When you think of mobile phones, you can’t imagine them without SIM cards. After all, in the absence of SIM cards, how will the subscribers connect to the operators for their services? This question will inevitably arise in your mind. However, in the past few years, new concepts have emerged which allow the SIM card to be replaced with an embedded SIM. In some cases, there is no SIM card altogether. In this article, we will talk about how you can, as a consumer, do away with SIM cards and still stay connected.
Why would somebody want to ditch SIM cards?
According to experts, people ditch SIM cards to avoid unsolicited phone calls, save money on bills, and live life without hassles. It is important to remember that a SIM card is not the only tool to make you stay connected to the world. Don’t think that you can’t access the internet while having no SIM card inside. Also, you can easily make calls and send texts without a SIM card.
However, life won’t be instantly easy if you throw your SIM card away today. You will need to make big changes in your lifestyle to get adapted to a life with no SIM card. It is like ditching watches and clocks completely for timekeeping. Though they are the primary source for knowing the time, you can still keep time through other secondary devices like phones, TV, microwave, etc.
Alternatives to SIM cards
There are various data-enabled tools such as social media platforms, VoIP calling services, GPS maps, emails, landline telephones, public Wi-Fi networks, and so on. They let you stay connected and communicate without the use of any SIM card. Using them will be quite cost-effective as you will spend less on SIM card registration, paying default penalties, paying plans, termination fees, and so forth. In the beginning, after shunning the SIM card, you may need to hook yourself to the Wi-Fi connectivity all the time.
But you will slowly learn to live without being connected to the world 24×7. You may also use pocket Wi-Fi modems without SIM cards, and take them with you wherever you go. They will provide you with an internet connection wherever there is a network of the service provider. Thankfully, they often have more lucrative data plans than SIM cards. If you are mostly indoors, the home or office Wi-Fi will be your default medium to connect to the world.
Tips to live life without SIM cards
Here are a few tips to stay connected without using any SIM card. They might not be as convenient as using SIM cards, but for someone who wants to stay away from using a SIM, these guidelines will work wonderfully.
- Use Google Hangouts and Google Voice to make and receive calls at a very cheap rate or even for free. The price of call rates depends on your region. The call audio quality will be based on your region too. You can even have your caller ID through Google Voice configuration.
- Make use of a landline telephone if you live in an urban area. It is very liberating to use a telephone booth or a phone in your office or home. It is important to note that a landline telephone isn’t available everywhere these days, especially if you are in a rural or remote area.
- Explore temporary free cell numbers by making an account on platforms like 2nd Line and TextNow (no affiliation, mere examples). However, these temporary cell numbers don’t work on platforms such as WhatsApp, Google, or Facebook. But other than those, these numbers can make you access the platforms which require a phone number.
- Use your email address for verification and authentication. They could be the best alternative to your phone number whenever you need to authenticate your ID or take a backup. Many platforms give the option to log in using your email address.
- Use apps providing offline maps along with several features such as location sharing, favorite location, and so forth. They also allow you to discover new locations. Offline maps are better than online ones when it comes to privacy concerns.
- Make time for offline conversations. The idea might sound tedious and time-consuming, but nothing can beat face-to-face conversation when it comes to vital talks. If the conversation or meeting is important, avoid doing it online if there are no time and distance constraints. Face-to-face conversation strengthens personal bonding like no other.
How will I feel living without a SIM card?
You may feel awkward in the beginning, but soon you will realize that nothing much is going to change if you start living without a SIM card. Nobody will judge you or misunderstand you as long as you provide them with a way to contact you. Though SIM cards are the most common means to be in contact with the people in your personal as well as professional life, there are many alternatives available. You may feel less stressed and less over-committed because of the absence of SIM, as you are not that readily and easily available to people nearby.
The absence of a SIM card may help you focus more when you are not connected to the world. Life without a SIM card can not only be possible but quite fulfilling too. Remember, Warren Buffett, among the world’s richest men, never keeps a cell phone or computer, neither in his personal nor his professional life. He is still using a landline phone in his office. If he can amass a fortune without the latest technology, why can’t you live without a SIM card?