Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

[DeanL]

When the other person SMSs you, you are now permanently stuck in green SMS mode until THEY send you an iMessage. They control the thread not you.

To answer your question why I would want to text the same person from 2 different numbers is VERY simple.

I work for a company and work abroad several times a month. In many counties my personal data plan is not covered in that country and SMS’s are very expensive. Say 70p/$1 each. So when I am away and need to text back home I use my business mobile. My company pays the bill. Get it?

So now I am sending messages to the same person via 2 different numbers. Don’t know where you live or how much you travel but everybody I know here (Europe) does the same when away on business.

So then what you do when you are travelling for business and they pay for it is turn off your domestic line, and everything will come out of your business line.
[doublepost=1541263767][/doublepost]

When the other person SMSs you, you are now permanently stuck in green SMS mode until THEY send you an iMessage. They control the thread not you.

To answer your question why I would want to text the same person from 2 different numbers is VERY simple.

I work for a company and work abroad several times a month. In many counties my personal data plan is not covered in that country and SMS’s are very expensive. Say 70p/$1 each. So when I am away and need to text back home I use my business mobile. My company pays the bill. Get it?

So now I am sending messages to the same person via 2 different numbers. Don’t know where you live or how much you travel but everybody I know here (Europe) does the same when away on business.

Also, I'm curious to see how Android Dual SIM phones handle this

 

[Pagemakers]

When you send a new message it gives you an option to pick the number. All it needs to do is give the same option regardless of a new thread or not.

Currently the moment somebody SMS’s you on your business number (line 2) your conversation permanently turns to green SMS until THEY iMessage you back on your personal (line 1) number to reset to iMessage or you totally delete the thread and start over.

I call that as stupid as it gets.
[doublepost=1541264023][/doublepost]If you turn off your primary line and send a message it does not send from line 2. It tries and fails to send an iMessage from line 1. You then have an option to send an SMS from line 1 u less you again delete the entire thread and start again.

 

[DeanL]

[doublepost=1541264023][/doublepost]If you turn off your primary line and send a message it does not send from line 2. It tries and fails to send an iMessage from line 1. You then have an option to send an SMS from line 1 u less you again delete the entire thread and start again.

You may need to change the iMessage line in your settings.

I agree that it could be handled better, but at the same time Apple has never been a company that supports every scenario.

Where I work, the business line is strictly for business. If I am travelling, they pay for the expenses of my second line too because the business must never be involved with personal data. For instance, if I use company resources to post something libellous, they are liable because it came from their networks.
Apple probably created this feature from this perspective.

 

[Pagemakers]

I messed about changing the iMessage line this morning and I’ve spent the entire day (about 5 hours) trying to get it working again. iMessage gave up and I could not log back in at all. The only way to fix it was to reset network settings.

Seriously, when many more people switch to dual sim on Apple the flood gates will open on this one. It’s an absolute mess for travellers.

It’s hard enough calling somebody on the 2nd line and not having it permanently switch to that line. Try it!!!

Dual sim is supposed to replace 2 phones. The current situation is FAR from that in reality.

 

[DeanL]

It’s hard enough calling somebody on the 2nd line and not having it permanently switch to that line. Try it!!!

It works on my side. Did you tag the contact with a preferred line? When you do so, by default it will always go out from that line.
The only exception is if they call your other line, then the call log will show the line they called, and if you click on it, it will dial back from that line, BUT if you ask Siri or call from the contacts, it will go out from your preferred line.

 

[Pagemakers]

99% of my contacts are tagged for my personal line. When I’m away I will call them from the work line but when you make the call the option is ALWAYS USE work. I don’t ALWAYS want to use work. I just do for that call.

After the call you have to change the line used back to personal. Crazy!

 

[DeanL]

99% of my contacts are tagged for my personal line. When I’m away I will call them from the work line but when you make the call the option is ALWAYS USE work. I don’t ALWAYS want to use work. I just do for that call.

After the call you have to change the line used back to personal. Crazy!

That comes back to you earlier comment. What you want is a "Always ask" option where you phone asks every single time from which line you want to perform an operation.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

You could even write an email to Tim Cook

 

[Pagemakers]

Oh trust me I’ve already sent feedback.

