Vodafone MVNO felix mobile now has eSIM support, allowing new customers to sign-up to a plan without the need for a physical SIM card. If you register for felix mobile through its app - and have a compatible phone - you'll be given the option to choose eSIM as you sign up.
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.
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#1
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felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#2
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felix mobile
felix 50GB Mobile Plan
$35.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#3
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felix mobile
felix Unlimited Mobile Plan
$40.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#4
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felix mobile
felix Unlimited+ Mobile Plan
$50.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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If you're opting for a new phone number with felix, activation of your eSIM should only take a few minutes. If you're bringing an existing number to felix, it can take between 15 minutes and four hours for the transfer to be complete. Switching requests are only completed between 8am and 8pm (AEST) Monday to Friday, and between 10am to 6pm on Saturday. You'll still have service with your old provider until you switch over.
Existing felix mobile customers with a physical SIM card can swap to eSIM via the settings tab of the telco's app.
Devices compatible with eSIM include the iPhone XS and newer, Samsung flagships from the Galaxy S20 and up, and Google phones from the Pixel 3a onward.
felix mobile is the first Vodafone MVNO to gain access to eSIM technology, and only the second Australian MVNO to offer eSIM. Optus MVNO gomo was the first smaller provider to offer customers eSIM. By and large, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone have kept the ability to offer eSIM to themselves. felix and gomo are owned by Vodafone and Optus respectively, however. There still isn't a single independent MVNO in Australia where customers can opt for eSIM.
Early last year, Telstra said it was testing eSIM with its MVNO partners including Belong (once again, owned by Telstra), but this functionality has not been made available to customers yet.
felix mobile stands out from other telcos due to its unique plan structure: it has just a single option at $35 per month with unlimited data. Data speeds are capped to 20Mbps per second, which makes it similar to an NBN 25 connection. Most 4G connections should be able to attain around 50Mbps per second in metro areas, but 20Mbps is still more than fast enough for most online activities.
felix also brands itself as a sustainable telco, and general manager Paul Tierney says providing eSIM as an option adds to its green credentials.
"Millions of SIM cards are produced and distributed in Australia each year so using eSIM means less plastic, less manufacturing, less packaging and no delivery. This is better for the planet and reinforces felix’s commitment to reduce waste and avoid single-use plastics going into landfills," said Tierney.
Alex Choros
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