Mobile Operator Talkmobile UK Finally Introduce eSIM Support
Mobile operator Talkmobile, which is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on parent Vodafone’s (VodafoneThree) national UK 4G and 5G network, has finally begun to offer eSIM (Electronic SIM) support to new customers who join by taking one of their SIM Only plans.
The eSIM standard is an alternative to physical SIM cards, which works by essentially embedding an electronic SIM into your device (Smartphone) that could – once fully implemented – make it easier and quicker to switch between operators (e.g. not having to wait for a SIM card to arrive), as well as to use additional networks alongside your main mobile plan (e.g. eSIMs for travel when abroad).
Credits to one of our readers (Zakir) for spotting the change, which occurred last week.
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Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Will be interesting to see how long the networks continue to supply physical sims and how soon we will be forced to upgrade. There clearly will be a big cost saving to the networks when they no longer have to issue physical cards. Lebara are also supposed to start issuing eSIMs in this quarter.
Some folks like myself have bought an e-sim adapter for my phone, you can add profiles via an app or on a pc and the phone just sees it as a regular SIM card so you don’t have to get a new phone, just spend about £10-20.
Thanks for the info. Didn’t realise such things existed. Looking at some of the Amazon reviews it looks like they work better with Android than IPhone.
@ex-techie
Who makes your eSIM adapter please?
Have you experienced any problems with the thing?
T.I.A.
What are people experiences with eSIMs? I had one from ID Mobile; bought a new S25, and they emailed the eSIM to me. All very good. But the handset had an issue, and had to be returned & replaced. Only problem was the eSIM was locked to it, and as I was unable to power on the handset, I couldn’t transfer it. ID were unable to send me a new eSiM, as I couldn’t verify my account with a One Time Password sent by SMS; as the eSim was stuck in a bricked handset. In the end, they posted me a physical SIM.
Also I bought a travel eSIM to use in Africa, and that was a good experience.
I got an esim from lyca mobile 2 months into my contract I decided to upgrade my phone but they said I could not have the esim on my new phone I ended up having to have a physical sim card. I now only use 30 day plans so i can simply move providers if this happens again.