Can You Have More than One Cellphone on One Phone Number?

[Joe]

I've gotten different answers to this question. The latest was from a sales person at Target, who said that when a cellphone gets initialized, the phone and the phone number are uniquely associated. So you can get a new phone and associate it with your existing phone number, but only by removing the association between your old cell phone and that phone number.

I was toying with the idea of getting a new cellphone, but wanted them both to use the same phone number.

 

[Second Summer]

I've gotten different answers to this question. The latest was from a sales person at Target, who said that when a cellphone gets initialized, the phone and the phone number are uniquely associated. So you can get a new phone and associate it with your existing phone number, but only by removing the association between your old cell phone and that phone number.

I was toying with the idea of getting a new cellphone, but wanted them both to use the same phone number.

I would think the Target sales person is correct. Or at least this is how it works here in Europe. The phone number is associated with the SIM card though, which you can remove and put into any other phone you may have.

You may be able to have two different numbers, but let one phone automatically forward incoming calls to the other number. Not sure if that would be good enough?

 

[shyvas]

I would think the Target sales person is correct. Or at least this is how it works here in Europe. The phone number is associated with the SIM card though, which you can remove and put into any other phone you may have.

You may be able to have two different numbers, but let one phone automatically forward incoming calls to the other number. Not sure if that would be good enough?

That's right. However you would have to unlock the 2 nd phone before putting in the sim card.

 

[Joe]

I would think the Target sales person is correct. Or at least this is how it works here in Europe. The phone number is associated with the SIM card though, which you can remove and put into any other phone you may have.

Thanks. I think you've convinced me that this position is correct.

You may be able to have two different numbers, but let one phone automatically forward incoming calls to the other number. Not sure if that would be good enough?

Well, that's not what I was looking for, for a couple of reasons. First, the cellphone plan I have now is structured on basically a monthly fee (just for having the account/phone number) plus 10 cents a minute. So I would have to pay two "entry" fees to have two numbers. Another cell phone plan I am looking at with another company has a similar rate structure. Second, I wanted to be able to use two phones on one number in case one of the phones were temporarily lost or disabled. I could then just use the other phone. I am having problems with the battery on my current phone. It is not holding a charge too well. Plus, you cannot charge the battery with the phone on. So if you and I were having a conversation and I got the "low battery" warning, I would have to end the call abruptly and say, "Gotta go and put the phone on the charger! I'll call you back in an hour or so!" Not good. Plus, when I asked the company about switching batteries, they said I had better have a copy of all my contact info because I might lose it all in a battery swap. (Some people said I would not lose it, but I cannot take the chance.) So I am laboriously copying/typing the info into a spreadsheet by hand. It is extremely slow going and boring.

I might just get a second phone and number with another company. When I first got my cellphone, I had a landline. Now, the landline is gone. Instead of rarely using the cellphone and only in extraordinary situations,
I am using it more routinely and extensively. And more people are calling me who want to have long conversations. So I may need to go with another plan. But I don't want to abandon my current phone and number until I am sure that the other plan and company has what I want. I might want to keep two phones with two different companies indefinitely.

 

[shyvas]

You should ask the new company for portability. I have kept my original phone number and have changes providers 3 times.

 

[RascalsMom]

I'm sure some person somewhere has figured out how to duplicate a SIM card to do this, but there's probably some law against doing that. (As it's kinda stealing the second phones service)

 

[Amy SF]

Joe, have you thought of getting a prepaid phone (from TracFone, for example) as a backup phone instead of paying for a full second plan?

 

[Second Summer]

Plus, when I asked the company about switching batteries, they said I had better have a copy of all my contact info because I might lose it all in a battery swap. (Some people said I would not lose it, but I cannot take the chance.) So I am laboriously copying/typing the info into a spreadsheet by hand. It is extremely slow going and boring.

Newer phones such as any Android phone since at least v2.2, can store your contacts information for you online with your Google account. So if you don't mind if the NSA gets to know about your contacts, then this is perhaps a good option.

 

[Clueless Git]

I want two houses in different towns that both have the same address.

 

[Calliegirl]

Plus, when I asked the company about switching batteries, they said I had better have a copy of all my contact info because I might lose it all in a battery swap. (Some people said I would not lose it, but I cannot take the chance.) So I am laboriously copying/typing the info into a spreadsheet by hand. It is extremely slow going and boring.

I've never lost the info on any of my phones when switching batteries. That's on both, a smartphone and a regular basic phone. I can even go back to old phones I used years ago to get a number or info from a text. I just have to charge up the battery.
If your phone uses a memory card, you should be able to store a copy of the info on it, and not worry about losing it during a battery change.

 

[ledboots]

Yes I think a battery change is fine, not risky. I recently backed up my contacts by putting them on my laptop via the USB to phone cable (well actually my son did lol.)

