Travel smart: How eSIMs contribute to healthier, more productive journeys

Have you ever traveled to another country and needed to get a SIM card for your phone? Find out how they work and what benefits they offer.

SIM cards give your phone a connection to the local cell phone network so you can use data and make calls. In the past, when traveling internationally, people had to go to a cell phone store and buy a plastic SIM card to put in their phone. This could be complicated, expensive, and inconvenient.

Now, a new technology, known as an eSIM, simplifies staying connected abroad. An eSIM card is a digital SIM that is built right into your phone or device. With an eSIM, you can instantly connect to cell networks in hundreds of countries around the world with just a few taps on your phone.

What exactly is an eSIM?

The “e” in eSIM stands for “embedded” or “electronic.” So instead of using a plastic chip that you have to physically switch out, an eSIM is a digital SIM card programmed into your phone. It’s basically a smarter, virtual version of the older SIM cards.

eSIMs, first introduced in smartwatches and other devices, are now available in many of the latest smartphones, including the iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S22. Major cell carriers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all support eSIM technology too.

Therefore, when you next upgrade your phone, you’re likely to have an eSIM ready for use, eliminating the hassle of handling tiny plastic SIM cards. Pretty cool!

How do eSIMs make travel better?

eSIMs are revolutionizing travel by contributing to healthier and more productive journeys, particularly for tourists in the USA. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs can be activated digitally, eliminating the need to swap physical cards. This seamless connectivity allows travelers to stay in touch with loved ones, access important health information, and navigate unfamiliar areas with ease.

For tourists, utilizing a Prepaid eSIM for tourists in the USA ensures they have reliable internet access without the hassle of hunting for local SIM cards upon arrival. This constant connectivity supports healthier travel by enabling access to telehealth services and fitness apps, ensuring that travelers can maintain their wellness routines on the go. Using an eSIM while traveling internationally has a ton of benefits:

1) Stay Connected Right Away

With a regular plastic SIM card, you must purchase it at a local shop upon arriving at a new destination on your trip. This often results in a lack of cell service after landing in a foreign country until you can set up local connectivity.

With an eSIM, connectivity happens instantly as soon as you land. You can access travel apps, translation services, maps, and contacts back home without any gap in communication. Being digitally connected right off the plane is super helpful and safe.

2) Lower Costs

Traveling involves lots of extra expenses, and cell phone roaming fees used to be one of the big ones. Paying high roaming charges for every call, text and megabyte of data could add up quickly.

By using a local eSIM data plan instead in the country you’re visiting, you save tons. eSIM allows you to access much cheaper local phone plans on-the-go. No more getting ripped off by sky-high international roaming fees!

3) Enhanced Security

Regular SIM cards are vulnerable to digital theft. Unfortunately, hackers can clone or steal data from physical SIM cards if they get access to them. Since eSIM profiles are stored securely on a phone’s hardware, they provide way better protection against hacking and identity theft.

With an eSIM, you also never have to hand your SIM card to local shop employees when activating service. This random swapping of cards gives more opportunities for data theft. eSIMs let you add or change plans yourself for enhanced security all trip long.

4) Greater Health and Cleanliness

Given the rise of diseases like COVID-19, minimizing person-to-person interaction while traveling has become really important. Visiting crowded cell carrier stores has never been great for health and safety.

Because eSIMs can be set up remotely without having to go to retail shops, they enable better social distancing and reduce virus exposure threats. Staying healthy while traveling is vital, and eSIMs help make that possible.

The eSIM activation process is 100% digital. To connect to a foreign network, you simply scan a QR code on your phone rather than inserting a physical card touched by other people. This contactless setup is super clean and hygienic!

5) Easy to Use and Manage

For a lot of people, travel itself can be stressful enough. Messing with tiny sim cards to get connected abroad should not add to the headache! eSIMs provide a frustration-free experience:

Remote activation means no shop visits to get set up
No more fumbling with small plastic cards to insert and remove
You can digitally switch SIM profiles right on your phone in a few clicks
If your phone is lost or stolen, you can deactivate your eSIM instantly with the carrier

The eSIM process allows you to easily manage multiple connection profiles. And you’ll have them all stored securely on one device. Switching plans or countries is simple.

So whether you’re globetrotting or just on a family vacation, eSIM tech makes staying seamlessly connected a complete breeze!

eSIM benefits for business travelers

For people who travel regularly for work, having robust, reliable connectivity abroad is a must. Unfortunately roaming fees used to hamper productivity and create massive mobile bills for frequent business travelers.

Employees away on international projects often needed minutes-long calls just to connect with the home office. Some would rack up thousands per year in roaming charges for emails and file transfers alone!

The flexibility of eSIM technology has revolutionized connectivity for business travelers:

Stay continuously linked to company networks regardless of location
Slash cell service fees by 90% in some areas
Enables more calls, video meetings and collaboration from the road
Frees up budget for other investments back at home

Where can you use eSIMs?

Over 600 mobile networks in more than 140 countries currently support eSIM technology. And those numbers keep rising every year as more carriers and devices adopt eSIM capabilities.

All major travel destinations like London, Paris, Mexico City, Tokyo, Sydney and more have eSIM coverage across phone and data plans. Even when exploring more remote or off-the-beaten-path locations, you’re likely to find local eSIM data options to stay connected. Popular backpacking sites like parts of Southeast Asia and South America have growing eSIM availability too.

Whether your travels take you to major metropolises or quaint tropical towns, eSIM technology ensures you remain wirelessly connected. Check coverage specifics in your destination, then travel with total peace of mind!

Stay connected when travelling with an eSIM card

eSIM cards provide a better way to stay connected while traveling internationally. Unlike old-school plastic SIM cards, eSIMs are digital profiles built into your mobile device. They allow instant, more secure access to cell networks and data abroad.

With eSIMs, travelers can slash costs by avoiding expensive roaming fees. Business users and global companies benefit tremendously as well. eSIM adoption leads to enhanced overseas communication and collaboration at much lower expense.

Additionally, eSIMs enable contactless activation that minimizes virus exposure threats. With remote setup across over 140 countries so far, eSIM tech promises a future of streamlined, stress-free travel connectivity.

So whether globetrotting for fun or flying for work, eSIMs bring easier, safer mobile roaming to world travelers everywhere! No more SIM card shuffles at shops. Just pure travel freedom.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you buy an eSIM card?

You don’t need to buy a separate eSIM card. eSIM capability is built into newer model cell phones and devices from major brands. Carriers like Verizon, AT&T and international providers like Simify also allow eSIM activation using just your phone.

How do I activate my eSIM?

Activating an eSIM is easy. On your phone, open your carrier’s app or visit their eSIM activation website. Select your service plan and follow the prompts to scan a QR activation code. This instantly links and configures your device securely.

Is an eSIM the same price as a regular SIM card?

Pricing is usually similar to that of regular SIM cards; however, eSIMs offer more flexibility to adjust data plans as needed. And since eSIM enables cheap access to local carrier rates internationally versus roaming fees, heavy travelers ultimately save money.

Can you use two SIMs with eSIM compatible phones?

Yes, having Dual SIM functionality is a great eSIM benefit. You can digitally embed your primary SIM profile and add a secondary companion eSIM, allowing you to toggle connectivity as needed on a single device.