Google working towards eSIM-only phones with Android 13: Here’s how

Google working towards eSIM-only phones with Android 13: Here’s how
HIGHLIGHTS

Android 13 may support dual-carrier connections on a single eSIM

Android 13 Developer Preview 2 features Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP), a software solution for eSIM-only phones.

Google has reportedly been testing this MEP on Pixel phones.

Google released Android 13 Developer Preview 2 (DP2) last month, but even weeks later, new features of Android 13 are being spotted. One such feature (found by Mishaal Rahman of Esper.io) is the support for Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP) which lets a single eSIM simultaneously connect to two different carrier connections. This would open up possibilities for eSIM-only or even portless phones in the future. 

But, what are Multiple Enabled Profiles, and how does it work?

How two connections on one eSIM would work

Physical SIM card

Even with their size changes from full to mini to micro to nano, SIM card slots still take up space in our phones which the manufacturers may want to use for other applications. After all the size and number of different smartphone components have been increasing with each passing year. So, the eventual solution might seem like eSIMs but at present dual eSIM phones are also not that prevalent or ideally solving the aforementioned size constraints. What to do then?

Well, Google has a solution, it seems. 

It’s called Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP) wherein a single physical interface is involved between a SIM profile and a modem but with multiple logical (software) interfaces. All of these separate logical interfaces will have their own independent communication channel between the said SIM profile and modem.

The modem will identify the logical interfaces like physical ones only and multiple logical interfaces would be treated as multiple carrier connections.

In his blog, Mr. Rahman says, "Google is proposing the creation of logical interfaces that are multiplexed on a single physical interface. Each logical interface can then provide an independent communication channel between a SIM profile and a modem, so there’d only need to be a single actual physical connection to the modem. No rewiring is needed, so existing devices with a single eSIM chip wired to a modem can theoretically support MEP”.

SIM card

It will be backward compatible and even existing devices with a single eSIM chip connected to a modem should be able to support MEP. It will be platform agnostic as well which means this concept of MEP and two carrier connections on a single SIM is something that could work on iOS, macOS, and Windows too. That said, we will have to see how Google decides to license its patented tech.

In the past, the company has been reportedly spotted testing MEP support on certain Pixel hardware. Now we will see if it decides to implement this feature, and how it pans out. 

Meanwhile, for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.

G. S. Vasan

G. S. Vasan

Vasan is a word weaver and tech junkie who is currently geeking out as a news writer at Digit. View Full Profile

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