Beau Giles - Tech enthusiast & social media junkie

October 27, 2020

eSIM Swap Journeys, Part 3: Vodafone

It’s that time of year -tech nerd Christmas, thanks to new Apple iPhone and Google Pixel launches! Following on from the eSIM swapping journey with Optus and Telstra last week, Vodafone also empowers customers to swap to an eSIM, or move from an eSIM on one device to another eSIM on another device, using the self service tools available via My Vodafone, without requiring a store visit.

The process is done online via ‘My Vodafone’ in your favourite web browser – no app required as per Optus and Telstra. For this reason, I find the Vodafone eSIM swap process much simpler and straightforward, even if it’s not as ‘sexy’ as using their iOS or Android app. Just make sure to perform the swap on a different device to the one you’re putting the eSIM on!

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October 22, 2020

eSIM Swap Journeys, Part 2: Telstra

Got a shiny new iPhone, or Android phone you need to move your eSIM across to? Similar to Optus, Telstra also makes easy without having to leave the house thanks to the magic of the My Telstra app. Unlike last year where your only option was a cardboard kit with a QR code either handed to you in store or posted out via snail mail – you can now perform a SIM swap yourself via the app.

Unfortunately this only works for consumer customers, postpaid or prepaid (to be technical, customers in the ‘Siebel’ billing system – if you’re a business customer or a customer in the new Salesforce / Console system, this won’t work for you)

Download the ‘My Telstra‘ app, available for iPhone (+ iPad) and Android, and sign in with your Telstra ID.

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October 22, 2020

eSIM Swap Journeys, Part 1: Optus

It’s that time of year; a handful of brand new phones are ready for unboxing and use, some featuring 5G for the first time. And while some of us survived the iPhone XS to iPhone 11 migration by visiting our favourite carrier store, things are a little different this year.

Earlier this month, Optus made the jump to ‘digital eSIMs’, in addition to last year’s cardboard QR code kits – making it super easy for new customers to join Optus without having to get off their couch, or for existing customers with an eSIM to swap it across to another device without needing to visit a store. This works for Android, iPhone and iPad users (sorry Windows 10 folks)

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September 14, 2020

Service NSW adds COVID Safe Check-Ins

One of the ‘new normals’ when it comes to living with COVID-19 is contact tracing, and allowing public health officials to rapidly contact people who may be at risk of having or spreading COVID-19.

While originally many venues resorted to pen and paper, this isn’t great from a hygiene perspective (shared pens), nor privacy, or being able to quickly process it hours or days later when it’s in use. Other venues and providers quickly took up the good ol QR code, linking customers to a form to provide their contact details – while great for processing the data later and privacy from other patrons, the venue still has access to your customer details, and each venue uses their own form platforms.

From Google Docs, to Microsoft Office forms, to ‘survey links’, or my personal favourite, a MailChimp signup form (!), Service NSW spotted a gap in the market, and has now launched their own COVID Safe check-in product – putting privacy, as well as ease of use & speed front and centre – to better assist with contact tracing.

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September 21, 2019

The state of eSIM in Australia

There’s a lot to love about Dual SIM phones – whether you’re a frequent traveller heading rural or overseas, have a personal and work/business number, or a super savvy shopper looking for the best deal on mobile data.

The iPhone XS, launched last year, was one of the first devices to offer support for eSIM, or ’embedded SIM’ – a simple alternative to the good old plastic SIM. And if you have an iPhone in Australia, it’s the only way to get your dual SIM groove on (combining a plastic SIM together with an eSIM) – as we don’t have a model with two SIM card slots (unlike say the Huawei P30)

A handful of eSIM supporting devices are available in Australia, from the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max, to the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, as well as the Google Pixel 3a.

In tablet land, there’s the Microsoft Surface Pro (2017, 5th Generation with LTE), HP Spectre Folio, and the iPad Pro 2018 (11″, 3rd Generation 12.9″), iPad Air 2019 (3rd Generation) & iPad mini 2019 (5th Generation)