eSIM phones are here! The Apple iPhone Air is scheduled to be released on October 22, supported by all three major carriers

The eSIM phone is finally here.

On October 13, Apple announced that customers in mainland China can pre-order the iPhone Air model starting at 9 AM on October 17, with official sales beginning on October 22. The price of the iPhone Air starts at 7,999 yuan.

The so-called eSIM is an Embedded Subscriber Identity Module, a new generation SIM card standard established by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). It is an upgraded form of the traditional SIM card, integrating communication functions into the device chip without a physical card slot, allowing for remote configuration of operator information, and offering advantages such as flexibility, convenience, security, reliability, and space-saving.

Earlier today, China Unicom announced that it has officially received approval to conduct commercial trials for eSIM mobile service providers. This important breakthrough marks a milestone in China Unicom's decade-long technological accumulation and practical exploration in the eSIM field, injecting new momentum into the development of the digital economy and innovation in terminal connectivity.

China Unicom's eSIM reservations officially opened at the end of September, allowing users to enter the eSIM reservation area through the top entrance of the China Unicom App homepage and complete the reservation registration after filling in the relevant information.

On the evening of the 13th, China Mobile also announced that it has officially received approval to conduct commercial trials for eSIM mobile service providers. Users can visit China Mobile service centers to handle eSIM mobile services and enjoy a more convenient and flexible communication experience. Specific information can be found by logging into the China Mobile App.

On the same day, China Telecom also announced that it has received approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for eSIM mobile commercial trials, with eSIM mobile services officially launched for sale in 31 provinces and municipalities across the country. China Telecom stated that during the commercial trial period, online processing of eSIM mobile services will not be available, and users can visit offline service centers in various provinces to activate eSIM mobile services.

On September 10 of this year, Apple launched a lightweight phone, the iPhone Air, at its fall launch event, which features an eSIM card design. Apple also emphasized on its Chinese website that this model only offers eSIM options and mentioned support from China Unicom. At that time, the lack of formal eSIM services from the three major operators, including China Unicom, prevented the iPhone Air from being launched in the domestic market immediately.

On September 12, the day of the iPhone 17 series pre-sale, the iPhone Air suddenly "missed" the pre-sale. Apple issued a statement saying, "We are working closely with regulatory authorities to strive for a prompt launch in China."

Author: Zhou Ling, Source: The Paper, Original Title: "The eSIM Phone is Here! Apple iPhone Air Set to Launch on October 22, Supported by All Three Major Operators" Risk Warning and Disclaimer

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