ESIM finally available for some smartphones at SFR, soon at Bouygues

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Six months after switching to eSIM for smart health connected watches, SFR has just done the same for smartphones. The offer is however limited to a handful of models and unavailable when the line opens.

In 2019, Orange and SFR both started to offer an eSIM option, i.e. the possibility of using a SIM card integrated in the terminal rather than a physical SIM card. In both cases, smart health connected watches were the first to be served, with a small number of smartphones following suit at Orange. SFR, on the other hand, did not yet support the virtual SIM card in phones at the start of 2020. It has now been done since Tuesday, January 14.

As indicated the operator's dedicated help page, all its customers “Except SFR La Carte, Multisurf, SFR smart health connected Everywhere, SFR Internet Everywhere and SFR Business customers” can now use an eSIM, provided of course they have a compatible and supported device. On the smartphone side, SFR references a total of seven devices: the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the only Android representative on the list.

Please note that it is not currently possible to order an eSIM with a new line. The option is only offered in the context of a change. In other words, you must be an SFR subscriber and already have a conventional SIM card to be able to request the activation of an eSIM. The switch is invoiced at 10 €, like sending a physical SIM card. It will also cost € 10 to go the opposite way and transfer a line from an eSIM to a SIM card. Same thing, finally, in the event of a change of terminal with a transfer from one eSIM to another eSIM. Note that in all cases, a connection (Wi-Fi) will be required for the initial activation of an eSIM.

And apart from Orange and SFR?

At Bouygues Telecom, it is not yet possible to use a virtual SIM card, but a help page is nevertheless available on this subject. The operator lists the compatible models in France (the same as at SFR), specifies that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are well equipped with an eSIM, but that it is not “Usable in France”, and indicates that it is actively working to support this feature. On Twitter, customer service is even a little more precise: we are promised an eSIM option for spring 2020.

Free, for its part, has announced nothing and does not seem to be determined to reverse its position. A few months ago, the operator explained “Don't be a fan” of eSIM and consider that this technology did not correspond to its offer or its conception of the market.

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