Devices & Platforms

Honor embeds OWN eSIM app into smartphones for GCC markets

Honor embeds OWN eSIM app into smartphones for GCC markets

Chinese device OEM Honor announced on Thursday it is partnering with Netherlands-based digital mobile service provider OWN eSIM to enable smartphone users in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to access digital services internationally.

Under the partnership deal, the OWN eSIM app will be preinstalled on selected Honor smartphone models using Google Play AutoInstall (PAI). This will allow users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to activate international data services instantly via OWN eSIM’s digital connectivity platform, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards.

As part of the partnership deal, Honor and OWN eSIM will coordinate on marketing the embedded eSIM, as well as encouraging adoption across the GCC region.

Debo Zhang, GM of Honor GCC, said the OWN eSIM partnership is part of its strategic shift from OEM to “AI device ecosystem” as it positions its devices as intelligent platforms for modern digital lifestyles by integrating ready-to-use connectivity solutions.

“Smartphones today are central to how people work, create, and stay entertained,” Zhang said in a statement. “By bringing eSIM functionality directly into our devices, we are enabling customers to stay connected more easily and confidently wherever their journeys take them.”

Martijn Van Der Ven, founder and CEO of OWN eSIM, said the deal with Honor will help expand OWN eSIM’s presence across the GCC, reach a broader base of consumer and strengthen its position in the rapidly growing eSIM ecosystem.

“This collaboration represents a shared ambition to remove friction from the way people connect when they travel or move across borders,” he said. “By embedding OWN eSIM directly into Honor smartphones, we are delivering a seamless, future-ready connectivity experience designed for today’s digital-first consumers.”



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