Data-only eSIM for travel - a game changer

To call landlines and mobile phones while traveling - use "Skype to Phone" (Skype Out)

Prerequisite

Check primary (home network) Data is "Roaming Off"
Settings...Cellular....
    Cellular Data Options  Roaming Off
        if you have 2 SIM profiles:
        Primary....Data Roaming... Off (slider switch turns grey)

Say goodbye to roaming charges

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Trip.com eSIM setup (iPhone)

Caution about time zone difference:
I bought a 1 day "USA-Canada eSIM" for testing. The "Package Details" indicated that "day" is based on GMT+8
For Vancouver in winter, the day ends @ 8 am. For Toronto in winter, the day ends @ 11am.
For Vancouver in summer, the day ends @ 9am. For Toronto in summer, the day ends @12 noon.
Easiest way to deal with this timezone madness is to add Hong Kong time to your iPhone's clock app.
Install/activate Trip.com "USA-Canada eSIM" 1 minute after Hong Kong 12:00 am, to avoid loosing 15 or 16 hours of usage.

(1) Purchase a eSIM from trip.com
    Following your purchase, you will receive an email from trip.com immediately.
    The "Updated Voucher" includes a PDF attachment containing a QR code.
(2) Print out the QR code on a piece of paper.
    (or send the QR code to a travel companion's phone that can show the QR code offline).
(3) When to scan the QR code ?
Good situation:  solid WiFi connection, or solid cell signal connection.
At home or at departure/destination airport that have accessible public WiFi.
Certain airports in China have public WiFi but need a Chinese mobile phone number to verify :-(
    Settings..Cellular..Add eSIM...Use QR Code, scan the QR code, tap install, tap continue to Activate, tap Done.

US models of iPhone 14 and later are eSIM only (no physical SIM). They can install/activate without WiFi.
The installed eSIM will be labelled as Secondary

Bad situation:
    e.g. At a destination airport without WiFi or cruise ship port without WiFi
Error Situation:
During install/activation, activation takes a long time, Secondary line may appear to stuck in an "activating" loop.
Recovery from an activating loop :
shut down iPhone and restart.
After restart, "activating" will continue and hopefully it will time out in 15-20 minutes, or find a WiFi from coffee shop.

The graphics below shows an installed/activated eSIM, cellular data is coming from Secondary line (eSIM).



Check "Package Details" to see if "Data Roaming" needs to be ON or not.
Tap the Secondary line...
    Set the Data Roaming switch accordingly, green is ON



APN is usually set automatically.
If you don't get any data:
    Check "Package Details" to find the APN setting.
        Settings...Cellular...Secondary line...Cellular Data Network

Final check before landing:
Settings...Cellular....Cellular Data
    Secondary is checked
Do not touch "Allow Cellular Data Switching"

I leave my Primary line in the "ON" position because:
- I want to receive inbound SMS while abroad (inbound SMS is free for Canadian carriers).
- If someone called my primary line, I can see who called without answering.
- I can return calls using Skype to Phone for a small fee (3 ¢/min).