[Sargos]

>being able to just show up in a country, download an app

This seems like a "draw the rest of the owl" situation. If I arrive in a new country with no phone data (which is why I need a sim in the first place) then how do I download an app? Being able to walk up to a guy at the airport and within seconds slide in a SIM solves that data problem.

[digitalPhonix]

You can get the app and provision the esim in your home country, or use airport wifi?

[a456463]

not all airports have that. and even when they do I have had to fight to stay online or get online requiring entering email and clicking the link in the email before being granted online access.

[digitalPhonix]

What’s wrong with provisioning the esim in advance then? Android and iOS both support loading many (8?) esims and swapping the active one(s)

[a456463]

That can work. I don't really know if it is going to work when I land.

[abigail95]

As the other comment said it's either airport wifi, prep beforehand, roaming data (if absolutely necessary), or (last resort) you go to a physical phone store usually in an airport and they will set it up for you.

I can download T-Mobile eSIM from Australia - Pay them $15, know what my +1 USA number will be, all before leaving the country. You just can't do this with classical sims.