It looks like Apple is gearing up to ditch the physical SIM card slot in iPhones in even more countries this year. I've heard from sources that retail employees at Apple Authorized Resellers in the EU are being trained on iPhones with eSIM support. This training needs to be done by September 5th. Since there are 27 countries in the EU, including major players like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, it seems like a pretty big move.

With Apple expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on September 9th, the timing seems more than just a coincidence. The training info is popping up in Apple's SEED app, which is used by employees at both Apple Stores and authorized resellers, so the eSIM push could be global.

As you probably know, the US already went eSIM-only with the iPhone 14 models and newer, completely removing the SIM card slot. So far, no other countries have followed suit, but it looks like the iPhone 17 series might be the turning point.

While we're not sure which iPhone 17 models will be eSIM-only, rumors suggest that at least the iPhone 17 Air will be SIM-free in most countries. The iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max might also go eSIM-only internationally, though there might be some exceptions, like China.

I remember when Apple first pushed eSIMs with the iPhone 14 launch, they talked about how they're more secure. Since they can't be physically removed if your iPhone gets lost or stolen. Plus, you can manage multiple eSIMs on one iPhone, which is awesome for travelers. It's all about convenience and security, which I think is a pretty smart move.