Jun 5, 2023, 6:06 pm
Last edit by: username
Free data/trials (control-f to find the actual section for each provider)
Be ADVISED: ALL Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong version of EVERY Phone DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT for eSim
eSIM features to consider
Unique feature
Longer term data (180day to no expiry)
PAYG data
- Eskimo 1GB 2year - Note: Even though Eskimo is based in Singapore, Singapore is not one of the included countries, probably due to regulatory reasons
- RedBullMobile 100MB 1year
- Yesim 350 coins 1 year
- ExtremeConnect
Be ADVISED: ALL Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong version of EVERY Phone DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT for eSim
- Best device = Apple iPhone
- Supports dual eSIM (most android phones w/ eSIM have 1 physical + 1 eSIM slot, but cannot use 2 eSIMs together)
- Depending on carrier, supports DSDV (VoLTE voice calls on sim1 gets routed through sim2.data, as though you were doing WiFi calling)
- Some androids might support DSDV
- esim.me
- Allows you to use eSIM on non-native eSIM device
- Requires supported/modern phone
- Pricey / confusing options
eSIM features to consider
- Network coverage
- which networks are supported (not all eSIM list the networks, and networks can change overtime)
- You may want to avoid lower-tier networks or if your phone doesn't support their LTE/5G bands
- Amount of data
- "Unlimited" data typically has fair usage in ToS/fineprint, eg 0.5-1GB per day or 1GB every 3 days, reset on 4th day midnight. may or may not allow hotspot
- Generally data-limited plans allow full-speed w/ hotspot, some offer slow 128kbps after you hit the limit while others cut you off immediately)
- length of coverage
- eg: 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, 30day, 180day, 365day, noExpiry
- Country coverage (single country, regional/EU, global)
- Proxy/Latency/IP
- Most eSIM providers route you back to their main network, which can incur latency
- Your searches will probably geo-locate back to that main network (instead of the country you're in)
- Some of your apps may not work (eg Pandora radio only works in USA, won't work in another country)
- Data sharing / transfering of eSIM to new device
- A few providers allow you to share data, so you can split one plan with multiple eSIM devices (Eskimo, Dent, Vegolink)
- Many providers only allow you to activate eSIM profile once. if you have to switch phones, you either lose that data, or have to pay a token amount to get a new eSIM profile with the remaining balance
- Price/GB
- How data is counted per session
- Usually in ToS, usually its rounded up per 1KB/10KB/100KB/1MB increments. Obviously smaller increment is better
- Method of activation
- Some providers require you to use their app to load the eSIM
- Others send you QR code and/or activation URL, for you to manually load onto phone
- You need valid network access (via wifi or existing mobile data) to activate eSIM
- Expiry countdown
- Some providers start counting down expiry once you purchase, or once you activate eSIM onto phone, or once you set foot into country
- Speed
- generally these eSIM providers get low priority, could be a problem if there is network congestion
- you may want to consider a proper provider over an MVNO
- Visual Voicemail - it seems depending on the phone and carrier, Visual Voicemail might require a Cellular Connection through your provider or their roaming partners. So, Visual Voicemail might not work if you are using a data-only eSIM with roaming turned off for your "home line"
Unique feature
- Ubigi
- free eSIM profile. If you don't have valid plan, the eSIM still allows you to connect & browse ubigi.me (and purchase data via creditcard/paypal)
- Seems native geo-located IP but still through a regional proxy with some latency (Transactel owns part of Ubigi, and Transactel has their own backend)
Longer term data (180day to no expiry)
- Yesim (coins expire 1 year)
- Dent (1 year)
- Eskimo (2 year)
- Esimplus (no expiry)
- AIS eSIM2Fly topup (365 day)
- 3HK (365 day)
PAYG data
- Yesim (varies, deducts from sharedWallet)
- Dent (10/GB)
- RedBullMobile (varies, need to prepay per GB)
eSIM thread
Apr 22, 2019, 10:54 pm
#46
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,312
But the whole point of dual sim is so that you don't have to do any of this. I imagine this is cheaper on carriers like t-mobile where you don't have to buy a pricey international plan to have access when overseas, though there are other reasons for sticking with VZW I suppose.
-David
Apr 23, 2019, 1:14 am
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: JFK BOS LAX
Programs: DL Diamond; VS Gold; Uber Diamond
Posts: 199
LOL, oh mine likely was much closer to an hour as well, I was just being nice! 
And in some ways, the whole photocopy your passport thing is actually more annoying/concerning to me than the time, but certainly would just prefer to hit the ground running, no fuss no muss.
