The launch of the new iPhone 14 in its Plus, Max and Pro Max versions during Apple’s Far Out event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California; it brought with it new functions and designs, improvements and modifications in the physical characteristics of the devices.
One of the features that caused the most doubts was the removal of physical support for SIM cards in new devices to make way for eSIMs, a digital version of them. Although the United States has cellular operators that have this technology, in Latin America not all countries and not all mobile operators have this technology implemented.
Exclusively for TechMarkupthe Colombian journalist specializing in technology issues, Samir Estefan, indicated that the models of iPhone 14 that will work only with eSIM will be available only in the United States.
For their part, those arriving in Latin American territories will continue to have a slot for physical SIM cards. “Surely next year (2023), the iPhone they will no longer have this slot, but will only be able to have a virtual SIM card”, he commented.
Operators offering eSIM
According to the support page of Manzanathese are the countries in the region that have operators that offer the eSIM service on some devices iPhone:
Argentina: Claro, Movistar and Personal.
Brazil: Sure, TIM and Vivo.
Chili: Entel and Movistar.
Colombia: Movistar
Ecuador: Movistar
Mexico: AT&T and Movistar
In the cases of Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, Manzana does not indicate the existence of mobile phone companies that offer eSIM technology for their customers, although it is not ruled out that it will be available soon.
For his part, Samir Estefan indicated that users will have to wait and see what the operators that do not yet offer the virtual SIM service decide. For now, Latin American territories can hire this service through international providers such as:
Air it out: Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Puerto Rico.
BNESIM: Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
MTXConnect: Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras and Costa Rica.
According to Manzanathe devices iPhone that can use eSIM are: iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
What is an eSIM
This technology replaces the need for physical SIM cards with a digital one that can be activated by means of a QR code that is provided by an operating company. According to Manzanathis allows your devices to have two mobile data plans and two phone numbers on one device without having to change a physical card or buy a new smartphone.
In addition, according to several phone operators, this service is not “removed” when you restart the phone or return it to its factory state, because in order to do that, you must access a specific configuration within the device.
“Those of us who use eSIM realize that it is much easier to open a new plan and have more than one on the same phone. I think it will be good news for the user,” Estefan told TechMarkup.
Regarding security, he added that it is more difficult for criminals to clone a digital card than a physical SIM. In cases of loss or theft, these can be blocked and disabled remotely in the same way as in the case of a traditional one. This also extends to the QR code, which would also not restore digital service.
Price of the new iPhone
The presentation of the new devices iPhone included both their initial prices and their availability for presales and arrival at the official stores of Manzana.
In the case of iPhone 14, these will be priced at $799, their pre-sale starts on September 9 and will be in stores from the 16th of this month. The iPhone 14Pluswhich will be priced at $899, will also be on pre-order on the 9th, but won’t hit the Apple Store until October 7.
The devices iPhone 14Pro will be priced at $999, while the iPhone 14 ProMax they will cost $1,099. Both will be available for pre-sale from September 9 and can be purchased a week later, on September 19.
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