🇵🇹 Looking for a Portuguese eSIM compatible with FP4

[anon9989719]

@Tobias_Stokes

I get a vodafone esim and… they aren’t compatible with fairhpones

As @hirnsushi if you think that is the case you had better inform Vodafone. Surprisingly fairphone work with Vodafone so they should both be interested in your discovery.

Could you change the title a bit, I could but you may find it upsetting

[mde]

@hirnsushi

I use two eSIM in my FP4, from different providers (congstar & sipgate, german not portuguese) and they work without any problem.

Same here: Congstar eSim without any problems - even though not officially supported. It is a standard after all. “Not supported” in this case probably mostly means: Not tested by the mobile provider in question, but I can’t rule out that there are providers which actually don’t support this combination or block it until deemed compatible. Contacting your provider should provide you with an answer to that.

In general I do not think your tone fits well into this forum, even if you might be frustrated right now and I can understand your general disappointment that things are not going the way you expected.

[Tobias_Stokes]

You expect the same or more features from a new/upgraded model of the same brand not less. I thought whatever new features were on it I would discover when it came out, I trusted them to make a good phone in high spirits and good faith. I won’t make that mistake again.

I don’t think the providers are being slow here, they have no reason to switch to esim unless they want to. It was entirely fairphone unilaterally doing something prematurely and thoughtlessly without even clearly advertising or warning about it.

I don’t need multiple esims, I need the same 2 sims I already had on the fairphone 3, they have created a problem that didn’t exist before. Bah. I’ll have to figure something out in the UK. This will probably be the last fairphone I purchase.

[Tobias_Stokes]

Well it’s nice to know Germans don’t have those problems at least. If only those networks were available in portugal. Such is life.

[AlbertJP]

Apple have indicated that they want to switch to eSIM only at some point, and if that goes ahead every mobile operator will have to follow.

@Tobias_Stokes

they aren’t compatible with fairhpones, because it’s a f’in obscure ass phone.

Vodafone does not officially support the phone, but I have seen on a Fairphoners meeting that a Vodafone Germany eSIM worked without any problem nonetheless. There is a good chance that a Vodafone Portugal eSIM does the same if you can convince Vodafone to give you an eSIM.

[hirnsushi]

@Tobias_Stokes

I thought whatever new features were on it I would discover when it came out

[…] without even clearly advertising or warning about it.

The available SIM slots are clearly mentioned on the product page:

One physical Nano-SIM slot (4FF), 5G enabled* One eSIM, 5G enabled*

@Tobias_Stokes

It was entirely fairphone unilaterally doing something prematurely

eSIM are the future, if you like it or not. I for one am really happy that I can finally use 3 SIM in my phone, makes separating different contexts so much easier.

[anon9989719]

@AlbertJP

Vodafone does not officially support the phone,

Odd to say that, as ~~

@gabrieleb

Because if memory serves me well, we work with Vodafone

UPDATE: see below

[AlbertJP]

Yes, I mean for eSIM, they don’t list the FP4 yet. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t use an eSIM.

[gabrieleb]

@amoun

Odd to say that, as ~~

@amoun Not really that odd, as I wrote the text you quoted when talking to you about a different device (the FP3) and a different country (assuming the conversation you are having is still within the scope of the OP request, i.e. Portugal). Vodafone is a big company, and each country’s “division” works differently. Always keep it in mind when dealing with big corporations that offer services or sell goods.
Also, the “If memory serves me well” bit was the key component of that sentence

Regarding the topic in general, I cannot help, but customer support might.

[anon9989719]

Hi

@gabrieleb

OP request, i.e. Portugal). Vodafone is a big company,

I was thinking more in general, but the query was FP4 and Portuguese related.

Oops! Phone Coop not Vodafone

I think in the UK someone had a problem getting an e-SIM for their Vodafone

Oops! it was with the phone coop

@Swissdani

I am with the Phonecoop in the UK and they didn’t know what I was talking about when I asked for the QR code to activate my eSim… They are looking into it though but haven’t come back yet. I do need the dual system because one of my Sims is for work, I didn’t exptect this to be an issue when I bought the FP4. It would have been helpful to point this out on the Fairphone website that the eSim might not be available, depending which network provider you are with.

I have found this posted on 20 May 2021 Planet news

In 2019, Vodafone and Fairphone announced a strategic partnership to bring the Fairphone 3 to Vodafone customers in several European markets. We also agreed to collaborate on best practice and share knowledge on key industry sustainability issues, including the circular economy, electronic waste and responsible sourcing.

[gabrieleb]

That link is a much better and stronger argument than any words I ever said, nice find!

All I am saying is: there is nothing odd about agreements being different across products and countries.

If you want to know more about compatibility and availability, reach out to Customer Support. They are far more prepared than I am on any of these topics.

[Tobias_Stokes]

I reached out to CS and they couldn’t give me a list of ANY companies that did Esims for the FP4. Which means they didn’t even look at the viability of this before forcing this change on us.

I admit I didn’t look close at the specs because you assume the new model of something will have the same or better features not less.

This isn’t like removing a tape player from a car. Esim might be the future but this is the present, they jumped the gun by an astonishing degree here.

I paid 15 euros for a doctors appointment I coudln’t complete due to some stupid issue where they could only text my portuguese number which I now dont have easy access to. The drama continues.

Vodafone were the only company I bought an esim off but the QR code failed with an error message and did not work. 2 vodafone shops and online support said im out of luck and blamed FP.

[AlbertJP]

How did you try to add the QR code? You need to do so from the SIM card settings, not using a regular QR code scanner app.

[yvmuell]

If there is really no provider offering eSIM (for the FP4) in Portugal then I would blame Portuguese provider being behind current technology, as this technology is not new and especially important for all devices not having dual SIM (like e.g. Apple). We have several provider in different countries confirmed to work. My provider e.g. has a list with supported devices. The FP4 is not listed but they sell it. So I asked them if its really not supported and they stated that this list is just listing some example phones and all phones supporting eSIM would work. So its easy for Vodafone to blame FP, but what’s the argument? If they know who’s fault it is they should be able to name the fault and this would help FP to fix it.

[Patrick1]

Good to know, I always assumed without further investigation eSIMs were just as well 1:1 per “slot”.
So you have 3 registered. Interesting.

[hirnsushi]

I have 1 regular SIM and 2 eSIM I switch between.
Only one eSIM can be active at a time though!

[Patrick1]

@hirnsushi

Only one eSIM can be active at a time though!

Anyway, it’s about choice here. Let it be for being much on the way with different network coverage or somewhere abroad or some provider not working as expected.
Having more than just only one sim slot was one core requirement for me purchasing my first smartphone from Fairphone.

[mde]

It would be great if you could add your experience (working or not) to this list so other users know what to expect:

List of compatible and incompatible eSIM operators/networks for FP4

ATTENTION!! This wiki is just a list by FP4 users. It is there to share experience with the eSIM feature on different operators. It is nothing official by Fairphone. Fairphone does not offer SIMs and/or eSIMs. This topic is closed to avoid replies, so that the topic can be bumped on the top of the recent topic when edited. Please open a new topic in case of questions or to start a discussion. The FP4 is the first Fairphone with eSIM support. This has lead to various questions and issues …

[lindaliebe]

@Tobias_Stokes what are you doing with your F3? I am just wondering since I my battery is broken and I am urgently looking for a F3/F3+ Battery in Portugal to make my phone work again. Before I order a new one I just wanted to check with you, if you are still using your phone or if the battery of your F3 is available for me to buy.