Counter 08 · eSIM & Connectivity
Verified 06 Aug 2026
Solis (SIMO)
SOPortable wifi hotspot devices, not another eSIM
Solis, made by SIMO (the company formerly known as Skyroam), sells pocket wifi hotspots instead of eSIMs, which matters if your phone doesn't support eSIM or you want to connect a laptop, tablet, and phone at once. Devices ship with a small amount of lifetime data included and pick whichever local carrier has the strongest signal across 140-plus countries.
What Is Solis (SIMO)?
Solis (SIMO) is a portable wifi hotspot, not an eSIM app. SIMO (formerly Skyroam) builds it so you carry one small pocket router that picks up a local carrier signal in more than 130 countries instead of swapping SIM cards or eSIM profiles at every border. The device finds whichever network has the strongest signal where you are, connects on its own, and shares that connection over its own wifi, so your phone and laptop can both get online from it at once.
Why It Fits Nomad Travel
The main reason to pick a Solis hotspot over an eSIM is that it isn't tied to one device. An eSIM only serves the phone it's installed on, while the Solis puts up a local wifi network several devices can join. That helps when you run a laptop for work calls and a phone for maps off the same connection, or when you split it with someone you're traveling with. It also gets around the eSIM compatibility problem, since plenty of older phones, some Android models, and most laptops still can't use an eSIM. The hotspot comes with some data included when you buy it, and heavier use runs on add-on data passes you buy when you need them rather than a fixed monthly plan.
The Downside
A physical hotspot is one more thing to charge and carry, and one more thing you can leave behind in a hostel drawer, which is the catch against an eSIM that already sits inside the phone in your pocket. Coverage and speed ride on whichever local carrier the device connects to, so it works better in big cities than out in rural areas. Battery life is short too, often well under a full day of heavy tethering, so a long travel day can mean a recharge around midday. If all you need is one modern phone online, a plain eSIM is simpler and lighter to carry.
What It Costs
Solis charges for the hardware and then for data: you buy the hotspot once, it arrives with some data already loaded, and you top up with data passes as you travel instead of a recurring subscription by default. That suits people who travel in bursts and don't want a connectivity bill running between trips, but it only pays off if you actually use the device regularly rather than leaving it in a drawer for months.
What works
- One device serves multiple gadgets at once over a single wifi hotspot, unlike an eSIM which only covers the phone it's installed on
- Works for devices that can't use an eSIM at all, including older phones and most laptops
- Automatic carrier switching across more than 130 countries means no manual SIM or profile swap at each border
- Pay-as-you-go data passes on top of the data included with the device avoid a mandatory recurring subscription
What to watch
- Extra hardware you have to charge and keep track of, unlike an eSIM that already lives inside a phone you're carrying anyway
- Battery life is limited, commonly well under a full day of heavy tethering, so long travel days can mean a mid-trip recharge
- Speed and reliability depend on whichever local carrier the device connects to, so it's noticeably weaker outside major cities
Questions at the counter
Is Solis (SIMO) worth it for digital nomads?
It's worth it if you need to connect more than one device at once, or you're using hardware that can't take an eSIM, like an older laptop. If you just need one modern smartphone online, a plain eSIM is usually simpler and lighter to carry.
How is Solis different from an eSIM?
Solis is a physical pocket wifi hotspot that creates its own local wifi network, while an eSIM is a digital profile installed on one phone. The hotspot can share its connection with several devices at once; an eSIM only serves the single device it's installed on.
Does Solis (SIMO) work worldwide?
Solis covers more than 130 countries by automatically connecting to whichever local carrier has the strongest signal in that location. Actual speed still varies by country and by how strong local coverage is outside major cities.
What does Solis (SIMO) cost?
You buy the hotspot device once, which comes with some data included, then add data passes as needed rather than paying a fixed monthly subscription by default. Total cost depends on how much data you buy on top of the device price, so infrequent travelers should weigh the hardware cost against how often they'll actually use it.