One Tech Tip: Use a roaming eSIM on summer trips to avoid mobile data charges

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LONDON (AP) — For summer trips abroad, smartphones are essential for most people. How do you check Google Maps to find an Airbnb, post an Instagram video of the Eiffel Tower, or WhatsApp friends and family back home?

Of course, if you use data-hungry apps while traveling in a foreign country, you run the risk of incurring exorbitant roaming charges from your phone operator. The solution? International travel ESIM for your smartphone.

How to use this technology? Here are some tips.

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What is an eSIM?

If you’ve ever bought a new cell phone, you’re probably already familiar with the SIM card. Short for customer identity module, SIM is a little fingernail-sized chip that fits into the slot in most phones. Without it, you can’t get mobile service because it contains your account information and phone number.

But the physical SIM card is slowly being replaced by the eSIM – e stands for embedded – built into new phones. This digital version does the same thing and can make life easier, although people who use physical SIMs may be confused at first.

Why should I use an eSIM?

They make switching mobile operators easier. And if you’ve bought a new phone recently, you might not have a choice: Apple is getting rid of the SIM card tray starting with the iPhone 14 release in September 2022.

They are especially useful for traveling. If you have a compatible mobile phone, you can add an eSIM from a virtual operator that has better data roaming rates than your home network. Many phones allow you to add more than one eSIM, making it easy to switch back and forth, or – for phones with the capability – use two at the same time.

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Think of convenience: Gone are the days of arriving in a strange country after a long flight, looking for the airport kiosk of the local telephone company, carefully pop open the SIM tray with the pin to exchange on a new chip, and try not to lose it. that is there.

Where can I get a roaming eSIM and how much will I pay?

The eSIM market is booming. Kester Mann, director of consumer research at CCS Insight, says there are dozens of providers you can find online, with names like Nomad, Holafly, Easysim, Airhub and Airalo.

“These guys have a role to play because I think they offer very affordable and attractive opportunities for international travel,” Mann.

The boom means there is a lot of competition keeping the rates low. The price is usually clearly displayed online, through the package menu on the provider’s website or a calculator based on the amount of data required and the length of the trip.

About 800 operators support eSIM, according to CCS, so international coverage is extensive. Traveling to Europe and need a month’s worth of data covering 30 countries? Airalo offers, for example, 10 gigabytes at $37 while the Holafly package has unlimited data for 69 euros ($75).

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For my upcoming trip to Prague, I bought 5 gigabytes of data for just $5 from Global Yo. I was a bit put off by some negative reviews professing problems buying, installing or activating the company’s eSIMs, but I had no problems myself.

How do I insert an eSIM into my phone?

You need an unlocked phone to use with a different wireless carrier.

If you’re not setting up a new phone, the typical activation method is with a QR code, or the more conventional string of numbers and letters. If you plan your trip and buy in advance, it’s a good idea to print it if you don’t want to activate it right away.

For iPhone, open the Settings menu, then go to the Cellular or Cellular Services section, then tap Add eSIM. You will be asked to scan the code, or enter it manually. This process is the same for Android users. Samsung has a guide for Galaxy devices, and Google has a help page for Pixel users, while eSIM carriers have step-by-step guides. Apple has a YouTube video, as well as a tip sheet on using eSIMs for international travel and using two eSIMs at the same time.

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If you have a phone that supports dual eSIM, you “can pick the best network potential based on price and or coverage” while traveling, said Mann.

Some operators have their own apps to manage eSIM and track data usage.

How do I know if my phone can use an eSIM?

More than 200 devices support the technology, CCS Insight said. UK phone company Vodafone has a list of compatible devices. Or press (asterisk)#06# – the EID code indicates compatibility.

For iPhone users, any model released since XS, XS Max or XR, as well as the new iPads. They are compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices released since 2020, and Google Pixel 4 and newer models will work; some Pixel 3 devices also support it.

Is it always useful to use a travel eSIM?

First check your own operator’s roaming charges for the place you are visiting. Sometimes it’s not worth it.

“Roaming fees today are far cheaper and less prohibitive than they used to be,” said Mann. It has even been removed for EU citizens crossing the internal borders of the 27-nation bloc. But those traveling in the UK, who have left the EU, face a new challenge to travel to the continent.

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