What is an IoT SIM card?

IoT – or M2M – SIM cards provide access to cellular networks to connect devices – with a management platform to monitor and operate device connections at scale. If you want two or more ‘Things’ (connected devices) to communicate with each other, then you need a data connection. In most cases, a standard cellular mobile SIM (or consumer SIM) won’t cut it.

How is a consumer SIM different from an IoT M2M SIM?

Consumer SIMs are bound to one local network operator and impose high roaming costs for data connections in foreign countries or outside a common tariff zone. IoT SIMs meanwhile give your devices access to multiple networks per country, a single tariff plan for global use, and flexible, usage-based contract terms. IoT SIMs also have more memory, durability and a longer lifespan than consumer SIMs. IoT SIMs usually come with a web-based platform for remote SIM and connectivity management. They come in multiple form factors like the industrial-grade or MFF2 for durability against extreme environments – heat, corrosion, vibration. Check out our detailed article on the differences between a consumer SIM and an IoT M2M SIM.

How much does an IoT SIM card cost?

The price can start from less than EUR 2 for a commercial-grade EMnify IoT SIM and less than EUR 3 for an industrial-grade EMnify IoT SIM depending on your order volume. A discount automatically applies as more SIM cards are purchased within an order. New users can get three EMnify IoT SIM cards for free when signing up for an evaluation. Try it out for yourself, at no cost, for a 60-day trial. Visit EMnify Pricing Page to learn more.

How do I activate my IoT SIM card?

Activating an IoT SIM card is straightforward and usually only involves a few simple steps. Often there is more than one way to activate a SIM – for example, either through a connectivity management portal, API or sometimes even a no-code solution. IoT SIM cards can be registered and activated individually or in bulk – significantly speeding things up when connecting a large fleet of devices.

What is factory test mode?

You also have an option to enable factory test mode where your devices are pre-activated and allocated with a fixed amount of free data traffic. During factory test mode, there is no SIM hosting fees and data charges, allowing you to test device connections during QA processes and ship preactivated devices to customers without incurring connectivity costs. Once your devices use up the free data after being deployed, the EMnify SIM cards automatically switch to “active”, and only then your monthly billing starts. There is no need to activate your SIM cards when using factory test mode.

How can I monitor the performance of my SIM cards?

A connectivity management portal will typically provide access to real-time monitoring of all connected devices, tracking things like connection status, data usage and cost. The EMnify Portal also provides tools like connectivity reset and network blocklist that let you quickly troubleshoot connection issues and reduce Tier-II support tickets. If you prefer monitoring device connectivity and data consumption directly from your existing operational dashboards and application, the EMnify Data Streamer lets you do so. Learn more about Data Streamer or view our Integration guides for detailed instructions

eSIM is a SIM type that allows you to change an operator profile Over-the-Air (OTA) with remote SIM provisioning capability. The term eSIM could also be interchangeably used to indicate an MFF2 SIM type that gets soldered directly into a cellular device.

How do I swap carriers/Can I choose whichever carriers I want?

The EMnify SIM card uses multi-IMSI approach and automatically selects the best-quality network at your device location. In cases where you want to select a specific operator for your devices, the network blocklist function allows you to proactively switch to your preferred network.

Does EMnify IoT SIM support Narrowband-IoT and LTE-M?

Yes. EMnify IoT SIM supports multiple cellular technologies including LTE-M and NB-IoT. Visit our LTE-M coverage page and NB-IoT coverage page to find out where your devices can connect via these two technologies using the EMnify SIM.

Built-in Global Connectivity

IoT Roaming

With emnify’s global IoT SIM cards, your devices can leverage IoT roaming anywhere in the world with a single connectivity provider.

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IoT roaming at a glance

One Contract, Global IoT Roaming

emnify partners with hundreds of carriers around the world, and with a single pay-as-you-go contract, we give you access to them all. As you deploy in new countries, you never have to create new contracts to get the coverage you need.

Roam Anywhere with Multi-IMSI

Every SIM stores a profile with an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) that lets you access a carrier’s network and their roaming partners. Our SIMs have Multi-IMSI, so they store multiple identities. Multi-IMSI SIMs means more identities, more roaming, no limits.

Country Restrictions? Not Here

Some countries don’t allow permanent roaming, which means your SIM cards have to have a profile for a local carrier. Our eSIMs enables you to deploy with the same SIM cards (and same SKUs) in these specific countries without roaming.

Redundant Coverage

Where most carriers offer one network, emnify provides multiple networks to choose from—so you’ll always have a backup.

60 days, All Features, One Platform

Get a free test kit, which includes a GPS SIM card, a prepaid data plan, and a 60-day free trial of emnify’s platform.

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All you need to scale

Business Growth, Simplified with the SuperNetwork

Access Wider LTE-M and NB-IoT Coverage

The main drawback with newer technology like LTE-M and NB-IoT is a lack of roaming opportunities. Not with emnify. We have the largest LTE-M coverage in the world and substantial NB-IoT coverage, helping you maximize the benefits of these solutions.

Network Excellence, Zero Fuss

Network selection isn’t a process you want to manage for every SIM. Thankfully, emnify’s global IoT SIM intelligently scans the best network options within our carrier network, ensuring uninterrupted connection between your device and the cloud.

One Dashboard, Global Management

With emnify, you can manage every connected device from the same place. No matter which country you deploy in, our intuitive IoT dashboard lets you analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize your connectivity by deployment, device, or country.

Find out how you can benefit from IoT connectivity.

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Technology that enables devices to connect and communicate at scale.

Global M2M Connectivity for You

More about our IoT SIM Cards

Global IoT SIM card

IoT SIM cards that give you instant access to more than 540 Cellular Networks in over 180 countries.

LTE-M Coverage

Global LTE-M connectivity with a single IoT SIM

NB-IoT Coverage

Connect large numbers of low-cost IoT devices

IoT Network Security

Multi-layer network security to protect IoT devices

IoT Connectivity for your Business

High Growth Companies

Small Businesses

Enterprises

Solutions by Industries

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