Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

[Justins567]

So it took some fidgeting but i was able to get Verizon to activate my Esim. They made it so my number is on the physical sim and ill go to Tmo tonight and port my second number to them and use it on the physical sim slot.

so far everything has been really smooth - i took my verion sim out and not a hiccup

 

[cngrevolution]

Same for me at att. From physical to esim and now I’ll put my Verizon sim in the physical slot.

 

[jtkboston]

So it took some fidgeting but i was able to get Verizon to activate my Esim. They made it so my number is on the physical sim and ill go to Tmo tonight and port my second number to them and use it on the physical sim slot.

so far everything has been really smooth - i took my verion sim out and not a hiccup

Please describe the process you followed with Verizon, so I and others can do the same. Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[DeanL]

It looks like Apple has updated https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209096
Lucky Mobile also supports eSIM! I had not noticed

 

[Justins567]

Please describe the process you followed with Verizon, so I and others can do the same. Inquiring minds want to know!

So honestly its kinda luck of the draw... it took me a few agents to land one that knows whats going on. I finally got a guy that knew the process but i was his first one. he was super excited to see it in action and work on it, so it ended up being pretty fun actually.

i told them i wanted to activate my digital sim -- gave them the digital sim imei # out of settings and then they basically have you wait a bit and scan a code.

On the Verizon side he had to essentially deactivate my physical sim, all while putting my digital imei in to a forced update on the server. after they do that your phone basically loses service and you need to be on Wifi to scan the QR code that they will send you. once scanned, it was super easy just set your label and your all set.. it did take about 30 minutes for things like "WiFi Calling" to work, but that was it.

This whole thing is "supposed" to go live 100% tomorrow. but some agents seem pretty happy to do it today.

Edit : i added a couple images to show what youll see.
one thing i did notice is that in My Verizon now my phone has a E identifier by it no in the name thats not presnet on my GF's phone, that just says VZ. i think thats part of how Verizon identifies you are on the Esim.
i will update this agian once ive been over to TMobile and have my second sim line setup completed!

 

[TheColtr]

I’ve joined the eSIM bandwagon with everyone. I visited an AT&T store and got an eSIM activated in my Max. I’m going to go back tomorrow for an eSIM for my iPad Pro.

 

[Justins567]

so updating as promised! experience at Tmobile was extremely smooth since I was using them on the physical sim!
I've added a couple screen shots.

just as a reminder.
Verizon = esim -- Personal line
T-mobile = physical sim -- Business line

 

[jessebkr87]

Scenario: primary line is used for calls and text and secondary line is set to be used for data. iMessage and FaceTime use your primary number to register.

Question: does that mean that your iMessages will send “from” your primary number but using the data of the secondary line?

I assume that’s the case, since iMessage uses data, and the secondary line is set to be used for data, but with Apple and this eSIM stuff you really can’t assume anymore.

 

[michael31986]

Can t mobile get the e sim. Please.

 

[CrashTestWalrus]

I’ve joined the eSIM bandwagon with everyone. I visited an AT&T store and got an eSIM activated in my Max. I’m going to go back tomorrow for an eSIM for my iPad Pro.

Im not sure why it’s different, but it is. The iPad Pro can be activated via chat or the phone by reading them your EID and IMEI numbers. No little blue card with QR required. You can even do it yourself on the AT&T website if you want to, for new service anyways. If you are swapping from a physical SIM to eSIM you have to have AT&T customer service support involved. Now with the iPhone if they try to swap the SIM to eSIM by inputting it into the system it will just deactivate your physical SIM and not do anything for the eSIM. I had that happen to me earlier today. I then had no phone service until I drove to a store and had them give me a eSIM card with the QR code so I could activate the eSIM. Took some doing too, the manager told me those cards were only for Samsung watches and spent 20 minutes googling stuff in the back before she convinced herself maybe I was right and it would work for my iPhone too. Since the phone was dead at that point I about gave up and let her just give me another activated physical SIM.

 

[Synomenon]

Can t mobile get the e sim. Please.

Looks like T-Mobile will only be allowing pre-paid T-Mobile accounts to be setup on the eSIM on the 2018 ilPhones...

 

[cngrevolution]

Scenario: primary line is used for calls and text and secondary line is set to be used for data. iMessage and FaceTime use your primary number to register.

Question: does that mean that your iMessages will send “from” your primary number but using the data of the secondary line?

I assume that’s the case, since iMessage uses data, and the secondary line is set to be used for data, but with Apple and this eSIM stuff you really can’t assume anymore.

In short I believe yes. Just as when you’re on Wifi if you send an iMessage it comes from your primary number but the data goes thru WiFi. I think as far as the phone is concerned it does not care what data stream it uses to send an iMessage. There is also a feature that does auto data switching. So that when you get a call on your primary number since the data is cut off from line 2 while in a call the data will automatically come off of the primary line and once the call ends data goes back to line 2. It’s pretty slick the way they have set it up.

 

[M.Rizk]

Looks like T-Mobile will only be allowing pre-paid T-Mobile accounts to be setup on the eSIM on the 2018 ilPhones...

Only prepaid as in allowing only prepaid? Or the only carrier offering it for prepaid too?

If only prepaid then that is extremely dumb! I don’t live in the US so don’t know how switching from postpaid > prepaid, etc works but what if you get a prepaid eSIM then switch to postpaid. They can’t cancel your service/eSIM, can they?

