The basic or fundamental function of mobile devices is communication; which makes SIMs a major part of a mobile device (at least not the WiFi only versions). It is also important to know that it can be a hassle choosing the right mobile carrier for you, especially for those of us in Nigeria. There are some people who have more than one SIM card, and no, it’s not because they are fraudulent, it’s just because these mobile network carriers are not trusted. For instance, you could be in a place where a particular mobile network has no cell reception, which could leave you stranded (communication wise); to avoid this, most people started buying multiple SIM cards – hence the advent of multi-SIM devices. There have been Mini SIMs, Micro-SIMs and even Nano-SIMs, but none of them have found a way to put an end to this problem of having to own two or more SIM cards which would mean multiple subscriptions or contracts terminally.
Now, mobile manufacturers have found a way to bring an end to this dilemma by introducing the eSIM. In essence, what this does is let you switch between mobile network providers without having to buy an extra SIM. For now this concept is limited to secondary devices like your smart watches and the likes. But in the nearest future, June to be precise, the GSMA intends to bring the eSIM to mobile phones.
For now, the latest device with this somewhat updated tech is the Samsung galaxy Gear S2.
It has been updated in the sense that this version lets you choose your mobile network carrier.
Some of the tech companies have joined this band wagon; amongst them are: Samsung, LG, Huawei and Microsoft. Oh, I can categorically say Apple is not on that list. Why? Well, they obviously have their own standard for SIMs, considering the fact that they were among the pioneers of the eSIM in the form of the Apple SIM in some iPads.
This is one of the best things that might happen to mobile communication in Nigeria since porting. Another question is: If this tech actually comes to Nigeria, are our mobile carriers going to embrace this and implement it as soon as possible? Let’s hope for the best!
Sources: The Verge, FestWiz.com
Leave a Reply