The Best of Mobile Technology: Mobile Internet, High-End Devices, and eSIM

Gone are the days when a mobile phone existed primarily for making cellular calls, sending SMS, and playing an occasional game of Snake. Smartphones have well and truly overtaken the world of mobile connectivity, with only around 8% of the global population still using mobile internet on feature phones.

Today, the typical mobile phone has a touchscreen instead of a keypad. You can use it to make voice calls and video calls over the Internet. It has a whole universe of mobile applications that enable you to accomplish so many things: stream videos on demand or watch them as they happen, navigate unfamiliar cities, create and share documents, schedule meetings, shop, and send and receive money online.

There are now smartphones with embedded SIM chips instead of removable physical SIM cards, and this has dramatically increased your options as you can download and keep multiple subscriber profiles on your phone. You can travel and never again pay for expensive roaming charges, as your eSIM-enabled mobile phone allows you to activate a mobile subscription profile with whichever carrier is available where you are.

You also don’t need to be out of touch at work or disconnected from family members because mobile data coverage is ubiquitous. The development of the fifth-generation (5G) mobile network standard, in particular, significantly boosts mobile internet connectivity and functionality among smartphone users.

Mobile Internet: Enabling Mobile Services

Mobile internet makes so many things possible. You can back up your photos instantly, join work meetings on the go, or navigate using map apps even in remote areas. Global adoption is rising, too; in fact, 54% of the global population (approximately 4.3 billion people) now own a smartphone, according to the GSMA.

Mobile internet has redefined modern connectivity by delivering fast, portable, and reliable access to websites, services, and applications. Forget being stuck near a Wi-Fi router; with mobile broadband—particularly 5G—you can stream, work, or play from virtually anywhere.

From Analog Calls to 5G Speeds

The journey from the first generation’s basic voice calls to the fifth generation’s gigabit data transfer speeds is remarkable. With 5G, you can download an HD movie in seconds or make ultra-low-latency video calls.

Below is a snapshot of every wireless connectivity standard:

• 1G: Voice calls with poor quality and limited range.
• 2G: The dawn of text messaging and basic mobile internet.
• 3G: Faster speeds enabled smartphones and mobile applications.
• 4G: A quantum leap with high-definition video streaming and reliable gaming.
• 5G: Seamless real-time experiences, from augmented and virtual reality to autonomous vehicles.

For now, 5G is the best wireless connectivity standard with unparalleled speed and reliability. Just make sure your device supports it, and your area has consistent 5G coverage.

High-End Devices: Maximizing Function

Mobile internet powers much of what you do daily, but to access its full potential, you need capable devices. 

Today’s average smartphone is already so much more advanced than the top-of-the-line models of two decades ago. But if you want the best photos, the quickest loading times, and the best that the current level of technology can offer, you should probably go for flagship phones and top-of-the-line devices.

Installment plans are a practical way to own top-tier hardware.

• Lower upfront cost: Installment makes the latest devices more accessible. You don’t need to pay the full price immediately because you can spread the cost over several months, often without interest.
• Bundled services: Carrier plans may include extra data, discounts, or upgrade options with device installment purchases.

The Alternative: Paying for Devices Outright

If you have the financial flexibility, consider paying for your devices in one lump sum to eliminate additional fees and gain immediate ownership.

Long-term installment contracts will lock you into specific carriers, and the overall accumulated prices of devices on installment may exceed the lump-sum retail price due to fees or interest. Pay for devices in full if you don’t want to get locked into a contract with a specific carrier.

eSIM: Seamless Connections

in 2022, Apple launched the eSIM-only iPhone 14 in the United States. That phone would not accept traditional SIM cards as they did not have a physical SIM card slot at all.

Of course, eSIM was not new at that point. GSMA first proposed it in 2010, and there were phone models that already had eSIM support before 2022. Apple itself had eSIM-enabled iPhones by 2018.

However, the eSIM-only iPhone was a significant development. It was effectively a declaration by the tech giant that it acknowledges eSIM as the future of SIM connectivity and that all devices will move to eSIM sooner or later.

The industry received and understood the message loud and clear. Today, more than half the countries worldwide support eSIM. 

By 2030, 71% of all cellular Internet of Things (IoT) connections will be made via eSIM. From 165 million in 2024, eSIM IoT connections will also increase to 1.3 billion by 2028, helped not only by the availability of eSIM devices and innovative eSIM-enabling services, such as unrestricted IoT device management but also by the high-quality and speed of 5G wireless connectivity.

Why eSIM?

eSIM can store multiple operator profiles. You won’t need five SIM card slots to store the data for five operators. In contrast, traditional SIM typically stores only one subscriber profile.

Note that the multi-IMSI (international mobile subscriber identity) solution allows traditional SIM cards to store and cycle through multiple operator profiles as well. However, these profiles are hard-coded into the SIM card and cannot be changed afterward.

This is why eSIM is better for applications that require storing multiple operator profiles and changing subscription plans and operators on demand. eSIM uses embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) technology, facilitating remote eSIM profile provisioning and management.

This makes eSIM an ideal mobile connectivity solution for frequent international travelers. No need to purchase costly roaming plans when you can subscribe to a short-term plan with a local carrier before your travel dates, download the associated profile to your eSIM, and activate it once you land. The result is seamless connectivity wherever you are.

Empowering Mobile Technology

The evolution of mobile technology—from feature phones with basic voice and text capabilities to smartphones powered by 5G and eSIM—has transformed the way the world connects, works, and lives.

Mobile internet has enabled seamless global communication and access to many services online or via mobile applications: run and track your progress and route, navigate less traveled destinations, record and set reminders for medicines, and many more. Equipped with the latest tech, high-end handsets (which you can obtain through installment plans or outright purchase), will allow you to enjoy mobile internet services to the fullest.

eSIM takes this connectivity even further, empowering users to switch operators effortlessly and avoid costly roaming fees, especially when traveling internationally. Combined with the reliability and speed of 5G networks, eSIM opens new possibilities for global connectivity and consumer IoT applications—all on your smartphone.