SIM cards are still used, although an alternative has existed for a few years: the eSIM, or virtual SIM, is a chip inside the mobile that stores the same data as the card.
[Google hace las paces con las eSIM y anuncia grandes mejoras en Android]
It’s not that the eSIM doesn’t have benefits. Eliminates the need for a port to remove and insert the card, improving the water and dust resistance of the mobile. And in theory, it also facilitates the change of operator, since the whole process can be done directly from the mobile.
The successor to the eSIM is here
But eSIM was just the first step in eliminating the need to use a card to get a mobile connection. Now comes the next one, it’s called iSIM (embedded SIM) and it may have more potential, but also more disadvantages.
As its name suggests, iSIM is a SIM directly integrated into the mobile’s processor. Instead of having its own dedicated chip like with the eSIM, this new version does not require any additional hardware, since the processor itself will be the one storing cellular data.
The great advantage of iSIM is that it does not take up space inside the mobile. This should give manufacturers more freedom to come up with new designs, which is especially important with the arrival of new foldable phones. At the very least, they already have one less thing to worry about in the internal design, which can translate to more compact phones.
In addition, Qualcomm claims that iSIM will bring cost reduction, since it will not be necessary to dedicate a chip specifically to this task, as well as greater efficiency; iSIM consumes less power than eSIM, so it will be especially good for Internet of Things devices, which will be able to connect via 5G without increasing their size. The smaller size does not mean the loss of functionality and includes the same security measures as eSIMs; Key to this has been working with cybersecurity firm Thales.
Qualcomm has implemented iSIM technology in its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, after announcing it last year in conjunction with Thales and Vodafone. However, it is unclear if smartphones already released with this processor can use iSIM, or if a firmware update will be required to activate the component.
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