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What is eSIM?

Learn what eSIM is, how it works, and what it means for smartphone and cell phone users.

What is an eSIM and how does it work? 

If you’ve recently spent time shopping for the latest smartphones or devices, you’ve probably heard the term eSIM. And if you’re the type of person who prefers a virtual experience over a manual one (at least when it comes to connecting to your wireless network), you’ll want to know why eSIM could be right for you.   

 

Most of us are familiar with Subscriber Identity Module, or SIM cards. They’re the tiny removable chips you can swap in and out of smartphones to get service. A SIM stores the information your phone needs to connect to your carrier network so you can send texts, make calls and more. While many of today’s phones and devices still rely on physical SIM cards for network connectivity, newer devices are increasingly turning to a newer technology called eSIM.  

 

eSIM is short for Embedded SIM and is a digital version of a SIM card. eSIM allows you to connect to your network without having to deal with a physical chip. Instead of storing all that necessary information on a SIM card, you can download that data to your device via the internet, activate your eSIM, and connect to your network in a completely virtual way. To learn more about how eSIM works and how to connect an eSIM-compatible device with AT&T, head over to Get to Know eSIM or watch this helpful video so you're good to go when the time is right.