After Apple announced the launch of the full eSIM designiPhone AirHowever, due to the need for government approval for eSIM services in the Chinese market, their actual launch has been delayed. Huawei has added eSIM functionality to its official website and Skylink GO mini-program, but claims it's currently an internal project, with plans to release it to the public in the third quarter of this year and support it with subsequent new devices. This is expected to further boost the adoption of eSIM functionality on mobile phones in the Chinese market.
Since there are still certain policy approval and usage regulations for eSIM functions in China, eSIM functions are currently mainly used in smart watches and Internet of Vehicles devices (such as electric vehicles that require Internet services). Mobile phone eSIM services are currently only provided by China Unicom and are subject to certain usage restrictions. Therefore, the proportion of mobile phone users using eSIM services is relatively small.
However, with Apple launching the iPhone Air, which uses a full eSIM design and is also preparing to sell it in the Chinese market, there may be an opportunity to further promote the popularization of eSIM services on mobile phones in the Chinese market, and even change the eSIM service usage ecosystem. At the same time, it will also prompt companies such as Huawei to expand the promotion of eSIM usage services in the Chinese market and even increase the sales of more eSIM-supported mobile phone products.
Huawei has announced the addition of an eSIM service function and plans to open it to the public in the third quarter of this year. It has even announced that it will launch a new phone that supports eSIM functions. It is clear that it is optimistic that Apple's launch of the iPhone Air will drive demand for eSIM services in China. However, whether this service can be successfully launched basically depends on the attitude of Chinese government agencies towards the application of eSIM services.
Apple began to add eSIM functions to models after iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, and started to provide full eSIM models in the US market starting with iPhone 14. This year's iPhone 17 series only provides eSIM design versions in countries and regions including the United States, Canada, Japan, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. It is obvious that it hopes to further promote the full eSIM usage experience.
