Apple Watch Series 3 Cellular

[Kompete]

Apparently the Apple Watch Series 3 Cellular - is not supported yet by any of our cell providers?

Anyone knows why, is it because it has a digital(?) sim? Someone is getting me one from the UK and that's the info they got at an apple store in London. thx

 

[SauRoNZA]

Apparently the Apple Watch Series 3 Cellular - is not supported yet by any of our cell providers?

Anyone knows why, is it because it has a digital(?) sim? Someone is getting me one from the UK and that's the info they got at an apple store in London. thx

Hardware wise it should be possible for all the local SP's and their HLR's to support it but from an implementation point of view there is a LOT of work to be done.

Firstly the problem is that yes it's simless so there is some work to be done to link it's IMEI and/or ICC-ID to your current MSISDN and contact.

Then beyond that there is an entire backend of pricing and rating plans as well as RADIUS data and error checking, duplicate and other checking to be done.

So no its not as simple as flipping a switch and bam it works.

Which is why we weren't listed as supported and why it hasn't gone on sale here either.

All devices will switch to eSims in time so it will have to happen at some point.

Odds are the local SP'S weren't in the loop until Apple announced it and will only start working on it now.

Would make for a good article @rpm.

I wouldn't take the risk of buying one just yet.

****

By the way all Sims are digital. This one is just embedded hence eSim.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Some light reading.

http://www.gemalto.com/iot/consumer-electronics/embedded-sim-uicc

In theory if it uses all the same standards of ICC-ID, IMSI and MSISDN there should be no reason to manually activate it like any other sim card.

But I'm guessing there are some new provisioning protocols in place, just for ****s and giggles and so Gemalto and everyone else can make some more money.

 

[Kompete]

hmm, thx. Sounds complicated. I guess I will just use it with my phone for now then.

Hardware wise it should be possible for all the local SP's and their HLR's to support it but from an implementation point of view there is a LOT of work to be done.

Firstly the problem is that yes it's simless so there is some work to be done to link it's IMEI and/or ICC-ID to your current MSISDN and contact.

Then beyond that there is an entire backend of pricing and rating plans as well as RADIUS data and error checking, duplicate and other checking to be done.

So no its not as simple as flipping a switch and bam it works.

Which is why we weren't listed as supported and why it hasn't gone on sale here either.

All devices will switch to eSims in time so it will have to happen at some point.

Odds are the local SP'S weren't in the loop until Apple announced it and will only start working on it now.

Would make for a good article @rpm.

I wouldn't take the risk of buying one just yet.

****

By the way all Sims are digital. This one is just embedded hence eSim.