Of course, if you're using apps that gobble up data while traveling in a foreign country, there's always a risk of racking up hefty roaming fees from your phone carrier. The solution? An international travel eSIM for your smartphone.
How do you use this technology? Here are some tips.
WHAT’S AN ESIM?
If you’ve ever bought a new cellphone, you’re probably familiar with the SIM card. Short for subscriber identity module, the SIM is a little chip the size of a fingernail that fits into a slot on most phones. Without it, you couldn’t get cell service because it contains your account information and phone number.
But physical SIM cards are slowly being replaced by eSIMs — the e stands for embedded — built into newer phones. These digital versions do the same thing and can make life easier, though people used to physical SIMs might find them confusing at first.
WHY SHOULD I USE AN ESIM?
They make switching cell carriers easier. And if you’ve bought a new phone recently, you might not even have a choice: Apple got rid of the SIM card tray starting with the iPhone 14 released in September 2022.
They’re especially beneficial for travelers. If you’ve got a compatible cellphone, you can add an eSIM from a virtual carrier that has better data roaming rates than your home network. Many phones will 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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