ESim and Apple iPhone Upgrade Program

[cdd89]

Hi,

I have a Sim-only EE contract and just activated an eSim ordered online, which was very seamless, but one critical step in that process was going to ee.co.uk/simswap and receiving a text message sent to my existing number.

That's obviously not going to work with the iPhone Upgrade Program, where the existing phone is handed back to Apple before receiving the new phone! I'd have a QR code to activate a new SIM but be unable to carry out the SIM swap as the old phone with the old line would be in the Apple Store's hands.

Does anyone know how this should be handled when the time comes for me to get the next iPhone? Does Apple customarily allow some time to keep both phones powered on and running side-by-side, or is there an alternative EE-centered solution?

Same question for a situation where the existing iPhone malfunctions and needs to be replaced, of course!

Thanks,

Chris

[Chris_B]

@cdd89  You’ll need to request a new sim with your number on it and go through the whole eSim swap again. 

  Apple have got a feature that allows eSims to be swapped to a different device but as of yet it’s not supported by EE,  and it might never be.  

[Kirigaya_Kazuto]

It's a real shame if they don't support this, EE and O2 are the only UK network to support iPhone visual Voicemail and eSIMS (not sure if o2 support eSIMS) Vodafone too, but last I saw they were having integration issues.

[cdd89]

Thanks very much for the replies! So I gather that the best solution is:

New iPhone under iPhone Upgrade Program (or replacement phone where the old phone still works)

1. Request new physical SIM online before disposing of the old phone, and follow the SIM swap process including the confirmation text message sent to the old phone/eSIM.
2. Transfer the physical SIM to the new phone when required.
3. Request new eSIM online and follow the SIM swap process.

New iPhone where the old iPhone is lost or is broken and can no longer receive a text message

Visit an EE store in person with photo ID to request a new, pre-activated physical SIM.

1. Insert the SIM into the new phone.
2. Request new eSIM online and follow the SIM swap process.

The only question of course is whether it's possible to obtain a pre-activated eSIM and bypass the physical SIM + SIM Swap step. But from what's posted above, I assume that's not possible.

If the above really is the process, then it would be great if EE published it on their site somewhere! 🙂

[chistery]

The easiest way is to pick up your phone from the Apple store, walk over to the EE store and get a new eSIM pack. (well, in the days you could just walk into stores).

If you request an eSIM online, your existing SIM will get disconnected so you are left waiting for 2nd class post for a QR code to arrive.

[cdd89]

"If you request an eSIM online, your existing SIM will get disconnected so you are left waiting for 2nd class post for a QR code to arrive."

I'm not sure that's accurate - my eSIM arrived un-activated, and I didn't lose service until I completed the SIM swap process.

As for the other point about going to an EE store and getting a replacement eSIM, that's very interesting and implies that they can be provided pre-activated (with no further SIM swap necessary). Is that definitely the case (i.e. have you done this successfully yourself), as I have seen quite a bit of conflicting information? If so, that certainly makes things a lot easier!

[chistery · Accepted solution]

EE usually activate them when they are requested and posted out, sometimes they don't.

If you go into a store they will do a SIM swap for you and give you the QR code to use when you want. This will cut off your existing SIM too so you lose service until you add the eSIM.

[cdd89]

Very interesting. Thanks!

I now have a good sense of what to do when the time comes 🙂