Two numbers to one mobile?

BigAunty

Are there any deals where it's possible to run two numbers from the same mobile phone? Or is this just a phone set-up thing?

I need one line for business, one for personal. I want unlimited browsing, high minutes and not bothered about texts.

Hoping to get an Iphone after a really bad experience with a Samsung Galaxy (I cut off callers and deleted voicemails with my ear for starters and the software is very buggy).

I *think* I recall ages ago that one mobile phone company had a package - the different mobile numbers had different ring tones on the handset.

I've not really investigated this feature at all - I'm a real mobile novice when it comes to tariffs and technologies.

BigAunty

ah, apparently the term is 'dual sim' or 'multi sim' and it looks like my options for handsets are going to be limited, I think, unless its a service that is offered by mobile operators at the network level.

any ideas?

grumbler

BigAunty wrote: »

Are there any deals where it's possible to run two numbers from the same mobile phone? Or is this just a phone set-up thing?

Mobile number is linked to a sim card, not a mobile phone. Why do you need any 'deals' for this? Either switch the sim cards (phone has to be unlocked if it is different networks) or get a dual-sim phone.
Dual Sim Phones

I *think* I recall ages ago that one mobile phone company had a package - the different mobile numbers had different ring tones on the handset.

Never heard of this, but I think it is possible to redirect incoming calls to a different number. Not for free of course.

BigAunty

Thanks for the info.

I don't fancy manually switching sim cards in and out of a handset.

I've started to uncover a bit more about dual sim phone deals offered by mobile operators and it seems they aren't massively keen on them and phased out the few they offered a few years back.

I'll look into the dual sim handsets and the costs associated with phone forwarding/redirection.

grumbler

Have you noticed the link in my post?

NFH

Orange offer a service called Personal Line. However, on the iPhone it will not give you separate ringing tones for each line; the iPhone only partially supports it.

DUTR

NFH wrote: »

Orange offer a service called Personal Line. However, on the iPhone it will not give you separate ringing tones for each line; the iPhone only partially supports it.

Do they still do that? I had two lines on my old Nokia 2140, line 2 was limited to calls only though , outbound sms etc was via the line one account.

Notmyrealname

BigAunty wrote: »

I *think* I recall ages ago that one mobile phone company had a package - the different mobile numbers had different ring tones on the handset.

I've not really investigated this feature at all - I'm a real mobile novice when it comes to tariffs and technologies.

Orange used to do this but I don't know if they do anymore. You could have two lines on one SIM.

NFH

DUTR wrote: »

Do they still do that? I had two lines on my old Nokia 2140, line 2 was limited to calls only though , outbound sms etc was via the line one account.

Orange used to offer "Line 2", also known as "Alternate Line Service", which didn't allow outgoing SMS or roaming. They have since replaced this with "Personal Line" which uses a different technology, additionally allowing outgoing SMS, data and roaming (although it takes a lot of effort to activate roaming).

discplayer

How long term are you thinking? I get the impression permeant so my suggestion may not be appropriate. How many incoming calls do you get on each number?

I used to sometimes divert/forward my work mobile no. to my personal mobile using the phone's settings that allowed you to divert to voicemail.

I would then pay for the call from one line to the other so, like being abroad, you pay for incoming calls.

Buzby

BigAunty wrote: »

I *think* I recall ages ago that one mobile phone company had a package - the different mobile numbers had different ring tones on the handset.

You are correct - it was Orange. It was called their 'Line 2' Service, and Nokia handsets were all configured to work this way if it was configured on the SIM. The service may still be available from them, but I've not seen it advertised for yonks.

Oops - just saw NFH's response. Orange had a great many innovations (like Wildfire for voicemail) but mostly they just gave up on innovation and merged with the herd...