Vodafone launches eSIM for phones and tablets

The humble SIM card is one step closer to death with Vodafone now offering eSIM powered plans for both smartphones and tablets.

For those not familiar with the term, eSIM - an electronic SIM or embedded SIM - is a rewritable SIM card that’s built into a cellular device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. There's no need to pop open a slot or pry off a case to put in a SIM; an eSIM never leaves your phone.

When you buy a new eSIM enabled phone or tablet from Vodafone, you'll now have the choice to pick from a physical SIM card or an eSIM. If you pick the eSIM, this keeps your physical SIM slot free for a secondary SIM. This, for example, would mean you could pick up a SIM while travelling overseas without having to worry about losing your Australian SIM.

Vodafone's eSIM devices include the following:

• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd gen)
• 11-inch iPad Pro
• 10.5-inch iPad Air (2019)
• iPad mini (2019)

At this stage, you can only sign-up for an eSIM plan by heading into a Vodafone store or calling Vodafone on 1300 650 410. If you've already got a physical Vodafone SIM and would prefer to swap to an eSIM, you'll have to do so in store.

Hopefully this will change shortly, given that there's really no reason one should have to go into a store to buy a digital SIM card. It would also be a boon for consumers, as for example, it would mean you could theoretically sign up to a Vodafone plan on your phone and be connected to the network almost instantly.

Vodafone isn't alone in this however; Optus also offers eSIM plans for compatible devices, but you have to head into a bricks-and-mortar store to get a QR code.

Vodafone also has a separate eSIM solution for smartwatches called NumberSync. NumberSync allows your number to be shared between your phone and an eSIM enabled smartwatch, such as the Apple Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Watch. The upcoming Galaxy Watch Active 2 also has eSIM support. 

NumberSync is billed at $5 per month, but customers can get their first three months for free if they sign up before the end of the year.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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