With the release of iOS 12.1, Russian owners of iPhone XS, iPhone XS MAX and iPhone XR now have the ability to connect to services from multiple operators using eSIM technology. Will the new technology be useful?
The physical SIM card slot in smartphones will remain for now, but you ukraine phone number library won't need to buy an additional SIM card to use another operator's services. In the near future, Apple plans to completely replace physical cards with software settings.
The electronic SIM card was preceded by the Apple SIM, which was built into the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, and Apple Watch. It was a pre-installed SIM card that was not tied to any one carrier.
It is important to note that eSIM is an electronic card, not a virtual one. SORM (System of Technical Means for Providing Functions of Operational Investigative Measures) perceives it as a physical card. Virtual SIM cards are prohibited in some countries, including Russia, because they are a variant of the so-called "copying" of a card. There are no restrictions on electronic cards in Russia - there is no such term in the legislation at all. It is in the interests of operators to settle this issue in the near future.
For now, they are wary of the new technology, as eSIM has both a dark and a bright side for them. The first is associated with the risk of losing subscriber traffic, and the second with the possibility of building a new business model, since the consumer will use the electronic card longer than a regular one.
eSIM will provide consumers with the ability to freely switch between operator networks without visiting the operator's office. But since in Russia the subscriber card number is fixed in the contract, specific scenarios for connecting subscribers to and disconnecting from eSIM have yet to be determined. The problem will not affect roaming partners of operators, their eSIMs will function freely on the territory of Russia.
You can switch between operators in the "Settings" menu. When updating, the "Add cellular tariff" option will appear in the "Cellular" section, where the operator change will take place.
At the moment, only one operator from the big four is