Regards
And in some ways, the whole photocopy your passport thing is actually more annoying/concerning to me than the time, but certainly would just prefer to hit the ground running, no fuss no muss.
Regards
the privacy issues surrounding it worry me. In reality, what can some phone shop in Paris really do with my passport if I didn’t pay a bill? It’d be like 100 euros of debt MAX. I doubt consular agencies would care to get involved, and reporting me to some collections agency would result in a nearly impossible debt to enforce and certainly not be something that could withstand a credit report appeal.
aside from banning me from the company, realistically all they could do with my passport info is shady stuff, like selling it to scammers and the like to make my life hell. (I suppose this is sufficient deferent, in and of itself.)
Apr 23, 2019, 7:44 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
the privacy issues surrounding it worry me. In reality, what can some phone shop in Paris really do with my passport if I didn’t pay a bill? It’d be like 100 euros of debt MAX. I doubt consular agencies would care to get involved, and reporting me to some collections agency would result in a nearly impossible debt to enforce and certainly not be something that could withstand a credit report appeal.
Apr 30, 2019, 7:13 am
#49
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,018
Bingo. This is why so many countries have instituted regulations that even prepaid SIMs require a passport being recorded.
May 1, 2019, 7:11 am
#51
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
just activated the esim on a new pixel 3 xl. On Google Fi. the physical sim slot is open and ready for travel. It does work with a T mobile data only physical sim in the second slot.
another message solution via data is Hangouts.
And there is an app called Pulse that is cross platform you can use for sms.
another message solution via data is Hangouts.
And there is an app called Pulse that is cross platform you can use for sms.
May 15, 2019, 8:05 am
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: PHL
Posts: 10,060
Thank for this thread. My wife got the Xs Max. I've been trying to get t-mobile to swich it to e-sim. I tried Twitter & iMessage several times, they're not willing to do it. I went to the store, got a rep who's willing to try eventhough he think it will not work. He was surprised that the system accept the eid number 
. I do have to wait 30-45 mins to continue on the next step though.
. I do have to wait 30-45 mins to continue on the next step though.
May 21, 2019, 1:23 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seoul, Tokyo
Programs: OZ Diamond+ Lifetime, JL Diamond
Posts: 101
I was able to provision a Three HK prepaid roaming eSIM on a Google Pixel 3a without any issues.
Three's roaming plan is 10 days at 500MB/day, throttled to 128kbps after you hit the daily quota. You can buy it directly from Three's web site for HKD $138 (USD $17.58).
Roaming coverage countries
--
APAC: China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia
N. America: USA, Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, France
Three's roaming plan is 10 days at 500MB/day, throttled to 128kbps after you hit the daily quota. You can buy it directly from Three's web site for HKD $138 (USD $17.58).
Roaming coverage countries
--
APAC: China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia
N. America: USA, Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, France
May 21, 2019, 2:43 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seoul, Tokyo
Programs: OZ Diamond+ Lifetime, JL Diamond
Posts: 101
May 21, 2019, 12:56 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Has anyone here tried AIS's 6GB eSIM2Fly?
I tried to buy one but hit a dead end when it wouldn't accept my credit card.
I tried to buy one but hit a dead end when it wouldn't accept my credit card.
May 21, 2019, 3:09 pm
#59
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,384
I was able to provision a Three HK prepaid roaming eSIM on a Google Pixel 3a without any issues.
Three's roaming plan is 10 days at 500MB/day, throttled to 128kbps after you hit the daily quota. You can buy it directly from Three's web site for HKD $138 (USD $17.58).
Roaming coverage countries
--
APAC: China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia
N. America: USA, Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, France
Three's roaming plan is 10 days at 500MB/day, throttled to 128kbps after you hit the daily quota. You can buy it directly from Three's web site for HKD $138 (USD $17.58).
Roaming coverage countries
--
APAC: China, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia
N. America: USA, Canada
Europe: United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, France
It's a pack of 10 individual day passes, pack/esim is valid for 90 days after validation.
Each day pass can be activated individually, ending at 23:59HKG time (no proration, so it'll be a waste if you activate it at 8pm to use for 4 hours)
Don't have to use days consecutively.. if you purchase another set of 10-passes, esim and previous passes will be extended another 90days
May 21, 2019, 4:10 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,808
IFree is giving away eSIM cards at the travel agency at the bottom of KLIA2 (KUL), and apparently also on TG.
Have yet to try mine.
https://www.ifreegroup.com/mogos.html#/home
Have yet to try mine.
https://www.ifreegroup.com/mogos.html#/home