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We are used to seeing Apple announce new products, including hardware and software, to delay their launch or availability. The same thing happened yesterday when Apple unveiled a series of exciting devices and new features. But some of these devices, namely the iPhone XR, will not be available for pre-order until October. And one of the latest iPhone tricks will not be launched for a while, even on iPhone XS phones that arrive in stores next week.
For the first time in more than a decade, Apple has launched dual-SIM iPhones. All three iPhones will support two SIM cards, but the feature will not be available immediately. As Apple explained at Wednesday's event, it will ship two types of iPhone to support the dual SIM card.
In China, buyers will be able to use two physical nano-SIMs with the three iPhones, including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
In Europe and the United States, the functionality is both more exciting than this and more annoying. Apple also introduces eSIM, a first for the iPhone, the virtual SIM card already available on iPad and Apple Watch models that support LTE.
But, as Apple notes on its pages, eSIM support will be activated later, probably via an iOS 12 update, and will largely depend on your local carrier:
eSIM will be available later this year through a software update. The use of eSIM requires a wireless service plan (which may include restrictions on service provider switching and roaming even after the contract expires). All operators do not support the eSIM. The use of eSIM on iPhone can be disabled when buying from some operators. See your carrier for more details.
For years, we've heard rumors about Apple favoring the eSIM feature for its iPhones, as well as operators opposing it. It is unclear for the moment whether Apple's fault was not supported by the first version of iOS 12 or by operators.
While you wait for the arrival of your iPhone XS or XR and that Apple puts the eSIM features at your disposal, you can check out the Apple help page which explains in detail how eSIM will work on new iPhones.
The page clearly states that you need to buy an unlocked iPhone to take advantage of the eSIM feature. Then everything depends on your operator. Spoiler alert, only a few of them support eSIM right now.
The page also explains how to set up a cellular plan with eSIM and how to use your phone for SMS and calls while using two SIM cards. Apple explains that each SIM card will have its own label in the apps, so it always erases the one you use. You will also be able to use one SIM card for data only and route text and calls to another if you wish. The data only works on one SIM card at a time. It also explains how iMessage and FaceTime work according to the SIM card selected as the primary phone number.
Apple further explains that your phone will remember the SIM card you used to call one of your contacts and return to that number if you do not replace it manually.
Although the dual-SIM feature adds a layer of complexity to the Messages and Phone application, everything seems intuitive enough. In other words, everything should work, once Apple has supported eSIM.
If you want to switch two physical SIM cards in your iPhone, you should buy yours in Asia and visit this support page for instructions.
What is strange about these pages is that it lists only the iPhone XS and the XS Max as phones ready to provide a dual SIM card via eSIM, and only the XS Max with regard to the support for dual nano card. At the same time, Apple's iPhone comparison pages make it clear that the iPhone XR also has dual-SIM support, including nano SIM and eSIM variants.
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