A quick search of wireless carrier forums, help groups, and Reddit threads almost always yields several posts about carrier quality or speeds. It is not difficult to find people who are dissatisfied with the networks of T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T. That’s what forums are for, I get it, but the thing is, we live in a time when you can easily test another provider for free and decide if it’s time to switch.
I know what you’re thinking: switching carriers sounds like a nightmare. That’s correct, or it used to be. Switching carriers was probably made difficult on purpose at one point. You had to order a SIM card from a different carrier and possibly pay for it card, physically swapping it in and out, and hoping that all of the correct carrier settings were applied when you did so. If the SIM swap didn’t work, you’d have to call a carrier to confirm the change, probably provide a ridiculously long SIM and IMEI to a customer support rep, reboot a few times, and then try to enjoy. You also had to pay for a month of service and deal with a new phone number.
Most of what I described above no longer applies because we live in the future. Our phones now have eSIMs (digital SIM cards) that allow you to easily add wireless provider access to them. Instead of physically swapping SIM cards, you can update your phone with the press of a few buttons. Today, some phones will allow you to use multiple eSIMs or a physical SIM with an eSIM.
And that’s how Verizon, T-Mobile, and Cricket (AT&T) free trials work – via eSIM. When you accept their free trial offer, they install an eSIM in your phone, allowing you to test their network alongside your current network. You can complete the entire setup process using an app and without ever visiting a physical wireless carrier store.
