Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

[rui no onna]

The only choice you have is if you have are a permanent resident with an Alien Certification or ACR-I
Or you register it to someone you know and trust.
Or you live in one of the supported countries: https://help.gcash.com/hc/en-us/articles/900005342766-Use-GCash-Overseas

I’m dual citizen and have a Philippine ID and permanent local address so no need for those. GCash overseas is very limited compared to local GCash. Besides, it doesn’t solve the problem of Philippine banks requiring a local number for OTP.

The problem with the Globe Travele eSIM is it expires automatically after 30 days. No way to extend it. Only option is to buy a new eSIM (with new number).

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Currently in the Philippines and I’m really glad my iPhone (SE3) still has a pSIM slot.

Only one carrier offers regular prepaid eSIM here (Smart/TNT). It works fine in most areas but there are a few locations where coverage is nonexistent. I bought a $1 Globe SIM pack from a convenience store and subscribed to a $2 18GB promo. Problem solved. On eSIM, options are very limited and quite a bit pricier particularly if one needs 5G support.

eSIM is nice and quite convenient when it works. Unfortunately, carrier support is still quite limited particularly in less developed nations.

Yes but it is definitely growing. The UK carriers are finally letting PAYG customers get eSIM. I was able to convert my pSIM on Three to eSIM quite easily via the website. Will come in handy when I travel back there next month.

 

[rui no onna]

Yes but it is definitely growing. The UK carriers are finally letting PAYG customers get eSIM. I was able to convert my pSIM on Three to eSIM quite easily via the website. Will come in handy when I travel back there next month.

True. I guess the US iPhones going eSIM only has kinda forced some carriers’ hands.

Postpaid eSIM has been available for years in the Philippine and local telcos have noted prepaid eSIMs were “coming soon” on their websites. However, it wasn’t until after the eSIM-only iPhone 14 was released that they actually took action.

Our next visit will likely be in 2 years (LAX-MNL-LAX airfare is so expensive, especially for 4 people). Hopefully by then, I can do dual eSIM for Smart and Globe instead of my current Smart eSIM + Globe pSIM.

Gotta say, it’s very nice that Smart’s eSIM QR codes are reusable so it’s easy to transfer it to a new phone.

 

[Link00seven]

Not quite airplane mode but I’d like to have a disable roaming option for voice+message+data that actually works properly.

In addition to ensuring that data roaming charges are completely avoided, this would also help with the battery destroying scenario of having a US-based eSIM that continuously searches for a signal forever (if you have a carrier that doesn't connect at all abroad) despite a functional data international eSIM providing Wi-Fi Calling over Cellular to the US eSIM line.

 

[rui no onna]

In addition to ensuring that data roaming charges are completely avoided, this would also help with the battery destroying scenario of having a US-based eSIM that continuously searches for a signal forever (if you have a carrier that doesn't connect at all abroad) despite a functional data international eSIM providing Wi-Fi Calling over Cellular to the US eSIM line.

True. An option to use “Calls over WiFi/cellular data only while roaming” would be nice.

 

[Fred Zed]

Yes, that's what it's called. The hard part is convincing the wireless line to ignore roaming carriers and restrict itself to using the other line's data service. iPhone settings don't have a separate per-line roaming configuration. :-(

Exactly. Apple needs to implement whatever android is using currently doing whereby your local line 2 sim data is is used by your USA line for WiFi calling without constantly searching for a carrier locally thus preventing serious battery drain issues.

 

[Fred Zed]

Not quite airplane mode but I’d like to have a disable roaming option for voice+message+data that actually works properly.

Do you think this will ever happen? It’s already happened recently on Android devices to circumvent battery drain with constant searching of signal.
My solution was to use a USA carrier that roams with the country I’m visiting. Not many MVNOs do this. But many allow WiFi calling. I then set data off for USA line and use data from local line.

 

[Dan08]

Hey Everyone,
I am soon to be an expat (leaving the USA for Europe) and I was curious if anyone knows of a cost-effective way for me to keep iMessage for my US number?

I was considering porting my US number to something like Google Voice so that I can keep it without paying a bunch of $ but still receive texts. Now I am thinking that if there is a way to keep my number on iMessage too that would be great.

Does anyone know of any eSIM providers where I could port my US number to them and just use VoIP only or something like that to keep my cost down but still receive calls/SMS/iMessage as well?

Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Fred Zed]

Hey Everyone,
I am soon to be an expat (leaving the USA for Europe) and I was curious if anyone knows of a cost-effective way for me to keep iMessage for my US number?

I was considering porting my US number to something like Google Voice so that I can keep it without paying a bunch of $ but still receive texts. Now I am thinking that if there is a way to keep my number on iMessage too that would be great.

Does anyone know of any eSIM providers where I could port my US number to them and just use VoIP only or something like that to keep my cost down but still receive calls/SMS/iMessage as well?

Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks!

I ported my US number to Ultra Mobile when I was in the USA and used it just fine with local eSIM in the UK for 6 months.

 

[MyPhone99]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

 

[ukms]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

Not sure I understand your question …. Are you referring to dual active data ?

 

[DeanL]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

Not going to happen. That requires two different modems and drains the battery.

 

[makeitrainnaren]

Not going to happen. That requires two different modems and drains the battery.

i’m confused- I’ve used foreign sims (before esim) where my US carrier would work over the local carrier’s data network without using roaming. even on the old control center it would say WiFi calling via cellular data.

 

[ukms]

i’m confused- I’ve used foreign sims (before esim) where my US carrier would work over the local carrier’s data network without using roaming. even on the old control center it would say WiFi calling via cellular data.

I think the question being asked was whether true dual data would be available. the situation you describe is quite normal where you have selected the sim or eSIM from which you want to use data, you can’t have 2 active data carriers.