You can get inexpensive batteries on amazon, or there are portable quick chargers. http://lifehacker.com/best-external-battery-pack-phone-charger-509473009

 

[Pirate]

If we were still in the 90s I'd say yeah there's a risk of losing your data when you take the battery out. However, these days the phone will be fine and all your data saved as long as its switched off properly (yanking battery out with phone on may cause errors). kinda like how you can take the battery out of a laptop and all the data is still there when you turn it back on. I store my contacts on Google though in case something happened to the phone.

The phone number is stored on the sim card, which you can move between phones as long as they are on the same network or unlocked to any network. but you cant have 2 sim cards with the same phone number. If your phone got stolen or lost you can get the number moved on to a new sim card by calling the network.

disclaimer: phones may work differently in uk although i doubt it. ive been through many phone in my years and never had issues swapping, ive even got my phone number transferred from one network to another (had a better deal but didnt want to change my number)

 

[shyvas]

If we were still in the 90s I'd say yeah there's a risk of losing your data when you take the battery out. However, these days the phone will be fine and all your data saved as long as its switched off properly (yanking battery out with phone on may cause errors). kinda like how you can take the battery out of a laptop and all the data is still there when you turn it back on. I store my contacts on Google though in case something happened to the phone.

The phone number is stored on the sim card, which you can move between phones as long as they are on the same network or unlocked to any network. but you cant have 2 sim cards with the same phone number. If your phone got stolen or lost you can get the number moved on to a new sim card by calling the network.

disclaimer: phones may work differently in uk although i doubt it. ive been through many phone in my years and never had issues swapping, ive even got my phone number transferred from one network to another (had a better deal but didnt want to change my number)

I have always used portability when changing providers as I really like my phone number.

I found an interesting article about US v UK cell phones.

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.fr/2006/09/european-vs-american-mobile-phone-use.html

 

[Amy SF]

I have always used portability when changing providers as I really like my phone number.

I found an interesting article about US v UK cell phones.

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.fr/2006/09/european-vs-american-mobile-phone-use.html

That blog is a long read, but interesting. Thanks for posting it.

It's also interesting that the author says:

Mobile phone services and features in Japan and Korea make both Americans and Europeans look like techno-hicks.

I have a Samsung flip phone; Samsung is a Korean company, but with my phone, the features are poorly designed and glitchy. I don't know if the glitches are due to the design or the age of the phone itself, but I can't wait to get rid of it. I should add that I didn't pick the phone out for myself. My mother bought it for herself, wanting it mainly for the phone and not caring about the other features. I took it when my old phone died. (My mother was no longer using it by then.)

 

[ledboots]

I have always used portability when changing providers as I really like my phone number.

I found an interesting article about US v UK cell phones.

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.fr/2006/09/european-vs-american-mobile-phone-use.html

That's interesting. I think a lot of things have changed about mobile phones and all that stuff since that article in '06 though. Nowadays many people here seem to have smartphones, whereas in 2006, no way.

I heartily dislike the way cellphone purchases in the US are tied to the service provider. One of the reasons I chose the company I did is because it allows frequent upgrades on equipment.

I just upgraded to a new android and am very happy with its big easy to read screen.

I wonder, do you guys tend to put your phone on the dinner table? I don't usually, to not seem rude, but would like to, and I do check it.

 

[Amy SF]

While I don't have a smartphone, I do carry my cellphone with me all the time. However, when I'm not actively using it, I keep it stowed away in a pocket or in my purse. I'm not sure I'd change that behavior if I had a smartphone, but only time will tell. (I plan to get a smartphone this year.)

 

[shyvas]

That's interesting. I think a lot of things have changed about mobile phones and all that stuff since that article in '06 though. Nowadays many people here seem to have smartphones, whereas in 2006, no way.

I heartily dislike the way cellphone purchases in the US are tied to the service provider. One of the reasons I chose the company I did is because it allows frequent upgrades on equipment.

I just upgraded to a new android and am very happy with its big easy to read screen.

I wonder, do you guys tend to put your phone on the dinner table? I don't usually, to not seem rude, but would like to, and I do check it.

I put my phone into my handbag and usually switch it onto the vibration mode. I consider that it is very rude to answer the phone (unless it's for business or if someone has to be reached for an emergency) when you're dining with someone.

 

[Mischief]

I consider that it is very rude to answer the phone (unless it's for business or if someone has to be reached for an emergency) when you're dining with someone.

I agree. I also think it's rude to answer the phone when you're having a conversation with someone in person, if you have guests, etc.

 

[Calliegirl]

I always put it on vibrate or turn it off when visiting with friends or family, in restaurants, at the doctors office, etc. I hate when people are holding up a line because they have to continue their conversations and make everyone wait. The same goes when visiting with friends/family. I end up very irritated when I have to constantly wait for them to have a conversation or finish texting, or to constantly check their phone to see if they somehow missed a text or call. You can't have a real conversation with someone when so much of their attention is directed to their phone.

 

[shyvas]

I also hate it when you're on the coach and you have to listen to the various conversations, (usually dumb) that other passengers are having.