Orange Launches eSIM-Embedded Samsung Gear S2 in France

The Samsung Gear S2 3G smartwatch is the world’s first device to feature an embedded eSIM, Orange has announced. The French telecom has launched the device in its home country, offering it with a Multi-SIM Calls & Internet package.

With its eSIM, the smartwatch can be activated directly by the network operator, and can make calls and access the internet without the need for a paired smartphone in close proximity. Moreover, Orange is offering the device with Gemalto’s secure subscription platform, a solution compatible with GSMA specifications.

The eSIM is the next generation of SIM card technology, enabling connectivity for a range of devices beyond the smartphone. While companies like Safran are working to bring the technology to numerous applications including the connected car, a smartwatch will probably strike many consumers as the natural first step in SIM expansion.

In a statement announcing the eSIM-embedded offering, Orange also highlighted the other capabilities of the Samsung Gear S2, including GPS, music storage, and biometric heart rate tracking.