Forum Discussion

Terence_1301762's avatar
Terence_1301762
SMARTY Maverick
17-02-2024

Esim

Is smarty ever going to get with the times and start eSIM or not, in the very near future.

I would prefer to stay with my plan but if smarty are not going to be a up to date provider I’ll just have to go through the process of the PAC transfer sooner rather than never.

31 Replies

  • GuyRatc_1709139's avatar
    GuyRatc_1709139
    SMARTY Observer
    14-08-2025

    I had 2 contracts, one for phone, second for iPad.  I have had to move away for iPad a year ago so they have lost one contract.  Now, looks like might have to do for the phone...Smarty this is hitting your bottom line, surely you need to get this sorted!?

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      14-08-2025

      GuyRatc_1709139 If you look at the 'Ideas' section, you will see that they are investigating this now.

      The status changed a few months ago - possibly once they realised that some manufacturers e.g. Apple, would produce future phones without a sim tray.

  • Terence_1301762's avatar
    Terence_1301762
    SMARTY Maverick
    08-01-2025

    Well nearly a Year ago I asked is smarty would ever use eSIM. Company obviously has no interest in this. Which is such a shame. As there losing out on 2 devices as there on a network that offers eSIM 

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      09-01-2025

      Terence_1301762 The issue has been ongoing for well over two years to my knowledge.

      At the risk of boring everyone, I will repeat.......They won't change anything unless it has a positive effect on the net profit line in the accounts.

      • Terence_1301762's avatar
        Terence_1301762
        SMARTY Maverick
        25-07-2025

        Please look into the post it says nearly a year not two. That is 1 

  • MarkDav_1795153's avatar
    MarkDav_1795153
    SMARTY Maverick
    19-09-2024

    Please get on and provide an ESIM on Smarty!  I may have to leave if you can’t.  I want to use a local sim when outside UK and EU, so I want to me able to put a sim in my phone whilst retaining access to the Smarty network, which would work once Smarty implement eSIM.  eSIM now please.  

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      19-09-2024

      MarkDav_1795153  From posts stretching back some while, it doesn't look like smarty plan to introduce Esims in the near future.

      As an alternative (and one I have successfully used) how about an Esim when outside the UK & EU and retain the Smarty sim in the physical socket? There seem to be some pretty reasonable deals on Esims overseas - would that work for you?

      By the way, you are not writing to Smarty employees here and so we have no direct 'clout' on what happens.

      • MarkDav_1795153's avatar
        MarkDav_1795153
        SMARTY Maverick
        19-09-2024

        Thanks, I know that option, but physical Sims are easier to find overseas and purchase.  For example on arrival in Dubai, I was handed a free one at the airport.  Not used an eSIM, so not sure how easy they are to set up.  Will try next time I’m outside EU and UK.  

  • plm0031's avatar
    plm0031
    SMARTY Pioneer
    24-07-2024

    The latest iPad Pro does not have a sim slot, so esim is the only option.

  • WelshPaul's avatar
    WelshPaul
    SMARTY Centurion
    15-07-2024

    It looks like SMARTY is going to be the last MVNO that piggybacks off the THREE network to implement eSIM support. Currently, THREE UK now offer eSIM's to both Pay Monthly and Pay Go customers.

    THREE UK MVNO's that offer eSIM's:

    • iD Mobile
    • Honest Mobile
    • RWG Mobile

    THREE UK MVNO's that do NOT offer eSIMS:

    • SMARTY
    • Superdrug

    It's looking more and more likely that the iPhone 16 series will no longer have a physical SIM slot. I wonder how this will effect SMARTY moving forward? 🤔

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      16-07-2024

      WelshPaul  Good point about iPhones. As I recall, the 14 & 15 only had a physical slot due to Europe; people who bought one in the US found nowhere to insert their physical sim.

  • emontes's avatar
    emontes
    SMARTY Rookie
    18-05-2024

    Edit: Double posted.

  • emontes's avatar
    emontes
    SMARTY Rookie
    18-05-2024

    Past time SMARTY offer eSIMs.

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      19-05-2024

      emontes  For what particular reason?

    • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
      JJP2RidesAgain
      SMARTY Centurion
      18-05-2024

      I use eSIMs extensively at home and abroad, on both foreign networks and with services like Airalo. 

      What is the big deal with them, why are you so keen to use them ? Both physical and eSIMs work exactly the same, there are “no bonus features”  that eSIM has over physical sims. 

      • MarkyR74's avatar
        MarkyR74
        SMARTY Commentator
        17-07-2024

        How about so us iPhone users can have two sims on our phones! Because no one single provider, especially Three, is capable of providing a service all over the country. The iPhone only has one physical sim slot, but allows 5 I think esims. It’s modern progression too. I’m actually scrapping my S arty SIM and moving to ID Mobile as they now use eSIM and Three’s network. When Smarty move into modern times I’ll come back over.

  • Lordvega's avatar
    Lordvega
    SMARTY Maverick
    01-03-2024

    I hope so, as I’d be interested in trying Smarty as Lyca on EE has no WiFi calling and no VoLTE!

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    18-02-2024

    Terence_1301762 This topic has come up very frequently but there has been no definitive reply from Smarty.

    In a reply to another thread recently I wondered whether there was some associated cost that they needed to balance against the potential loss of customers who insist on an sim. Bear in mind that for many people, an sim is either of no use or else not considered essential.