I thought that is the whole purpose of the eSIM? Makes changing between multiple carriers easier. Looks like more vendors are jumping on board with this which hopefully forces carriers ahem Verizon to play ball and allow our devices to be more versatile.
The question is - how many "SIMs" can it contain? - what provisions are there for adding new SIMs to it?
In other words, when I fly to Indonesia and want to buy a $5 SIM on the street, how do I get the information from the SIM that I have just bought into my watch (or other eSIM device)? Is there ANY provision for entering some sort of code number, scanning a bar code, or otherwise entering a new SIM after the initial purchase of the device?
eSIM is basically modeled after CDMA's activation sequence, except all carriers that support eSIM all have access to the manufactures catalog of eSIM devices. If you travel to Indonesia, all that is required is you contact a carrier there that supports eSIM, or travel using a carrier that has coverage there.
You contact the carrier and give them your eSIM "ESN" which like a regular SIM cannot be changed. The carrier looks up if it is registered with another carrier, and if it isn't they can activate it in their network. If it is registered, you either need to release it from your previous carrier, or perhaps the new carrier can release it for you by verifying some security information like the SIM lock code.
Overall it's way better then dumping $5 on SIMs constantly, and eventually, if not immediately, you will be able to manage all of this through a carrier web portal.
Traditional SIM technology has nothing to do with this. It's basically ESN for GSM. They just call it eSIM because it's catchy.
That's exactly what I thought. I never considered one before due to the looks and how obvious it was. I like the idea of it looking like a nice watch that people wouldn't even take a second look at for the most part until you start using it.
Not a bad look for an accessory. It's far less gaudy than other designs and approaches the point where you could imagine someone wearing one without earning snickers from others when they pull up their sleeve to look at the time.
"The eSIM is a GSMA-approved standard for embedded SIM cards that cannot be removed from a device and which are compatible with multiple operators (users can choose their preferred carriers). The Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G in the U.S. will be compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. In other countries, there will be different operators: Samsung has worked with M1 Limited, Orange, Singtel, StarHub, Telefónica, TeliaSonera and Vodafone Group, so, the new Gear S2 Classic 3G will be available in multiple countries."
My interpretation of this is that the SIM is NOT-swappable, even apart from issues of "locked device"; so that when you travel to another country your watch connectivity becomes useless (or very expensive), and without the phone option of physically swapping the SIM. That seems like a highly worthwhile spec, totally appropriate to 2016... Well done, Samsung, for supporting it...
I actually looked it up because I was curious about this too. Apparently an eSIM is just a software based implementation of a SIM card and that's the reason why it can't be removed from the device. I don't now if it'll be the case for this specific device but there isn't any sort of technical reason that you couldn't simply have the same rewritten for a different carrier.
To be honest, I am not sure if its a good idea to have a data plan for a watch considering the already poor battery life. Perhaps you need to charge this in the middle of the day if that is the case.
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LiviuTM - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
I would be surprised if Samsung didn't worked also with Deutsche Telekom Group, parent company of T-Mobile, for other countries.zeeBomb - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
Damnnn samsung. Nice watchesKPOM - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
When will a mainstream or flagship phone ship with an eSIM?Notmyusualid - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
As an owner of a Gear, and a Gear S...eSim is a deal breaker.
I roam far too much to embrace this wildly unknown standard.
Holliday75 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
I thought that is the whole purpose of the eSIM? Makes changing between multiple carriers easier. Looks like more vendors are jumping on board with this which hopefully forces carriers ahem Verizon to play ball and allow our devices to be more versatile.name99 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
The question is- how many "SIMs" can it contain?
- what provisions are there for adding new SIMs to it?
In other words, when I fly to Indonesia and want to buy a $5 SIM on the street, how do I get the information from the SIM that I have just bought into my watch (or other eSIM device)? Is there ANY provision for entering some sort of code number, scanning a bar code, or otherwise entering a new SIM after the initial purchase of the device?
Samus - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
eSIM is basically modeled after CDMA's activation sequence, except all carriers that support eSIM all have access to the manufactures catalog of eSIM devices. If you travel to Indonesia, all that is required is you contact a carrier there that supports eSIM, or travel using a carrier that has coverage there.You contact the carrier and give them your eSIM "ESN" which like a regular SIM cannot be changed. The carrier looks up if it is registered with another carrier, and if it isn't they can activate it in their network. If it is registered, you either need to release it from your previous carrier, or perhaps the new carrier can release it for you by verifying some security information like the SIM lock code.
Overall it's way better then dumping $5 on SIMs constantly, and eventually, if not immediately, you will be able to manage all of this through a carrier web portal.
Traditional SIM technology has nothing to do with this. It's basically ESN for GSM. They just call it eSIM because it's catchy.
GruntboyX - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
Very nice looking watches. Subtle. Doesn't invoke the CASIO calculator watch nostalgia. Doesn't scream I have a gadget problem.Holliday75 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
That's exactly what I thought. I never considered one before due to the looks and how obvious it was. I like the idea of it looking like a nice watch that people wouldn't even take a second look at for the most part until you start using it.BrokenCrayons - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
Not a bad look for an accessory. It's far less gaudy than other designs and approaches the point where you could imagine someone wearing one without earning snickers from others when they pull up their sleeve to look at the time.name99 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
"Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G"Clearly this is a company that knows branding...
I look forward to 2017's "Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G Pro" and 2018's "Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G Pro Plus"
Samus - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - link
Don't you mean Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G Grand and Samsung Galaxy S2 Classic 3G Mini? :)name99 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
"The eSIM is a GSMA-approved standard for embedded SIM cards that cannot be removed from a device and which are compatible with multiple operators (users can choose their preferred carriers). The Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G in the U.S. will be compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. In other countries, there will be different operators: Samsung has worked with M1 Limited, Orange, Singtel, StarHub, Telefónica, TeliaSonera and Vodafone Group, so, the new Gear S2 Classic 3G will be available in multiple countries."My interpretation of this is that the SIM is NOT-swappable, even apart from issues of "locked device"; so that when you travel to another country your watch connectivity becomes useless (or very expensive), and without the phone option of physically swapping the SIM.
That seems like a highly worthwhile spec, totally appropriate to 2016... Well done, Samsung, for supporting it...
Bees123 - Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - link
I actually looked it up because I was curious about this too. Apparently an eSIM is just a software based implementation of a SIM card and that's the reason why it can't be removed from the device. I don't now if it'll be the case for this specific device but there isn't any sort of technical reason that you couldn't simply have the same rewritten for a different carrier.Sttm - Friday, February 26, 2016 - link
I like how its a full circle unlike those fugly motorola watches.watzupken - Saturday, February 27, 2016 - link
To be honest, I am not sure if its a good idea to have a data plan for a watch considering the already poor battery life. Perhaps you need to charge this in the middle of the day if that is the case.