iD Mobile Finally Introduce eSIM Support to UK Network
Some of our readers have spotted that low-cost UK mobile operator iD Mobile (Currys), which uses Three UK’s national 4G and 5G network via a virtual operator (MVNO) agreement, has recently introduced eSIM (Electronic SIM) support to their mobile service.
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).
The good news, as recently spotted via ISPreview’s community forum (credits to meritez), is that iD Mobile have finally introduced eSIM support to their service (here). But you’ll need to double-check if your mobile phone is eSIM compatible first (dial *#06# into your keypad and if you see a pop-up which includes an EID number on the screen, then your device should be compatible).
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One other possible catch is that iD Mobile’s related Q&A page appears to be indicating that they don’t currently support eSIM on the Apple Watch (here), although it also reads as if they don’t support eSIM at all (most likely they failed to correctly update this bit, so take it with a pinch of salt).
Meanwhile, one of Three UK’s other MVNO providers, Smarty, still has yet to add any eSIM support and would only say (here) “it is something we may look to have in future.”
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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Would be helpful perhaps to reach out and challenge ID Mobile on their statement about Apple Watch as, to me, it reads as a leftover from an earlier version of the page before they introduced eSIM. As if they didn’t properly review the revised page before publishing it.
When I went to arrange my eSIM with ID I had to do a chat with their support to get it.
The info wasn’t easily found in their support pages & I has hoping for a button in the app or web page to request an eSIM.
Hi Chris. I saw elsewhere that they now support eSIMs, but did you confirm whether or not they support Apple Watch? Thanks
Hi Gary
No idea, I’d assume eSIM is eSIM and ID don’t get to decide where it goes.
eSIM arrived via email as a QR code, I long clicked it and chose use eSIM or words to that effect.
Give it a try and see.
I don’t have a cellular watch.
You can also use eSIM on a phone that doesn’t support eSIM too.
Just go get a 5ber SIM then you can put eSIMs onto a physical SIM. It’s very handy, for example, I use it to put a lycamobile eSIM into my Zyxel 5G router that doesn’t support eSIM. This way I was able to get online instantly after signing up.
“it is something we may look to have in future.” This is what most say right up until the day they release it.
Yhat is really lame way to support esim. Lyca mobile does a great job wi eSim, you simply choose to get a real one or eSim whe you buy their plan.
When is Lyca Mobile going to get its act together, I’ve just transferred a family members number on to an esim with them and now they can’t recieve texts from anybody apart from Lyca users or Lyca themselves…
Tried, EE and Vodafone to text in, however texts will send from the Lyca sim, but they take a lot longer than any others to make it to the other end.
Something/someone really screwed up the way they are migrating their services now, I think I’m just going to get number out and go to Lebara