Behind the scenes
digitec connect competition recap – the batteries were running hot!
by Maya Homberger
Useful technology – not just for smartwatch wearers and architects
1.9.2020
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Thomas Kunz
Just over a year ago, digitec launched its mobile subscription «digitec connect». And it didn’t stop there. eSIM soon followed and MultiSIM technology is due in early September. Smartwatch wearers, architects and commuters will be delighted.
digitec connect is coming in thick and fast. Next up is MultiSIM. What’s that about?
Andreas Kundert (Head of Business Development): the name says a lot. Thanks to MultiSIM, our customers can use their phone number on several devices. Take smartwatches, for example. Meanwhile, their technology is so advanced that the wearers can leave their mobile phones at home without giving it a second thought. Everything runs via the watch: making calls via Bluetooth headphones, answering WhatsApp messages on the touchscreen or listening to music. Obviously, that only makes sense if you can connect the smartwatch to your mobile network. This is now possible with MultiSIM technology. With an existing digitec connect mobile phone subscription, you can just activate the additional option for the watch. No need for a separate contract.
Your smartwatch example is well and good. But aren’t we looking a niche target group?
Nowadays, there are many other examples of several devices being used with one SIM card. Take architects, for example. They’ll probably want to avoid taking their expensive smartphone to a construction site. But they’ll still want to be reachable on that number. So it’s probable that an architect will buy a cheaper phone with a second SIM card made out to the same phone number. And then there are a lot of people who work during their train commute. Surely, it’s more practical if you can just connect to the Internet without having to set up a hotspot with your phone first and having to deal with a drained battery before reaching your destination.
Why did you develop MultiSIM?
We’re a high-tech company that wants to develop innovative products. But more importantly, we want our products to satisfy true customer needs. That’s why digitec connect was created. We sell lots of mobiles and soon realised how expensive the subscriptions are. This is mostly because many customers only use a fraction of the services they pay for. Customer needs were also the driving force behind the development of eSIM. Almost all our newer mobiles feature an eSIM option. But only few providers offer eSIM. This means that the devices can’t be used to their full extent. We want to change this with eSIM and MultiSIM. After all, if you’ve just invested in a high-quality device, you also want to make full use of the technology. Let me give you an example of the advantages of this technology. Users can activate eSIM for the contract in their home country and free up the regular SIM slot. This comes in handy when you’re travelling, as you can use that slot to insert a cheaper, country-specific SIM card to save roaming costs.
How do you go about developing something like that?
The network and routing systems are run by Sunrise. But before a device can register with a Sunrise antenna, certain information needs to be ready in the background. We take care of that. It’s mainly work in the front end and back end. For example, our system must be able to choose between eSIM and regular SIM (front end). This information is then saved in the back end. And we mustn’t forget user experience (UX). The user needs to be guided through the digitec connect Cockpit and all its options without any hiccups.
Which role does business development play in all of this?
Although we work together with Sunrise, the products are developed according to our own taste. And we’re all about speed. Launching a product that isn’t fully developed right down to the very last detail? Not a problem for us. We implemented the eSIM even though we hadn’t fully reached our goal. After the launch, we just kept on working on it. Just two weeks later, our existing customers could already switch to eSIM in their Cockpit without our help. At the time of the launch, this hadn’t been possible. But that’s how we develop our software. Step by step. We’ll probably see a similar scenario with MultiSIM. Ultimately, we want existing customers to be able to sign up for MultiSIM in their digitec connect Cockpit or on the device itself. We’re developing this gradually. So it may be that switching will first only be possible in the Cockpit and, a few weeks later, on your device, too.
What’s the next thing you’re planning?
We truly believe in eSIM and are prepared for a boom. Customer feedback will guide us in terms of future plans. We want to be close to our community instead of offering marginal services. Whenever we start tackling an issue, we want it to come with a benefit for customers. Finally, smartwatch wearers and architects can max out their devices.
Norina Brun
Senior Communications Manager
norina.brun@digitecgalaxus.chNews aren’t enough for me – it’s the stories behind the news that capture my interest. Curiosity is my constant companion and the reason why I spend Saturday afternoons in my favourite café, eavesdropping on city stories while planning my next travel adventure and creating new event ideas. Zen meditation can wait.
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