An endpoint in the SIM for Things platform represents an actual physical IoT device of the customer. Whereas the SIM card is just a connectivity module linked to it.

All the linked Service Profile, Rate Zones, Tariffs, Coverage are assigned to an endpoint through the linked Plan and all the data or SMS usage charged to the Account will always be accrued through an endpoint.

An endpoint has its own lifecycle and states, every state of a SIM is controlled by the endpoint to which the SIM is linked at a particular moment. For details on the different endpoint and SIM states and how they are interlinked, check: What are the different SIM states and how does SIM life-cycle work?

While creating an endpoint in the SIM for Things platform you need to provide an Endpoint Name, this name is not unique and can be used if required to identify a group of endpoints. A unique endpointID is generated when the SIM for Things platform creates an endpoint and this remains as the unique identifier for an endpoint on the platform.