Any experiences with Dual Sim iPhone (11) in the US?
Dec 14, 2019, 8:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
Any experiences with Dual Sim iPhone (11) in the US?
For various reasons, I’m locked into the Apple environment.
With the iPhone 11 supporting dual-SIM capabilities, does anyone have experience using it for two lines with either both on one US carrier or two different US carriers? I’d like to port our long-held landline phone number to somewhere to keep the number, and putting it on my cellphone is one alternative. Information seems a bit lacking on exactly how this works.
For me, the second line could be voice-only (or voice & SMS only). Also evaluating VoIP alternatives as a destination for the number.
With the iPhone 11 supporting dual-SIM capabilities, does anyone have experience using it for two lines with either both on one US carrier or two different US carriers? I’d like to port our long-held landline phone number to somewhere to keep the number, and putting it on my cellphone is one alternative. Information seems a bit lacking on exactly how this works.
For me, the second line could be voice-only (or voice & SMS only). Also evaluating VoIP alternatives as a destination for the number.
Dec 15, 2019, 11:32 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,222
I've used it and it works just fine. You have to port the number to a carrier that supports the SIM - either eSIM or physical SIM - that you need to use. Also I believe that if you have Verizon on one SIM you can't have it on the other too.
Dec 15, 2019, 2:36 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
I’ve also used it with no issues... AT&T eSIM and Google Fi SIM. But if you’re just looking for a cheap place to park an old landline phone number, I’d look at voip.ms instead of another cellular line.
Dec 15, 2019, 5:07 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2013
Location: USA
Programs: AA Plt Pro, UA Silver, DL, QF; HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 128
I use my iPhone 11 Pro in this way, and used my XS similarly in the past. VZW eSIM, and Google Fi physical SIM (so T-Mo network here). Works really well, with no noticeable issues on my end. Obviously when one service is being used, the other is disabled. As java mentions above, that's certainly not the cheapest solution to your issue.
Dec 15, 2019, 6:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,670
Interesting. What leads you to believe so? I ask, because theoretically there should be no reason why two Verizon SIMs (one physical, one esim) could not co-exist on a single device. The two sims operate with separate IMEIs. Has anybody tried this?
Dec 15, 2019, 6:40 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,222
If a CDMA carrier provides service on one of the SIMs then you can't use the other one for another CDMA carrier. Of course, LTE != CDMA so maybe this is moot...but CDMA doesn't use SIMs to begin with.
Verizon's eSIM FAQ doesn't mention it anymore so maybe things have changed.
Dec 15, 2019, 9:19 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
CDMA isn’t long for Verizon’s world so I’m not too worried about that. Seems like the choice is to take a VoIP based solution for less cost and keep it at home or about ~$20/mo for it to end up on my mobile.
Dec 16, 2019, 10:18 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,256
You can use a VoIP based solution like voip.ms and still receive the calls on your cell if that's what you want. Call forwarding is the easiest, but it costs a little bit (~$0.01/minute). This is what I do because call volume on my old landline number is very low. Or you can use an app like Bria to get your VoIP line on your phone. This also lets you make outbound calls from that number, but it can affect battery life.
Dec 17, 2019, 5:16 am
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
You could just move your landline to google voice. Probably the easiest and cheapest method to keep the line.
As for dual Sim, I'm currently using Verizon as primary (eSim) and Google Fi as a secondary (physical sim) in my iPhone XS Max. Works great
As for dual Sim, I'm currently using Verizon as primary (eSim) and Google Fi as a secondary (physical sim) in my iPhone XS Max. Works great
