PCM Telephone Module - sim issue

Sunil · Mar 3, 2005

I have been trying to come up with a practical solution to help make the transition between handset and carphone as simple as possible whilst using the same number. I've considered second sims and diverting calls etc ...

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the best solution I have come up with is to have 2 sims with the same number. Vodafone offer this as MultiSIM for £7+VAT per month for every additional sim.

"MultiSIM lets you use more than one mobile phone with the convenience of a single mobile phone number. It's suited to anyone who has more than one mobile device - perhaps a mobile with a built-in electronic organiser for work, a smaller phone for weekends or a car phone.

"Getting Started We link all of your mobile phones to a single account with one mobile phone number, making life easier and reducing your paperwork. You can make calls from any of them but will only receive calls on the device that you've nominated. To receive calls on a different phone, simply type a short code on the keypad. "

This seems like a perfect solution but I have to give them a call to find out whether it's compatible with GPRS.

Having said that, I have been with Orange since the network first launched and am reluctant to leave but may have little choice in the matter. A person in disconnections confirmed that they may offer 2 sims with the same number to a person if that person has a corporate account with 149+ phones but, even then, it's not guaranteed. Otherwise they seem quite happy to lose business to Vodafone.

Has anybody any other suggestions or is Vodafone's MultiSIM the best solution on offer?

Thanks,
Sunil

Guest · Mar 3, 2005

When ordering Multi sims beware !! You will lose the " Across networks " tariff and you will pay for all calls . It is an expensive way of using the in-car kits but have not found a solution yet myself. Also the DTMF is not enabled on the kits so dose not reconise * or # but you can set up the sim 1 and sim 2 as a short dial on your personel handset .

Guest · Mar 3, 2005

Sunhil

I have had this problem since 2002.

I used to use a second number on the same network and divert.

Vodaphone multi sim wont let you use cheaper price plans, data and GPRS services. (it didn't used too)

In 997 now with the sim easier to put in and out I have bought a Nokia 7280 phone which once you get used to is great! it does not a have a key pad but does have a little SIM draw on the side so is easy to swap sims

Jon

pwebb · Mar 3, 2005

Sunil

I've been using the mulitsim for a couple of years with Vodafone, and it works very well. I've now added the 997S to the CayenneS and so have three sim cards. I've entered a short code for each, so '3 send' is one car, '4 send' is another and '5 send' is the mobile. As has been said, you can make a call from any of the three at any time, it's only the incoming calls (and texts) that go to the nominated sim.
Bit of a con that you don't get the package discounts available, though.

Peter

Sunil · Mar 3, 2005

I've made a number of phone calls today and this is what I've come up with.

Orange has a service called Single Number which, not only allows the same number on 2 SIMS, but also allows a person to access most of their pricing packages "" Orange Value Promise excluded. Details of the service can be found at www.orange.co.uk/singlenumber

The service only works on 1800MHz and is limited to just 2 SIMS. Is the Porsche module dual band or just 900MHz? Has anyone tried an Orange SIM?

Unfortunately the service is only available to corporate customers with 50+ phones on their account. Despite this drawback, I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow and will report back on this thread. I don't expect to be successful but I'll give it a good go as I've been with Orange now for 10 years and have a not insubstantial spend on the network.

I'm sure that a number of us have experienced the same problem and, in light of that, may I suggest that PCGB lobbies Orange to make the service available to its members? I'm sure that Porsche would support such a move as, not only does it makes for safer driving, it will help them sell more phones. I'm confident that the take up would comfortably exceed 50 phones. I wouldn't be surprised if the average spend was higher as well.

Feedback?

Sunil

Michael Downing · Mar 3, 2005

ORIGINAL: Sunil
The service only works on 1800MHz and is limited to just 2 SIMS. Is the Porsche module dual band or just 900MHz? Has anyone tried an Orange SIM?

My 996 has an Orange SIM card and works perfectly.

I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow and will report back on this thread. I don't expect to be successful but I'll give it a good go as I've been with Orange now for 10 years and have a not insubstantial spend on the network.

Me too.

may I suggest that PCGB lobbies Orange to make the service available to its members?

Yes please!

Sunil · Mar 4, 2005

Okay - so I called Orange again this morning.

Same Number is only offered to corporate customers with at 49+ phones however this may be under review but I don't expect anything to happen fast.

However, I also was told that they could see no reason why members of PCGB could not be viewed collectively and be offered the service and receive bills on an individual account basis.

This would be a great solution for PCGB members and excellent for Orange as well since they'd be virtually guaranteed the business of anyone who has a phone module. Pretty good deal for Porsche too I expect.

For the powers that be, Orange Business Solutions can be contacted on 0800 731 3330. I'd be happy to help further if needed. Do we need to take a poll of people who'd be interested?

Sunil

PS I take delivery of my 997S today - so glad I waited for the snow to melt! [

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jonathanw · Mar 7, 2005

Hi

I tried the double sim on vodafone in my wife's XC90 and she found it a pain in the neck having to rember to tell each unit when she was transferring.

We got fed up with it and got a cheap sim only and used the divert facility.

My new 997 cab arrives in April with sat and fone. I have purchased a "free phone" from mobileshop.uk and will use the divert facility. The cost is effective zilch for the first year if you use less than 100 mims per month from the car. Everybody who needs my mobile number will still only get my regular number and not the car number.

Jonathan

Guest · Mar 9, 2005

Aftermarket bluetooth kit (parrot) with adapter is the way to go.

dixhuit · Mar 14, 2005

Got this problem sorted with O2. Business package (think it is 4 phones min no maximum) which I have now offers Business 400 thats 400 minutes and you can up this at anytime across all numbers per month. First number is about £40 and rest are all £12 per month. So 02 got me another number and for £12 per month the new SIM stays in the car and I just divert my normal mobile to the car. Even better they organised the last three digits to be 997 so I wouldnt forget it !

dereksharpuk · Mar 14, 2005

I just use a pay-as-you-go sim (cost £10 incl cost of calls), and divert my other mobile.

Sunil · Mar 15, 2005

I was contacted today by the Small Business Programme Manager at Orange. He informed me that the Single Number product is only 2 months old and will be made available to Small Business account holders later this year. He couldn't give me an exact date but he'll contact me as soon as it becomes available.

Single Number is by far the best solution due to its outright simplicity. With one SIM in the car ,and the other in the handset, all you have to do to shift calls to the car is switch the handset off. When you get out of the car, simply switch the handset back on. Additionally, all calls made from the car will share the minutes from the handset talk plan so there's no topping up pay as you go SIMs and you have one consolidated bill for both SIMs.

Sunil