A new feature known as eSIM or Embedded SIM is now present in Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. eSIM eliminates the need for physical SIM cards on the supported networks. During manufacturing, a chip is soldered in the device’s motherboard, instead of the traditional way of inserting SIM cards in mobiles. The phone registers itself on any of the available networks, either by scanning a code by using its camera, or a few clicks inside the app. Google’s Project Fi is one of the networks that support the eSIM network. This indicates why the Pixel 2 series of phones will have the new eSIM feature implemented in it.
At the onset of Pixel 2’s release this week, the eSIM Manager app was uploaded to the Play Store. The app’s description says that it helps Android to manage carrier profiles. This move will encourage the users to download and manage eSIM profiles, for the Pixel2 handsets, without having to deal with physical SIM cards.
The eSIM Manager app has a carrier page that displays the services which are currently enabled. It also displays the available networks for this device. It allows users, to delete all networks from the device, without canceling the mobile service plans associated with them. It lists the device’s EID number as well.
eSIM Manager’s description indicates that it is “only available on selected Android devices”, which sounds like future-proof terminology from Google. eSIM is supported only by Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. Going forward, we may see more phones implementing this feature.
The release of the eSIM Manager App complements the uploading of the Pixel and Nexus battery app last week, by Google, in its Play Store.
