’18

To dig further, I read the eSim white paper (3.2018): The what and how of Remote SIM Provisioning

h ttps://www.gsma.com/esim/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/eSIM-Whitepaper-v4.11.pdf

It states:

It should be noted that the use of QR codes is one way that the eSIM solution can be configured within a device, alternatives include pre-configured devices, use of Subscription Manager - Discovery Server and companion devices.

Does that mean that QR code support is not mandatory ? Does Apple use one of the other mechanisms ? Could not find the answer yet.

rcfa OP

Oct ’18

QR codes are used by both Apple and GSMA compatible eSIM

Apple also allows the use of carrier apps, or manual configuration.

rcfa OP

Oct ’18

The same applies elsewhere. Dual-SIM phones are a must for everyone who travels a lot. Try to get an eSIM from some random carrier in Kenya, Poland, Costa Rica, etc. particularly with a non-standard eSIM.

The whole point of storing possibly dozens of SIMs in one eSIM and switch between them with a few clicks as one moves from one country to the next, etc. is lost, with Apple's proprietary approach, because it will take YEARS until carriers all over the world have support for that. There are plenty of countries where iPhones are rich folks toys, and nothing that's really important for carrier to support.

A real dual SIM phone may be a tiny bit clumsier to use, but at least it ALWAYS works.

Can't even argue to get the main SIM onto the eSIM, and use the physical SIM for travels, as e.g. something like Googl ProjectFi will certainly not work on an Apple eSIM, and since ProjectFi is by far the best mobile plan in the US, especially for travelers, I know what my physical SIM slot is going to be filled with: Google ProjectFi SIM.

Now, get me an Apple proprietary eSIM in Botswana...

rcfa OP

Oct ’18

Usability has ZERO bearing here: both GSMA eSIM and Apple "eSIM" are activated by simply scanning a QR code in the normal case. That's it. Zero difference.

rcfa OP

Oct ’18

To clarify: the issue isn't that Apple allows different methods, the issue is, where the methods coincide, they are incompatible.

In other words: Apple DOES support QR codes, so does my carrier in Austria. However, whatever the heck is encoded in the QR code, the parameters, are not the same for a GSMA compliant eSIM and for whatever Apple cooked up.

So the user experience, at least in the QR code case, is identical: aim the phone camera at the QR code, and wait until the eSIM is activated.

The issue is, that the iPhone throws a hissy fit when confronted with what's encoded in the QR code for a GSMA compliant eSIM, and the reason is, it doesn't cut Apple into the deal, as it's a customer direct deal between the carrier and his client.

So it is obviously NOT about usability, since that's identical, at least in the QR code case. It's about Apple doing their own thing to gain more power due to being an intermediary between carriers and their (potential) customers.