Samsung Elec. to launch Korea's first dual SIM smartphones in August

The new Galaxy phones will support eSIM, which alongside USIM, enables using two phone numbers, mobile carriers and data plans

 Render of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Courtesy of Waqar Khan's Twitter)
 Render of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Courtesy of Waqar Khan's Twitter)
Sung-Soo Bae 2
2022-07-11 15:11:49 baebae@hankyung.com
Mobile networks

Samsung Electronics Co. is slated to enable embedded subscriber identity modules (eSIMs) into its new foldable smartphones available in South Korea from August 26, according to tech industry sources on July 10. The fourth-generation smartphones, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, will mark the first eSIM-equipped cell phones in the Korean market.    

The smartphone users will be able to have two separate phone numbers by having a dual SIM, which consists of an eSIM and a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) in one device. Like a USIM, an eSIM verifies a smartphone’s international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, a 15-digit number unique to a device, and saves users’ personal information; but the eSIM is not removable from the smartphone, unlike the USIM.  

The eSIM-supported smartphones also have some economic benefits, allowing users to have two different mobile plans or two carriers with a single device. This means that users can save money by not needing a second smartphone for second number.   

Also, if consumers use eSIM-supported smartphones without USIM, they don’t need to purchase a USIM for the smartphone. They only need to download an eSIM profile that costs around 2,500 won ($1.9) – less expensive than purchasing a USIM, which is more than triple the eSIM price.  

The eSIM-supported smartphones will also boost enterprise networking as they enable using private and public 5G networks simultaneously. Additionally, as it is easier to activate new phones online or transfer to different carriers by using the eSIM-enabled smartphones, they may increase sales of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) phones, which are normally activated online.  

Around 50% of the global smartphones will support eSIM by 2025, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research. However, Korean mobile carriers haven’t launched eSIM-related services due to concerns about USIM sales and average revenue per user (ARPU) and an increase in user churn rates. Accordingly, Samsung has eSIM-equipped smartphones for the overseas market only; Apple has implemented eSIM on its iPhone XS for the global market since 2018, but not on products for Korea.

The Korean government has led a discussion group to introduce eSIM policies with local carriers and smartphone makers since the last year – the mobile carriers are in the final stages of developing eSIM-related apps and mobile data plans, industry sources said. 

Samsung will receive pre-orders of the fourth-generation foldable phones for seven days from August 16. The ex-factory prices, at which smartphones are provided from manufacturers to carriers, will be slightly cheaper than or the same as the previous models, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3. 

Write to Sung-Soo Bae at baebae@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.

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