Forum Discussion

give-us-eSIM's avatar
give-us-eSIM
SMARTY Commentator
08-07-2023

Enough is enough - eSIM *now*

As per $subject. It is now inexcusable for Smarty to not support eSIM. 3 UK support it, yet are limiting it to post-paid, with prepaid excluded. This is not acceptable. 

Why are *all* US carriers supporting eSIM for post *and* pre-paid, even before Apple forced their hand, yet the UK - again - lags behind? 

42 Replies

  • wixfordhall's avatar
    wixfordhall
    SMARTY Observer
    13-09-2023

    eSIM adoption in the the UK is still mediocre in 2023.  Quite a disgrace.  Three has had a long history of not offering eSIMs.   When anybody asks me for a carrier that can I have to say:  I'd like to recommend SMARTY but this far nothing, and Three, well it's complicated.   

    SMARTY has a pretty compelling package, it's really a tragedy that they don't see the value in eSIM.

    When you visit a country that /gets it/ you realise that eSIMs are just the way to go,  SIMS can be delivered electronically,  no messy paperwork and sluggard delivery times,  no physical SIM to cut or chop or lose, or get stuck in a SIM slot.

    What are we all waiting for UK Telecoms.

    SMARTY should volunteer to be part of the solution not the problem.

    shame shame shame

     

    • give-us-eSIM's avatar
      give-us-eSIM
      SMARTY Commentator
      30-09-2023

      SMARTY has a pretty compelling package, it's really a tragedy that they don't see the value in eSIM.

      THIS. Smarty offers an overall excellent service. CS is good, coverage and speeds are fine, yet it's let down by not offering eSIM. Fix this, and hopefully if Voda keeps the Smarty brand (there's a good chance it's all closed down upon merger, unfortunately) they can continue to have good success. 

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      13-09-2023

      There have been many threads on this forum re eSIMs. 

      At the current time, Smarty do not support eSIMs, just like the majority of UK networks. At as today, September 13th 2023, the only UK networks that support eSIM are EE, O2, Vodafone, LycaMobile and Spusu.

      By the way, this is the Smarty community forum, a community of Smarty users. As we don’t work for Smarty, we of course have no control over its business decisions. Just like I have done, as a user of eSIMs when travelling, and knowing how convenient they are, you could always contact Smarty via webchat, to let the company know you would like them to offer eSIM. 

      • give-us-eSIM's avatar
        give-us-eSIM
        SMARTY Commentator
        30-09-2023

        > At the current time, Smarty do not support eSIMs, just like the majority of UK networks.

        There are 4 major networks in the UK (3 UK, EE, Voda, O2). ALL of those carriers support eSIM. Smarty is the experimental brand of 3 UK. Given 3 UK now supports eSIM, they should be supporting it. 

  • itsJAMIElike's avatar
    itsJAMIElike
    SMARTY Maverick
    08-08-2023

    All due respect, as nice as I want an e-sim, it's a value network and they need to keep their business interests at heart. They need some reasons to push people to Three, otherwise why would anyone be a Three customer. 

    • give-us-eSIM's avatar
      give-us-eSIM
      SMARTY Commentator
      09-08-2023

      3 doesn’t offer eSIM on PAYG either. eSIM costs *less* to provision, and is far better for our environment than SIM cards. 

      • MSF's avatar
        MSF
        SMARTY Guru
        09-08-2023

        give-us-eSIM  I'm afraid the 'environment' argument is not that strong.

        In order to improve the environment, it would be necessary to look at the big polluters first. We can consider dirty power stations opening in China, the marine cargo fleet shifting vast amounts around the world on inefficient engines and oh yes.....large numbers of gas-guzzling cars in the US among other countries.

  • WelshPaul's avatar
    WelshPaul
    SMARTY Centurion
    08-07-2023

    Not all US carriers offer eSIM. In fact, many don’t.

    • give-us-eSIM's avatar
      give-us-eSIM
      SMARTY Commentator
      08-07-2023

      Name me *one* US carrier that doesn’t offer eSIM.  I’ll wait….

      PS - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209096 - oops. Looks like every US carrier I’ve ever heard of. It doesn’t matter if the service is pre or post paid - they support eSIM.

      Waiting for you to educate us on which mythical US carrier doesn’t support eSIM. 

      • JJP2's avatar
        JJP2
        SMARTY Pro-coach
        08-07-2023

        https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/esims 

        As you can see above, not all US carriers support eSIMs

        AFAIK, Three did a trial on eSIMs, but do not currently offer it.

        If you want eSIM that bad, don’t use an MVNO. The only UK MVNO’s that currently support eSIM are Sky Mobile and Voxi.

  • Chalkychap's avatar
    Chalkychap
    SMARTY Trendsetter
    09-08-2023

    Are SMARTY a true PAYG service provider? 
    I suspect not - therefore, it does appear inexcusable that SMARTY do not offer an eSIM option for their monthly plans.

  • EricCop_1431718's avatar
    EricCop_1431718
    SMARTY Observer
    22-09-2023

    Yes. This is INSANITY. I proudly walked out of the Apple Store this morning with my new iPhone 15 not thinking for a minute that my carrier in the UK doesn't support e-sim.  Is Smarty willing to risk losing a significant pool of customers who upgrade their hardware in the coming days? C'mon Smarty! Get with the times!!!!!

      • EricCop_1431718's avatar
        EricCop_1431718
        SMARTY Observer
        22-09-2023

        Not according to the staff at the store and tech support. I have the phone and do not see a SIM slot. I would love for you to be right, however!

  • give-us-eSIM's avatar
    give-us-eSIM
    SMARTY Commentator
    13-10-2023

    3 UK now - finally - supports eSIM on PAYG !!! 

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      13-10-2023

      So does GiffGaff and Tesco Mobile. 

      Maybe you will stop throwing tantrums and be an adult for a change, eh ? 

      You have a few options to choose from now. 

      • give-us-eSIM's avatar
        give-us-eSIM
        SMARTY Commentator
        13-10-2023

        So does GiffGaff and Tesco Mobile. 

        Both just recently started supporting them.

        All you're evidencing is just how unacceptable it is that Smarty are not supporting eSIM! Ya know.. like the *entire point of my original post was*? 

        Maybe you will stop throwing tantrums and be an adult for a change, eh? 

        ZzzZzZz 

  • Felix_364801's avatar
    Felix_364801
    SMARTY Maverick
    07-03-2024

    They will all support eSIM as soon as Apple drops sim support for UK iPhones, as they did in the US for the iPhone 15, otherwise I suggest eSIM.net which offers non contract 02 and Vodafone 

    • Stewie_Mac's avatar
      Stewie_Mac
      SMARTY Enquirer
      14-03-2024

      Be nice if Samsung and Google got together and brought that hammer down. 

  • WelshPaul's avatar
    WelshPaul
    SMARTY Centurion
    07-03-2024

    Vodafone pay go and Voxi now support eSIM.