Running a cell phone with two SIM cards can be quite convenient, however, many do not know why. And which smartphones can accommodate two SIM cards at all? We have four conceivable types that can give you a push. Do you find yourselves in them?
Double is better: If you use two SIM cards, you can save money – and not only that. They are also extremely practical. Provided you know where to put them and how to use them.
The cards are usually inserted into smartphones via a slot on the side, the dual-SIM slot. Sometimes these are combination slots that can either be equipped with two SIM cards or with a SIM and a microSD memory card. Thus, you often have to do without the option of a memory expansion when you want to use the dual-SIM.
However, especially top smartphones now use an electronic SIM card (eSIM) as a dual alternative. A second SIM is not used together with the classic nano-SIM card, but is set up electronically via the software. The major network operators usually offer eSIM use free of charge. There are still differences in what service providers offer here.
The advantage of dual-SIM: Cell phones with two SIM cards allow two different phone numbers to be used at the same time. This in turn offers advantages for a wide variety of types. Here you can find out who can benefit from two SIM cards.
Dual SIM phone for traveler
The purchase of a dual-sim smartphone is particularly suitable for frequent travelers. It is recommended to buy a prepaid SIM card locally, which can be used to make phone calls and surf the Internet at low rates within the country’s borders at a national rate. The use of a dual-sim smartphone is also recommended for cross-border commuters.
Dual SIM phone for business
One of the most common uses of smartphones with two SIM cards is to separate private and business calls and messages. This saves you from having a second device in your pocket.
To ensure that important phone calls are never missed, the dual-SIM smartphone should also have the “Dual-SIM Active” function. This makes it possible to switch to a second call during the call.
Another advantage is that users of Apple iPhones or Android smartphones can stick to their preferred device if the business cell phone runs a different operating system. For example, not only the flagships from Huawei, Xiaomi, and Samsung have dual-SIM; those who want to use their phone with two SIM cards can also count on the new generation of Apple’s iPhone.
Dual SIM phone for secret keeping
We all have our secrets and sometimes it’s better that they stay that way. Whether you have a sweetheart no one should know about, are a secret agent on behalf of her majesty, or are prominent – and need a “spam phone number” – dual-SIM gives you freedom!
With the right dual sim phone, the second identity can be easily turned on and off, annoying or secret calls can be more easily organized with dual SIM – use at your own risk though. After all, it can happen that one or the other telltale message appears on the display if you are careless.
Dual SIM phone for money saving
In addition to the aforementioned savings potential for frequent travelers, there is another selling point for dual-sim cell phones: The combination of a cheap phone plan and cheap mobile data usage. This is because mobile network providers calculate in such a way that it pays off for them.
A tariff that offers both cheap phone calls and cheap surfing is not always easy to find. With a dual-SIM smartphone, you can take two Sim cards and use them in parallel.
How to use a cell phone with two SIM cards?
There is often a lot of confusion about whether you can actually be reached on both phone numbers at the same time with a dual-SIM smartphone. There is, but very few smartphones have two receiving and transmitting units. These dual-full-active smartphones are very practical, as they allow two active lines to be set up at the same time.
More common, however, are dual-SIM standby smartphones that only have a single transceiver. The two SIM cards have to share this one receive and transmit unit, which is achieved via time-division multiplexing. The smartphone can then be reached via the two phone numbers at the same time, but if you accept a call, the cell phone is no longer available under the other number, i.e. the other card.
This can be remedied by setting conditional call forwarding to the other telephone number in the event of unavailability, so that call waiting and toggling – i.e. switching between two callers calling at the same time – are possible. Call forwarding can then result in additional costs for the called party.
If you make a call or send an SMS, the smartphone asks you which SIM should be used for the call. This is particularly convenient when you use the dual-SIM function for private and business use, for example, or when you use an additional SIM from a local provider abroad.
