eSIM onboarding for the smartphone mass market

Author: Ulrike, Senior Manager Brandmarketing at TDSoftware

For years, the oligopoly of Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefónica has dominated the German mobile communications market. Now, the new technology of "embedded SIM" (eSIM for short) is opening up new opportunities. Without the SIM card, the microchip on which the phone number and the security codes are stored, and with which the mobile phone dials into the mobile network, the smartphone couldn't be used, and the connection to the Internet would be blocked. However, change is coming. After Apple integrated eSIMs in its new iPhone 11 models and Google in two of its pixel models, other manufacturers are now launching smartphones with the integrated eSim functionality. Samsung with its new Galaxy S20 series and Motorola with the latest edition of the Razr folding phone. Other mobile phone companies also have similar plans.

Almost seven million Germans already own eSIM-enabled phones today. Experts agree that 2020 will be the year in which eSIM reaches the mass market. This development will give the competition in mobile communications market a whole new dynamic. To bring new subscribers to their network, mobile operators need to create a straightforward and convenient customer journey. With an easy, fast onboarding process, more new subscribers will be attracted to sign up for a mobile contract. eSIM management enables the entire registration process to be completed in a couple of minutes, fully digital and on the mobile phone itself. There is no need to go to a POS or to wait for a SIM card to be shipped.

We are very excited about the cooperation of our partner, DENT Wireless Ltd. with Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security, the world leader in eSIM management. DENT is the first company that uses the new onboarding solution developed by G+D. It enables users to download a free eSIM profile on eSIM-enabled smartphones. When the eSIM profile is installed, the user can buy mobile data packs. All with just a few quick and simple clicks in the DENT app. It is a convenient way to start using the eSIM technology for personal use.

So how exactly does this onboarding process work? End users only need to scan a generic eSIM activation code from an advertisement with their eSIM-enabled smartphone.

Today’s eSIM activation codes are individual per profile and currently cannot be used to allow multiple customers to sign up using the same QR code, which would be extremely useful in promotional advertising and other marketing material.

G+D Mobile Security's new feature allows marketing content such as posters, magazine ads or flyers which contain a generic eSIM activation code. The code can then be simply scanned by a new customer to download an eSIM profile. From there, the customer can be guided through a simple web browser flow to complete the registration steps such as secure remote identification and providing of personal data and payment details.

In a campaign co-developed with us, our partner DENT offers 1GB free mobile data to be used in 50 countries worldwide**, which the user can activate by downloading an eSIM profile. They just have to scan a generic QR code and the eSIM installation process will start. Simple. Easy. Digital.

Just give it a try. This offer ends on 15th of April 2020: 1GB free mobile data