Google One subscribers may soon receive a highly significant eSIM feature.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
In today's world of eSIMs, you no longer have to worry about managing a tiny piece of technology to use your phone. However, there is a notable drawback: if your phone gets damaged, transferring the eSIM to a new device depends on your carrier's policies. A recent update to Google Play Services indicates that a solution may be forthcoming in the form of eSIM backup as part of the Google One subscription.
Android Authority explored Google Play Services v25.16.33, the latest beta version, and found hints of a SIM data backup feature. It's reasonable to rule out physical SIM cards here, as they are not affected by data wipes. This points to eSIMs, making it easier to switch from one phone to another.
It’s essential to note that features found in beta versions are not guaranteed, but they imply ongoing development. In this case, additional evidence can be seen in a March update where Google also referenced SIM backups.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Having the ability to back up an eSIM would be useful if your phone breaks or if you wish to transfer everything to a new device without going through your carrier (assuming that’s permitted), though it may remain a somewhat specialized feature. When performing a factory reset on Android devices, users have the option to retain eSIM data. You would simply need to restore your data from the cloud in that scenario.
Conversely, phone theft is a prevalent issue, and if you're already making regular backups, you could disable the stolen device and activate a new one with all your settings more rapidly. While the feature could be advantageous, there’s no certainty about when or if it will be officially released.
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more.
Google Maps’ new feature sees Android play catchup to iOS
Android users are getting their first look at a new feature in Google Maps as the app becomes the first to utilize the Live Updates capability added with Android 16. This feature will provide users with real-time information in their status bar to track ongoing activities, such as following directions in maps. Similar to Apple's Live Activities system, the function on Android could be adapted by various apps, though it is initially seen in Google Maps. "Live Updates represent a new class of notifications that assist users in monitoring and quickly accessing important ongoing activities," explained Android developers in a post announcing the feature.
Read more
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Flip 6 start getting One UI 7 beta update
Samsung has commenced the rollout of the One UI 7 Beta update for its latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. Several users have reported receiving the enrollment message on X and Samsung’s community forum on their compatible devices. Recently, the company announced that One UI 7 beta testing for its newest foldables would soon begin for users in India, Korea, the US, and the UK. According to user reports in the Samsung forum, Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 users in the US have begun receiving the update.
Read more
It’s time for Apple, Samsung, and Google to solve the eSIM problem
When Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16e on Wednesday, the Apple Store in every region displayed only eSIM under connectivity: no mention of a physical SIM. This led to a moment of panic thinking that Apple had quietly moved to sell the iPhone 16e globally as an eSIM-only device. A brief search, along with visuals, confirmed that this was not the case; however, my initial reaction sparked thoughts about the state of eSIMs, their potential (and initial promises), and the current eSIM landscape worldwide. After traveling for the past month, I’ve found that eSIMs are quite chaotic. While the potential is significant, it often conflicts with the interests of carriers, making ease of use a challenge. Nonetheless, a solution exists.
Read more
Other articles
.jpg)
Amazon set for the launch of Project Kuiper, but one factor might obstruct it once more.
Amazon is keen to launch its initial Project Kuiper satellites into orbit to establish itself as a competitor to SpaceX's Starlink service.
The Last of Us: Bella Ramsey shares which scene was the most challenging to shoot.
In last night's episode of The Last of Us, Bella Ramsey faced her "most challenging scene to film." Discover which scene proved to be the toughest for Ramsey.
This massive 98-inch Samsung TV is currently available at over 50% discount.
The Samsung 98-inch DU9000 4K LED is currently available for $1,850 at Woot, a significant reduction from its regular retail price of $4,000.
What is an RTOS, and could it be a solution to the issues faced by Google’s Wear OS?
An increasing number of companies are moving away from Google's Wear OS platform in favor of wearables that utilize RTOS. But what exactly is RTOS, and could it be the solution to the issues facing Google's Wear OS?
New versions of open Torrent clients
This week, two open-source projects launched updated versions of popular torrent clients at once. Perhaps due to the difficulties of obtaining licensed software from companies that have left Russia, it will be extremely useful for many Russians to use new versions of free and open source software that has been proven over a decade.
Lenovo’s budget-friendly mobile notetaking tablet has now fallen below the $200 mark.
The Lenovo Tab K11 LTE is available for purchase today, priced under $200. If you require connectivity in various locations, this tablet is ideal for you. It can link with your Lenovo laptop and convert images into PDFs.
Google One subscribers may soon receive a highly significant eSIM feature.
The newest beta version of the Google Play Store indicates that you may soon have the ability to back up your eSIM.