Apple may offer both e-SIM-only and SIM card iPhone 14

Stephen Simiyu of Uganda’s prize winning entry to the Africa 2016 Photo Competition. Nothing to do with iPhones, but a smashing image.

There has been recent speculation Apple plans to abandon the SIM card slot completely in future iPhones, making eSIM mandatory. It’s a neat plan that makes life a lot easier for consumers, but it’s going to take time to get all the carriers to buy in. As a result, an analyst at GlobalData predicts Apple will adopt a hybrid approach to its plan.

Taking a hybrid approach

Technology Service Director at GlobalData, Emma Mohr-McClune, says: “An eSIM-only iPhone was always a question of ‘when’, not ‘if’—but, so far, there has been insufficient consideration as to ‘how’.

“We don’t believe that Apple will take the ‘big bang’ approach – getting rid of existing systems and transferring all users to eSIMs – but rather launch an eSIM-only variant of its upcoming new model – retaining the dual eSIM-plus-physical SIM slot model for the mass market and its key carrier channel.

“To that end, we believe telecom companies will be given the choice of whether to stock and sell a new eSIM-only iPhone variation alongside more cellular business-friendly dual eSIM/physical SIM support models.”

With that in mind, it’s likely those carriers who don’t yet support eSIM will gain a little breathing space before Apple gives them no choice. It also suggests that Apple has a longer term plan for eSIM devices, which makes complete sense.

[Also read: Apple iPhone 13 leads smartphones in China, Counterpoint]

The sealed unit

After all, if Apple does intend introduction of completely sealed unit devices capable of handling almost any environment, wet, dry, rain or shine, then reducing and removing ports makes nothing but sense.

Apple may start at home

Returning Mohr-McClune’s ruminations, the analyst also said:

“Further, we think it’s likely that the primary focus of this theoretical eSIM-only iPhone will be the Apple channel and that, by launch, Apple will provide this model with ‘wireless data connectivity inside’ together with one or more connectivity partners—much in the same way it positions 4G and 5G connectivity for the iPad today.

With bigger potential

There has been so much conversation as to the chance Apple may have to grab a little more of the mobile market by offering its own services. The analysts puts it this way:

“Apple may also consider a VAS digital service shakeup, aligning Apple-sourced connectivity with certain Apple-branded digital services for a more attractive overall proposition.

https://youtu.be/4dVJulsiTiw

“Telcos need to prepare carefully for such an eventuality, boosting their own internal eSIM support tools and general marketing and support readiness, as well as improving their own eSIM onboarding and anticipating aggressor eSIM-support ‘test pilot’ promotion, such as the ones we’ve seen recently in the US from T-Mobile and Verizon’s Visible.”

This is a set of interesting insights, so I published them in full.

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