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Qualcomm revealed this week at MWC 2023 that it will add “the world’s first commercially deployable iSIM” (Integrated SIM) to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform.
In other words, Android phones with this chipset will ditch swappable SIM cards and opt for a hardware solution instead. Qualcomm has achieved this (opens in new tab) thanks to some help from French electronics company Thales Group, a name most people probably won’t recognize but may be familiar with the technology. That’s because Thales is the same company behind eSIM (Embedded SIM) that is present on the iPhone 14 line. Essentially, Qualcomm is bringing Apple technology to Android. The difference with this new hardware is that it will be integrated (hence the name iSIM) into the processor of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 rather than as a proprietary chip on the motherboard.
iSIM benefits
At first glance, moving the location of the internal SIM card seems quite arbitrary; However, according to a message from Thales (opens in new tab), there are several advantages. For starters, it “saves space by eliminating the need for a separate component”, giving phone makers the ability “to make smaller, more compact devices”. The result is a structurally sound phone that is more resistant to damage from dust and water while also being “easier to carry”.
The other major benefit that Thales touts is heightened security. It claims that since the iSIM is embedded directly into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, bad actors or anyone else will have a harder time gaining unauthorized access to a device. The technology also reportedly enables “over-the-air provisioning,” making it easier for carriers to manage their customers’ devices.
Travel misery
However, not every Android user will welcome this news.
There is the potential problem of iSIM phones not working in other countries. People traveling abroad often buy prepaid SIM cards (opens in new tab) so they can keep using their phones without having to pay a ton of money to their mobile carrier for roaming charges. Of course, you can’t do this on eSIM phones, since the chip is directly connected to the hardware. So what if the same thing happens on iSIM devices?
The post does say the technology can connect to multiple carriers; a feature that Thales specifically cites as “useful for customers who travel internationally frequently”. It claims that users can “switch carriers if necessary without buying a new SIM card”. However, that depends on other countries supporting iSIM in the first place. For example, if you look at the regions and carriers that support eSIM from Apple (opens in new tab), there isn’t much to choose from. The United States offers the most comprehensive support with multiple carriers supporting the technology. In Europe and Asia, however, the support pool is much smaller.
It’s unknown when and where the first iteration of iSIM will roll out. Qualcomm does state that it predicts “global iSIM shipments” will reach 300 million by 2027, so maybe within the next four years or so. Hopefully, support won’t be so limited by then.