[skohan]

Do they have a clear incentive? We're only talking about iPhones purchased in the US, so basically this only affects US tourists or expats in Africa which is going to be a tiny number of potential customers.

It remains to be seen if Android will copy this move, as Apple is even hesitant to roll it out anywhere besides the US. I almost wonder if there is something else motivating it, like pressures to prevent iPhones intended for the US market from being sold overseas.

[cromka]

eSIMs were being rolled out in many markets before Apple gave up the physical SIM completely. Clearly there’s been other incentive than sustaining iPhone users. With Apple’s move, they just have one more: the impending technological change, for which Apple, fortunately or not, is some kind of Messiah. They have a proven track of crating such momentum, and they just sent a clear message: adapt.