Group 1: eSIM Technology Overview - Huawei is set to launch a new foldable smartphone that supports eSIM, potentially becoming the first commercially available eSIM smartphone in China [1] - eSIM technology embeds the SIM card directly into the device's chip, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card, thus saving internal space in devices [1] - The number of countries and regions offering eSIM services has significantly increased from 24 in 2018 to 123 by mid-2024, with the number of operators providing eSIM services growing from 45 to 441 in the same period [3] Group 2: Industry Players and Developments - Apple has been a pioneer in eSIM technology, first implementing it in the iPad Air 2 in 2014 and later in the iPhone 14, which eliminated the physical SIM card slot [2] - Xiaomi launched its first eSIM-supported smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, in overseas markets in March 2023, while OPPO plans to release its first eSIM smartphones by the end of this year [3][1] - China Unicom has been the most proactive among domestic operators in resuming eSIM services, having reintroduced eSIM for IoT and wearable devices in multiple cities [5][7] Group 3: Regulatory and Market Challenges - The eSIM business was paused in 2023 due to security risks, but China Mobile and China Unicom have since resumed operations, focusing on IoT and wearable devices [5][1] - Analysts indicate that the future of eSIM in smartphones will depend heavily on regulatory policies and the willingness of operators to adopt the technology [7] - The transition to eSIM is seen as a clear trend for smart device manufacturers, but challenges remain due to operator caution regarding consumer network switching and associated security risks [7]