But without CDMA isn't much of Verizon's national footprint pretty much non-existent?

I don't believe so, I think VZW has transitioned away from CDMA for a few years now. There may be areas where they don't have LTE coverage but can't be significant at this point.

Sunset date for CDMA is 12/31/2022. Verizon stopped activating CDMA only devices in 2018.

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wirel...-for-3g-sunset

"Your request was successfully submitted." We'll see how it goes with the FCC, which I have to believe will be a lot more fruitful than being placed on hold for an hour by AT&T followed by false promises of a call back. Thanks again for the tip.

Success: $700 credit applied this week to my account and no more back-and-forths. Wow, floored by the positive, fast outcome. Thanks, FT!

T-Mobile Mother's Day Special 5/8 to 5/9 Only. Upgrade (no add a line needed) with eligible trade in with $830 off iPhone 12.

AT&T incorrectly applied the missing credits after I received a similar text as one time $700 credit per line on my most recent bill.

Keep an eye on your bill. My monthly credits "dropped off" randomly. I fired off another FCC complaint. Responded within 72 hours with another service recovery credit, a phone call with an apology and an explanation, and a promise that the credits will be correctly applied (again) going forward.

Only way to get their attention is the nuclear option, unfortunately.

As did mine with this last bill. And it wasn't just some glitch or clerical mistake,

I got a text from AT&T just before the e-bill arrived saying, "As you have recently made a change to you plan, your bill will be increasing by $30/month going forward".

Went to an ATT corporate-owned store and they told me they couldn't do anything, that I had to call the customer service line.

It took me two hours to get through on the phone and the response I got was, "Thanks for the information. Your claim has now been filed and the information will be sent to our research department and they will text you their decision within the next month. If they find in your favor it will take two billing cycles for the credits to apply back to your account. Until then, you will have to pay the extra $30/month until the discrepancy is resolved."

I never yell or even raise my voice with CS people, whether on the phone or IRL. And while I wasn't personal or in any way threatening, my response to the above would have made Quentin Tarantino blush.

I've been getting the credit for seven months now. How did this become "my" problem? What "research" needs to be done? What do you mean "if" they find in my favor?

[serenity now, serenity now]

I eventually got a $30 credit applied immediately to my account for this month, but this sounds like a borderline scam as they already have my iPhone 8. What happens if, seven months on, they try to claim they have no record of it? This stinks to high heaven.

Thanks for the tip about the credit falling off. All good so far, but I'll keep an eye on it monthly.

Has anyone used a local data SIM with the eSIM simultaneously?

That is. you have eSIM for your domestic network, then you travel overseas -- which should be more likely in the near future -- and you buy a local prepaid SIM for mobile data.

My understanding is that iOS allows dual SIM mode so you would be able to receive calls on either number, the eSIM or the nanoSIM.

But you'd only have data access from one of them at a time.

Is the switching automatic or will you have to explicitly toggle the cellular data?

OK, currently have a T-Mobile eSIM on my 12 Pro Max, iOS 14.5.1. Under Settings->Cellular, I see a master Cellular Data toggle and then T-Mobile with the "Turn on This Line" toggle. Then in the next section, I see Add Cellular Plan, which when tapped offers to scan a QR code. Isn't that only for adding eSIM and I already have an eSIM provisioned.

When I tap Enter Details Manually (in Settings -> Cellular -> Add Cellular Plan -> Enter Details Manually, it shows Enter Activation Code with fields for SM-DP+ Address, Activation Code, Confirmation Code (Optional, but required if provided by your carrier).

Presumably if I insert a physical nano SIM, it would get added to the section below the T-Mobile SIM.

But how would I make sure it's using the mobile data from the nano SIM while still being able to roam for voice and SMS with the T-mobile eSIM?

Because obviously would prefer to use the T-Mobile number setup for FAceTime, iMessage, WhatsApp, Viber, etc.

OK this page covers some of the UI for managing dual SIMs:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044

Still would like to know about adding a physical SIM and how that would appear. It shows some screens which may only show up once there is an active eSIM and a physical nanoSIM. You can have more than one eSIM configured but only one will be active at a time so dual SIM always means one active eSIM and a nanoSIM.

You will be able to associate things like whether the Personal Hot Spot uses your primary or secondary number, tied to the eSIM or nanoSIM, depending on how you label them.

I would just be happy for instanced if I can toggle the T-Mobile eSIM on and off and the changes are instant, so that if there are any problems in dual SIM mode, I can just toggle the eSIM on and off as needed.

Otherwise I normally use the nanoSIM for prepaid mobile data on my iPad, which is more useful to serve as the hotspot while maintaining my roaming US account on the iPhone. But in this case, the iPhone 12 has a 5G radio and there are actually 5G prepaid offers in some countries.

My experience is that the esim/nano sim works the same overseas as it does in the US. The selected data sim is the hotspot service and the Voice line is just that. If in the Cellular Data setting you have Allow Data Switching, that can occur also. The instant you switch or turn off either line, it happens.

Either line service will function exactly the same depending upon where you place it. You do not need to "Add Cellular Plan" to gain service from a physical sim card. Merely place in in your phone and it will register the network then connect.

To be even more confusing, there is a great feature that allows your Voice line to use your Data line as a simulated WiFi network. This permits toll free calls to and from the US for instance on T-Mobile while roaming internationally for WiFi calling. This is known as IMS, or Internet Protocol Multimedia Voice Service. and works well. You can accomplish the same thing by having a hotspot and enabling WiFi calling with cellular turned off. The advantage is you can do it all on one device. There is a specific setup required though.

You seem to have more questions, but this might help somewhat. If you can be specific perhaps I can clarify the system somewhat.

Thanks, I think the description of what happens if you insert the nanoSIM was the missing piece.

I guess another option would be to install another eSIM and toggle between that and my T-Mobile.

Actually for one trip I'm planning in September, I would cross from Switzerland to the Chamonix area where they may or may not have shops selling physical SIM cards. AT least not through a carrier store.

And I don't think Swiss SIM cards will roam in neighboring France.

So I was looking at getting a French SIM sold on Amazon. But it would be cool if I could get an eSIM for France.

I used Google Fi�s eSIM simultaneously with a (�local�) physical SIM.

the physical is for use across Europe where all roaming is considered locall. eSIM used for Rest of World.


absolutely no issues in using them simultaneously or switching them or preferentially using one for voice and another for data

Another Amazon consideration for European roaming service are the "3" UK network sim cards. They can be had with 12 Gb of data and voice service good for 30 days for around $20-$25 usually. It gives you a European number also which can be handy for calling hotels, cabs, etc. locally. The data service will permit the IMS procedure to give free USA calling also. You can set it up for testing prior to departure from the US, so no hunting for shops, language or exchange issues.