Smartphones and smart devices have advanced significantly in the last few years. The developments in screen technology, processing power, mobile apps, wireless connectivity, eSIM APIs and overall functionality make smartphones as "super computers" in our pockets. Some modern cellphones are even powerful enough to replace a laptop entirely.
Nowadays more smartphone manufacturers are preparing for the next wave of always-connected users with eSIMs. An age-old piece of technology, SIM cards used to be the biggest hassle when connecting to cellular networks. The troubles of needing to carry multiple phones, being locked to carriers, and having to swap out your SIM card for another SIM carrier is about to be a thing of the past. Thanks to eSIM technology, mobile users now have more options to access wireless services in digital ways and on demand.
eSIMs are gaining traction for people who are often traveling, doing business, or just interested in accessing cellular connectivity with flexibility. There is no doubt that the cellular data is a must-have in today’s world, as time spent outdoors often requires it to keep utilizing mobile apps—especially when traveling. In foreign countries, swapping out SIMs can often be irritating and tedious. However, it is a necessity given how important mobile services are today! Of course, you will want to use your primary phone for everything—which is why eSIMs are handy. The fact that eSIM can be utilized both locally and while traveling abroad, all in few clicks and while minimizing the costs of your mobile bills—as compared to being locked to one carrier or turning on data roaming—is why eSIMs are the future. However, eSIM technology can be integrated or distributed by a variety of online businesses, web and mobile apps using web interfaces such as API’s.
API stands for “Application Programming Interface,” and this interface is largely responsible for how apps interact with one another on both web and mobile platforms. It is basically the medium that websites and apps use to speak to one another, and today carries more than 80% of all online traffic. This is also how different smart devices can connect with one another, such as smartwatches with their smartphone counterparts. Application Programming Interface (API) development is seen as the backbone of any kind of app development process. These have been around for a long time and are now making their way into all mobile services we interact with. The way it works is that it exposes certain elements and features of a platform to be utilized by other developers and programmers while building their apps.
A classic example of how this entire process of api programming works is through signing up for certain website accounts. While you have the option of signing up for an account through a traditional email address, there are also buttons that display, “Sign up using (X Platform’s Account).” These allow certain websites to “piggyback” off of a specific developer’s code, while not requiring the entire document of coding!
eSIM APIs and services have grown a lot since they first started, but they are still a far cry from what their full potential. The technology of SIM cards is becoming obsolete, and now eSIM provides a digital-only opportunity for app developers to consider integrating eSIM-based connectivity with their apps to power their offerings and have a better reach to their users.
Given that 25% of Americans and over 3 billion people globally still cannot access broadband internet, there needs to be more usage of eSIM APIs to ensure better connectivity between end-users and mobile apps. Programmable cellular data APIs can enable developers to bundle connectivity with their offerings especially if such connectivity can boost the sales of their products and services and/or improve their user engagement (e.g. to save on mobile bills and to stay connected while abroad or when the primary service drops). In this case eSIM-based mobile data can be either sold as a service or sponsored to improve other services, same like free Wi-Fi at hotels and coffee shops have been improving their traffic and business.
eSIMs are now integrated in most recent smartphones and smart devices including smartwatches, tablets, and laptops. Samsung, Apple, HP, Microsoft, and other big tech companies already included eSIM feature in their devices to give consumers flexibility and convenience to always stay connected. With cutting edge API development and programming, eSIM tech can be made even more powerful, enabling a variety of use cases around mobile apps and online services.
CELITECH is at the forefront of API development and now offers a digital-only, programmable mobile data API supporting eSIMs. Get in touch today to see how Celitech API can enable your online business or mobile app to better reach or engage with local or global users through wireless connectivity.
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