Dual Sim Phonr

[barry1010]

My phone has dual SIM capability.

I received NHS and other important text  messages for myself and my oldster which can be confusing as it is not always clear who the message is for. (Oldster doesn't have and certainly couldn't use a mobile phone if her own).

I know a new SIM would give me another phone number that I could allocate to her but would I have to remember to keep switching between the two or would I get messages for both pop up automatically?

[Buenchico]

Most dual SIM phones are of the 'Dual SIM Dual Standby' type, whereby only one SIM card can be active at any one time.  However there are also a few 'Dual SIM Full Active' phones, where both SIMs can be active at the same time:
https://www.currys.co.uk/techtalk/mobile/phone-features/what-are-dual-sim-phones-and-how-do-they-work.html

[barry1010]

Thanks, Buen. Is there a way to check what sort my phone is?

[Buenchico]

^^^ That's not necessarily easy, Barry!

I would have expected to find the info on the GSMArena website but, annoyingly, it's not there.

I found my phone's compatability (which I actually knew anyway) by googling this line:
samsung galaxy A12 "DSDS"
(The double quotation marks are important!).
You might be able to do something similar although, to the best of my knowledge, all Samsung phones are only DSDS.

[barry1010]

Thanks, Buen. Sadly it's dual standby.  I'll have to buy a very cheap second phone

[PsalmEquipt]

An alternative solution is to have the equivalent of a SIM card slot on your PC. A USB Modem performs all SMS functions and can relay notifications to your phone. However, it requires getting familiar with the software and only receives messages while the PC is on. The phone carrier stores unreceived SMS messages and delivers them the next time the PC is powered on. https://www.ebay.com/itm/396107568225

[barry1010]

Thank you, Psalm, but that wouldn't work for me.  Some of the messages come through at any time of day and night and can be urgent.

[Togo]

If it is just text mesages you need to seperate then your phone should suffice with another sim card. It is only when you are making or recieving a call that the other number is blocked. When you end the call any text message will come through afterwards ...  just like they do when you have been in a no signal/coverage area. You can check your Samsung phones for double sim capabilities by going into settings then "About Phone" in the menu and if it has two different IMEI 15 digit ID numbers it is good to go. 

[barry1010]

I don't have a Samsung phone, the phone I have is 'dual SIM standby' which means texts won't come through until I activate that SIM card.

That's no good for me.  For example, on Thursday I had a text from the hospital offering me an appointment the next day, with a phone number to call. That text was sent to many people and the first to call got the appointment.  Luckily I read the text straight away and got the appointment.

I've ordered a super cheap phone that should suffice.

 

[Togo]

If that is not convenient either there are some Samsung androids that are DSFA. The S25 is perhaps thhe most cost effective but you could push the boat out and get an A40 or 50. ⬅⬅Nice bit of kit 

[Togo]

^^ Ahh crossed posts. 

[barry1010]

No probs, Togo, I'm grateful for your input