Apple’s latest iOS 12.1 beta apparently introduces support for the eSIM, or a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan from your carrier without needing to use a physical SIM card. In the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, the eSIM pairs with the included nano-SIM to enable dual-SIM functionality.
The eSIM feature was not available for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at launch, with Apple stating it would activate this function at a later update. The update seems to be in the works for iOS 12.1.
eSIM settings are available by going to the Cellular section of the Settings app and choosing “Add Cellular Plan,” which is the method used to add another cellular provider via the eSIM.
According to German site iPhone-Ticker.de, some Deutsche Telekom users are able to use the eSIM feature in iOS 12.1 to add two SIMs to their iPhones. Carriers need to implement the eSIM feature before it will work, and Apple offers a list of carriers that plan to offer the eSIM it in a support document.
Over on the American side of the pond, wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon plan to offer eSIM support, although it’s likely that the carriers won’t roll out the feature until iOS 12.1 launches to the public.
Apple has outlined the feature on its website, stating that both numbers used with a dual-SIM iPhone can make and receive voice calls and SMS/MMS messages, but an iPhone can only use one cellular data network at a time. That means if one number is on a call, a call to the other number will go to voicemail.
Both networks are active at once, however, and with dual-SIM enabled, you will see two carrier signal readings in the Control Center.
eSIM support will be available to iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR units when iOS goes live. Given that there’s only been a single beta of iOS 12.1 to date, some development is still required.
The iOS 12.1 update also includes support for Group FaceTime for up to 32 people, a new real-time Depth Control slider that can be used when taking Portrait Mode photos, and, with watchOS 5.1, new color watch face options in the Apple Watch app.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors, Apple, and iPhone-Ticker.de