VI, Reliance Jio and Airtel offer eSIM Services: What is it and How to Avail It?

Three of the largest telecom providers in the country, Reliance Jio, VI and Airtel have recently announced their support for the eSIM functionality. For those who are not aware of the term, eSIM, or Embedded SIM is a SIM Card that has already been installed in your phone, and when activated, does not require a physical SIM Card to be in your device physically. That means that device makers save precious space on mobiles as they don’t have to add a SIM tray, and that saved space can be used elsewhere.

This also means that switching operators and circles will be a lot easier as the operators can just make any changes required remotely without you having to go to a store and wait for potentially days.

Evolution of the SIM Card over generations

The eSIM is a hardware feature and not a software one, that means only a handful of mobile phones currently can avail the function. The following smartphones from Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola are currently fitted with eSIM. If you have one of these, then you will be able to activate your eSIM in a few easy steps.

Phones With eSIM:

How to activate a Reliance Jio eSIM?

Before you start with all the fiddling on your device, you will still need to go to your nearest store and ask for an eSIM with your identity proof and a photograph.

Below are the steps to activate your eSIM if you have any of the devices listed above.

Note: Please make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi during the entire process

These steps are to activate Reliance Jio eSIM on various mobile devices.

 Steps for Apple:

• Please make sure that your device is running at least iOS version 12.1.
• Go to Settings > About Phone. Note down the EID and IMEI numbers.
• Send GETSIM <32 Digit EID> <15 Digit IMEI> to 199. Please make sure you have an active Jio SIM in the device beforehand.
• A 19 Digit eSIM number and configuration settings will be received. After that, please send SIMCHG to 199 and wait for 2 hours to get the update.
• When you get the update, send 1 to 183 for confirmation.
• You will receive an IVR call and will be asked to share the eSIM number. After that, the confirmation of activation of your eSIM will be shared via SMS with you.
• Now head to Settings > Mobile Data.
• Next, tap Add Data Plan and then Enter Details Manually.
• Enter jio.com in SM-DP+address.
• You would be required to enter an activation code. Please enter the code that you would have received in step 4. Tap Next.
• Now tap on Add Data Plan and select a data plan of your liking.
• Your Jio eSIM is now active.

Steps for Samsung:

Please follow steps 1 to 7 as mentioned above.

• Go to Settings > Connections. Then tap on SIM Card Manager
• Tap on Add Mobile Plan and select Scan QR Code.
• Tap on Enter Code Instead. The activation code will follow this format: LPA:1$smdprd.jio.com$ followed by the 32 digit activation code. Tap Connect.
• Your Jio eSIM is now active.

Steps for Google:

Please follow steps 1 to 7 as mentioned in the section for Apple.

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
• Head to Mobile Networks > Download a SIM Instead.
• Tap on Next. Since we need to enter code manually, select Need Help? > Enter it Manually.
• Enter the activation code in this format: LPA:1$smdprd.jio.com$ followed by the 32 digit activation code. Select Activate and tap on Done.
• Your Jio eSIM is now active.

Steps for Motorola:

Please follow steps 1 to 7 as mentioned in the section for Apple.

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
• Next, go to Mobile Network and tap Next.
• Follow Steps 3 to 5 as mentioned for Google Pixel devices.

For Vi

If you have a VI eSIM, here are the steps to activate that.

• SMS eSIM to 199.
• Once you receive the confirmation text, reply to it with ESIMY to confirm your eSIM request.
• You will receive another SMS asking for consent over a call. After you have done so, a QR Code will be sent to your registered email ID.

For Apple:

• Head to Settings > Mobile Data > Add Data Plan.
• Scan the QR Code and follow the prompts on the screen.

For Samsung:

• Go to Settings > Connections. Then tap on SIM Card Manager
• Tap on Add Mobile Plan and select Scan QR Code.
• Scan the QR Code and follow the prompts on the screen.

For Google:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
• Head to Mobile Networks > Download a SIM Instead.
• Tap on Next. Scan the QR Code received and follow the prompts on the screen.

For Motorola:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet.
• Next, go to Mobile Network and tap Next.
• Scan the QR Code received and follow the prompts on the screen.