AT&T, Verizon Under US Investigation For Collusion To Lock In Customers (nytimes.com)

bongey writes: AT&T and Verizon are currently under investigation for colluding with the GSMA standards group to thwart eSIM technology and hinder consumers from easily switching wireless carriers. eSIM technology lets people remotely switch wireless providers without having to insert a new SIM card into a device. According to The New York Times, the two companies "face accusations that they colluded with the GSMA to try to establish standards that would allow them to lock a device to their network even if it had eSIM technology." The Justice Department opened the investigation roughly five months ago after at least one device maker and one wireless carrier filed formal complaints. Compare cell plans at Wirefly to see the current plans being offered by AT&T and Verizon.

Comments

A lot of my right wing friends

[rsilvergun]

like to complain about their cell carriers. If I suggest we regulate they don't like that because regulation's bad, m'kay. If I suggest we break them up they don't like that because they don't want to pay roaming charges. If I suggest we leave them alone they complain about stuff like this.

Well, we either do something or we do nothing, but the cell phone companies are going to do stuff whether we like it or not.

What's the process for eSIM programming?

[swb]

It's only better if the entire process can be handled without dealing with a carrier storefront activation process, otherwise swapping SIM cards is dead easy and gives the carrier you're moving from absolutely no way to block it (barring a carrier locked phone).

Will phone makers have some magic process that allows me to enter the data held by the SIM (and, ideally, save it, so I can e-switch between eSIM profiles)? Please tell me it won't involve a web site or some other transactional system that won't work in half the countries, half the time.

Part of me thinks eSIM makes some sense but it also seems like the prime beneficiary are Apple and other handset makers who are wringing their hands over physical ports, not consumers who want to change carriers.

And as usual, it's easy to see how the handset makers and carriers will collude against the consumer. The carriers will give in to the handset makers desire to not have a slot, the handset makers will make sure switching eSIM data is complicated and requires a store visit or some other carrier impediment.

Re:What's the process for eSIM programming?

[tgeek]

Bad news, swb. The programming process is driven by the carriers. Normally via a webpage connected to their provisioning systems. You basically sign up for service with a carrier, the carrier sends a request to an SMDP+ provider, and the SMDP+ provider gathers up all the information (assigns an IMSI, etc.) and creates a profile and sends it to the device. This is a current project I'm involved with at work (I work for a large regional cell provider)

While Apple and other device manufacturers surely appreciate the increase in physical space due to the lack of a SIM slot, the real win for them is to completely put the carrier choice in the backseat of the user experience. Historically, carrier choice came first - you would go to a carrier's store or website, and then choose a device they offered. With eSIM devices, the device becomes the primary choice. For example, you could walk out of an Apple store with an LTE-enabled iPad - just turn it on, and it presents you with a menu of available carriers in your area that support the device - and you sign up for whatever carrier you want.