Google’s Android 13 OS to allow dual connections on single eSIM

Google is actively working on a feature that will enable users to have dual-SIM capabilities on their handsets running on Android 13 operating system with a single embedded SIM (eSIM) chip. 

The eSim is a SIM that is embedded directly into a device instead of a physical chip. Incidentally, Apple is already offering this facility on its iPhones. 

A GSM Arena report claimed that the company aims to assign two carrier profiles to a single eSIM and easily switch between networks through a feature called ‘Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP)’. The same report claimed that Google got this technology patented way back in 2020 and is reportedly planning to include it with the final release of Android 13 during the third quarter of this financial year. 

To be initially available on Google’s own Pixel phones (where Android 13 will be featured first) such as Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a or Pixel 6 smartphones, it will be eventually extended to other smartphones which are based run on Android OS.  

It may be recalled that Google came out with the first developer preview of Android 13 in mid-February followed by its second developer review in March. The next step would be the first Beta launch in April, followed by the second beta in May, a third beta in June, a fourth beta in July. The official rollout is yet to be disclosed.

As per the first preview, the Android 13 brings a photo picker feature and API (application programming interface), which third party applications on Android can use to limit access to files on a device. The new Android version will also be getting nearby device permission access over Wi-Fi, thus doing away with Location access.