I prefer not to use any Google services.

You can sign up for a T-mobile eSim account easily enough (prepaid).

I just use Google Voice, for the exact same reason (though most of my colleagues only use their mobile phones and don't have any issues). You could also use voip.ms or another VOIP provider.

I'm aware of the choices. I'm curious if anyone is using dual SIMs for multi-line who can share firsthand experiences.

It's possible

I keep a free sim (freeup mobile, txt/calls only) on my second sim, usable as a throwaway phone # for restaurants etc.

Just note that most phones are dual standby (only one active line for calls or data at once), need to lookup whether second line gets bounced to voicemail or rings if first line has active call

According to the documentation the iPhone is single carrier call at a time. Data will switch to the other line though.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044

You can have both SIMs active for voice calls. You designate one as the default for outgoing calls but you can designate either one to use for a specific call. It will also remember that choice for later, but you can always override it any time.

If you're on a call and another call comes in on the other line, it goes to VM. Is that what you are referring to?

-David

What you said is correct. What I was referring to is the fact that you cannot be active on a call and receive a call from the other phone number. Instead it goes straight to voicemail.

Per https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044 :
”When you're on a call, an incoming call on your other phone number will go to voicemail, if you have voicemail set up with your carrier.* However, you won't get a missed-call notification from your secondary number. Call Waiting works for incoming calls on the same phone number. “

I believe you can also specify in the contact record which line to use for outgoing calls. So your business contacts would use the business SIM and personal contacts the personal SIM.

But in response to the question by the created of this sub thread, I have not used that case, I've only used the eSIM for data only. If I get a chance to mess with it, I will try a variation of that next month, with my T-MO line moved to the eSIM and my German (FONIC) SIM as the physical SIM (and primary for data). Then I can receive calls/texts made to my US T-MO number and use my German number while in Europe.

I just got back from my first international trip since I got the Esim. It went better than I expected. Got calls on my UK sim from clients. Got calls from home on T-mobile. It was great.

Last night I went to the AT&T store for my e-Sim activation card to use on my iPhone 11 Pro Max I'll receive today.

They would NOT give me an e-Sim activation # (card) without having the phone I was physically activating with the e-Sim # there. (Since I'm activating my 11 Pro Max, I don't have it.)

They said, "Once you leave the store, if it's not activated immediately it will be deactivated due to fraud risk."

I asked, "So how would it work if AT&T physically mailed me the card?"
(I had called ATT. They said they could mail me the card with the activation # on it, or I could get one at the store.)

They said I'd need to bring in the phone to the store with the card i received in the mail for activation.

If you are picking up your phone at an Apple store they have the AT&T activation card in the store. If it is being mailed to you it doesn't matter which store you go to.

I’m receiving the phone from Apple today.

Why couldn’t they just give me the card?
I don’t believe what they said re: fraud

I've asked a few times in an Apple Store and the reps don't seem to know they have eSIM activation cards?! They automatically tell me to go to the carrier.

An Apple support page says we can use the carrier app on our iPhones to activate eSIM. I've talked to a couple reps at an AT&T Store and they won't actually answer questions, like I'm talking to a politician, and just say to bring the iPhone in. Perhaps because they get a bonus for activating it in a store?

I shall try that! Thank you!

BINGO. No thought to the the waste of time and gas it puts on their customers.