If you don’t travel much and need to switch from line to line this won’t affect you much. If you do like me it’s a huge issue.

 

[JDP1970]

Also, I'm curious to see how Android Dual SIM phones handle this

It's going back a while but, at the point of sending the message, the dual SIM Android I owned presented the option of send with Sim 1 or Sim 2. Simple isn't it?

Seriously, when many more people switch to dual sim on Apple the flood gates will open on this one. It’s an absolute mess for travellers.

It’s hard enough calling somebody on the 2nd line and not having it permanently switch to that line. Try it!!!

Dual sim is supposed to replace 2 phones. The current situation is FAR from that in reality.

Can't disagree with this. I sold my 6 Plus prior to purchasing the XS Max & my intention was to sell my 7 Plus once Dual SIM was activated......the 7 Plus isn't going anywhere just yet!

Dual SIM on IOS clearly needs a lot of work & fine tuning. It feels very prototype.

My wife has actually deferred purchasing the Max, as Dual SIM on IOS just seems too much like hard work for her.

 

[itsmilo]

Can I easily switch between data coming from the eSim and the sim?

I am asking cuz my private plan (Telekom) is on the eSim now. However I also got a sim from work from Vodafone which sometimes has better coverage on my commute so I’d like to be able to easily switch to Vodafone data in those cases

 

[Pagemakers]

Yes you can

 

[itsmilo]

Can I somehow deactivate calls and text (especially calls) on my secondary number while keeping data activated? I’d like to deactivate my work line after hours and the weekend so I cannot be reached but I’d still like to use its data. Can’t find the settings for but I heard it was somehow possible?

 

[Pagemakers]

Doesn’t look like you can deactivate voice. Data only.

 

[jtkboston]

Doesn’t look like you can deactivate voice. Data only.

One can turn off the line completely (requires 12.1.1 beta to do this on the nano-SIM), which behaves like the equivalent of taking the SIM out: when I did this, and then enabled the line again, it was about the same behavior as swapping a SIM into a new phone, such as requiring cellular radio contact before wifi calling works again.

 

[michael31986]

Can I use e sim for voice and text and then a data sim for the data only? I usually do that in Europe.

 

[catean]

Can I use e sim for voice and text and then a data sim for the data only? I usually do that in Europe.

Of course.

 

[LutzRFrank]

Of course.

Only one thing to consider ... you'll receive Visual Voicemail only for the account being activated as "Mobile Data".
Ie. if someone talks on my Vodafone box and I have another SIM activated for mobile data, I only get the Visual Voicemail after switching mobile data to Vodafone (eSIM)

Vice versa, getting a Swisscom Combox message - Visual Voicemail is only delivered when the Swisscom Card is active

 

[George Knighton]

Dual SIM on IOS clearly needs a lot of work & fine tuning. It feels very prototype.

I'm surprised that some of the details of the iOS implementation has caught the providers so off guard.

It sounds like maybe AT&T has got it working, but T-Mobile and Verizon are still working on their back end details, and probably trying to find a way to charge for it!

 

[michael31986]

I'm surprised that some of the details of the iOS implementation has caught the providers so off guard.

It sounds like maybe AT&T has got it working, but T-Mobile and Verizon are still working on their back end details, and probably trying to find a way to charge for it!

They are only going to charge news customers for activation. There is no fee for having an account on e sim monthly

 

[rbalkun]

Gigsky just went online

 

[john991]

Gigsky just went online

Promo code KAEI100 gives you $10 off. So you can try for free $10 gives you 300mb for 24 hours.

 

[DeanL]

Gigsky just went online

I get a system error

 

[john991]

I get a system error

Maybe their system is overloaded.

I can get into the app, but it’s slow.

 

[catean]

Promo code KAEI100 gives you $10 off. So you can try for free $10 gives you 300mb for 24 hours.

How/where do you apply the promo code?

 

[john991]

How/where do you apply the promo code?

How/where do you apply the promo code?

In the app, there is a spot to enter it. Where it shows the cost of $10