While users are spared the inconvenience of establishing a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to kick-start their mobile experience, OEMs and mobile operators can now provision devices with mobile connectivity at their first use, and not during manufacturing, saving both time and cost.
“By sparing OEMs and operators the need to pre-load a bootstrap, and users the hassle of having Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection when they first turn on their new device, Gemalto Instant Connect sweeps aside the final obstacles to seamless mobile subscription activation via an eSIM" said Emmanuel Unguran, EVP Mobile Connectivity Solutions, Thales.
"As a result, it is even easier to seed consumer markets with devices characterised by their effortless mobile connectivity.”
Connected PCs and laptops will be the first devices to integrate this faster and more efficient approach to out-of-the-box connectivity for eSIMs. Going forwards, a wide array of OEMs and mobile operators stand to benefit from the solution, which is fully compliant with the latest GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning specifications. Between 2018 and 2022, an estimated 2.3 billion eSIM-compliant consumer devices will be shipped worldwide.
To date, eSIM-equipped devices have had to rely on some form of primary connectivity before they are able to activate a full mobile subscription, either via a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other temporary connections. These solutions were naturally inconvenient for either customers or manufacturers.
Shai Guday, Partner Group Program Manager, Microsoft Corp said "We look forward to the first wave of devices incorporating Instant Connect technology accelerating this exciting transformation.
“PCs with LTE connectivity improve a user’s experience by giving them productivity wherever they are, and we have a longstanding relationship with Thales to help realize this goal. Extending this collaboration will enable easy integration of truly instantaneous mobile connectivity into all Windows PCs.
Gemalto Instant Connect leverages a connectivity mechanism which allows mobile operators to remotely and automatically provide a mobile subscription to any genuinely offline eSIM-enabled device. Users can now activate their device in the same way as they are used to with conventional smartphone SIM cards. OEMs can in turn simplify their supply chain and shorten production time. This solution is compliant with existing remote eSIM management solutions, such as Subscription Management Discovery Service.2
Miguel Nunes, Sr. Director Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies said “Qualcomm is excited to see the Gemalto Instant Connect solution eSIM and its potential to simplify eSIM sourcing for OEMs and the ability to quickly connect Snapdragon powered Always connected PCs and other devices for consumers and enterprise.”