After I broke my iPhone 11 I realized that the glue had actually gotten inside the SIM module and melted some plastic off my prepaid Sun Cellular SIM card (RIP to the brand, favorite network of Filipino teenagers late 2000s and early 2010s for their cheap unlimited texts and calls).
SIM card "card" (I don't know what it's called!). Replacement SIM since I got it replaced in 2017 at the Sun Store in Forum Robinsons (again, RIP!) when they finally offered LTE for prepaid subscribers.
It still worked, however loose in phone SIM card slots. I did not want to risk using it since I have experience on SIM cards failing due to getting dislodged while the phone is on.
I went to a Smart Store to get it replaced. Unfortunately, like most of the time, their systems are failing. I don’t know how true, since the attendant even offered me to switch to postpaid just to get the SIM replaced (maybe it’s just a marketing tactic, I also don’t have good experience in that same store since they misled me to getting a postpaid plan on the promise that a phone will be offered after 6 months. What they didn’t say was that you had to upgrade to a more expensive plan! LOL.)
Anyway, they offered instead to convert the physical SIM to eSIM for PHP 99. I went ahead and agreed since I already waited more than an hour in queue just to get called. I have a phone with eSIM support in any case. QR code gets sent via email within 24 hours. In my case it was sent the next afternoon. Yay! Unfortunately now SMART is displayed as the carrier for the SIM. :( You will be remembered, SUN.
So, in summary, to get your SMART prepaid physical SIM converted to eSIM:
- Go to a Smart Store
- Wait for more than an hour (if you’re lucky) to get called
- Fill out forms and pay 99 Philippine pesos
- Get sent QR code via email.
- ???
- Profit! (Maybe install it to your phone)
By the way, if you don’t receive the QR code you have to go to any Smart Store and show your receipt. Alright, good luck and have fun.