 

[michael31986]

Looks like T-Mobile will only be allowing pre-paid T-Mobile accounts to be setup on the eSIM on the 2018 ilPhones...

I saw other links saying regular service when they were asked. They just said end of the year. I doubt they would do just pre paid. Lol

 

[jessebkr87]

Currently on chat with Verizon. Got my eSIM activated but I have no data service.

 

[George Knighton]

I saw other links saying regular service when they were asked. They just said end of the year. I doubt they would do just pre paid. Lol

As of Friday morning, there are employees in stores playing with the interface and prepaid SIM.

To be honest, I think there is something that makes prepaid SIM easier to play with, and I am positive that if they're going to want us to use the App, it will support regular cellular plans, not just prepaid.

I suspect we just need to be patient, and T-Mobile will give us an automated process for eSIM that is better than AT&T and Verizon procedures.
[doublepost=1544202608][/doublepost]In the T-Mobile support forums, there are a few people who are very upset that AT&T and Verizon can use eSIM before T-Mobile, and the rumors about the prepaid SIM and the App has made them even more furious.

They have odd situations that make them really, really want eSIM or multiple SIM, and they seem to be stuck in situations where the ability to be making these changes right now would help them out a lot.

Most of us, though, don't have that big a deal waiting until the end of the year.

I think that when this is finally finished, it's going to be a lot easier to be using the iPhone eSIM procedures than it is to use the physical SIM setups of the Android devices.

At least...that's sure what I *want* to believe.

 

[solodogg]

Per some random person on Twitter, they were able to get the eSIM activated on T-Mobile by calling the activations line and using the server address below:

cust-005-v4-prod-atl2.gdsb.net

Guess I’ll try...

 

[jessebkr87]

Currently on chat with Verizon. Got my eSIM activated but I have no data service.

Update: Verizon couldn’t get my data service to work after I activated the eSIM. We went back to my physical SIM for now. Even going back to the old SIM was a pain in the ass.

 

[michael31986]

As of Friday morning, there are employees in stores playing with the interface and prepaid SIM.

To be honest, I think there is something that makes prepaid SIM easier to play with, and I am positive that if they're going to want us to use the App, it will support regular cellular plans, not just prepaid.

I suspect we just need to be patient, and T-Mobile will give us an automated process for eSIM that is better than AT&T and Verizon procedures.
[doublepost=1544202608][/doublepost]In the T-Mobile support forums, there are a few people who are very upset that AT&T and Verizon can use eSIM before T-Mobile, and the rumors about the prepaid SIM and the App has made them even more furious.

They have odd situations that make them really, really want eSIM or multiple SIM, and they seem to be stuck in situations where the ability to be making these changes right now would help them out a lot.

Most of us, though, don't have that big a deal waiting until the end of the year.

I think that when this is finally finished, it's going to be a lot easier to be using the iPhone eSIM procedures than it is to use the physical SIM setups of the Android devices.

At least...that's sure what I *want* to believe.

It's basically end of the year tho.

 

[cwosigns]

Update: Verizon couldn’t get my data service to work after I activated the eSIM. We went back to my physical SIM for now. Even going back to the old SIM was a pain in the ass.

Mine is working. They said the essentially have to treat it like an Apple Watch. Remove physical SIM info from their system, input the IMEI number under the Digital SIM section in settings. At that point it will generate a QR code and begin activation. Then you go through the setup on your phone, choosing labels, primary, secondary lines, etc. I called 866-221-4096 Verizon Tech Support.

 

[jessebkr87]

Mine is working. They said the essentially have to treat it like an Apple Watch. Remove physical SIM info from their system, input the IMEI number under the Digital SIM section in settings. At that point it will generate a QR code and begin activation. Then you go through the setup on your phone, choosing labels, primary, secondary lines, etc. I called 866-221-4096 Verizon Tech Support.

We did all of that. Just didn’t have data service at the end.

 

[Mike's]

We did all of that. Just didn’t have data service at the end.

If the data is set up on the providers side try resetting network settings. You’ll loose Wifi passwords. That’s what my rep made me do. The data only works with on line at a time but I saw an option to use the opposite sims data when on a call.

 

[jessebkr87]

If the data is set up on the providers side try resetting network settings. You’ll loose Wifi passwords. That’s what my rep made me do. The data only works with on line at a time but I saw an option to use the opposite sims data when on a call.

Tried everything. My sim was out and only eSIM active so I didn’t have options for which data line at the moment. I’m gonna wait a few weeks and then try again.

 

[Mike's]

Is anyone else’s esim signal lower than the primary sim’s?

 

[jtkboston]

Tried everything. My sim was out and only eSIM active so I didn’t have options for which data line at the moment. I’m gonna wait a few weeks and then try again.

I had a similar issue last night and putting in another SIM fixed up the trouble. See this note in the VZW thread:

I followed the instructions, got a helpful chat agent. All was fine except no data once the eSIM activated.
The trouble was that the phone still had a memory of another line and the eSIM for VZW was not configured as primary, so it wouldn’t do data at all. I popped in my spare (expired) lebara.de SIM, and then I was able to set Verizon as primary and all is now well.

After I configured the eSIM line as the data service line, I took out the other SIM and all was normal.