Second SIM card?

[SimonP]

Has anyone any experience of getting a second SIM card (with the same number as my existing SIM) from Vodafone?
I have just aquired a car with a built in phone kit that will work with my old Nokia phone, would be nice to use it without having to swap the SIM out of my XDA phone every time.

 

[tscaptain]

Don't think it can be done!
http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=14613
Had the same problem with O2, they won't issue a second sim card with the same tel. no.

 

[sawood12]

You can get a porting service from your phone company though (or should be able to). I've got a mobile phone and a Blackberry for work and ive got my BB ported to my mobile. It's basically like an automatic divert service, so if I want all my calls to go through to my BB i'll cancel all call diverts on my mobile and switch it off and all my calls come through to my BB. Doesn't work with text messages though. So I guess you could get a PAYG SIM for the same phone company in your Nokia phone and port the number in the same way.

 

[georgethackray]

This is something I'vealways wanted to be able to do. It looks like Vodafone can't / won't, but apparently Orange can:
http://www.business.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Business&c=OUKPage&cid=1135953583381
They offer a service called 'Singlenumber'

 

[Fen]

Yep, Orange do it - if you're a business customer with more than 50 (or maybe it was 100) handsets. I ran into this problem myself about 3 years ago.

In the end I had 2 numbers in two handsets on one account and used their service which was available to all business customers of free calls between them, and set up a "divert when not available" from one to the other.

The problem with that is that you give someone the number of the SIM in the Nokia handset so that it rings if it's powered on (at least old Nokia hands free kits were wired to shut the phone down when you turned off the ignition - not sure why as it was a pain, though easy enough to disable), and if it's off it diverts to the XDA (and if you don't answer then it goes to the XDA voicemail). All good. the problem is if you make a call from the XDA then the other party sees that number and is inclined to use it to call you in the future thus bypassing your cleverly set-up system. Alternatively you can withold the XDA sending its number but then people wonder why your number is witheld and may even choose not to answer when you ring.

Simplest solution is to bin the Nokia and get a Bluetooth hands free kit I'd suggest. That way the XDA can stay in your pocket all the time and you can answer or call out handsfree when you're in the car.

 

[burrow01]

Hi

Spoke to Orange about this, yes you need to be a business customer, but there is no restriction related to the number of Handsets in your plan - problem I had was that I have two numbers on the same SIM (one for business one personal) and it did not work in that situation

Pete

 

[aitch]

I am surprised Vodafone Uk do not provide this. I have a second Sim in the Volvo kit in my XC90, supplied by Vodafone Portugal.It works fine, I just switch off my mobile when in the car and it diverts everything including texts. I think it cost a one off charge of about 20 euros.

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: burrow01

Hi

Spoke to Orange about this, yes you need to be a business customer, but there is no restriction related to the number of Handsets in your plan - problem I had was that I have two numbers on the same SIM (one for business one personal) and it did not work in that situation

Pete

That's a positive move, then.

 

[andy watson]

Hi Simon

Up untill 2003 when I ran my own plumbing firm I had a fixed phone in the van and a mobile, a sim in each with the one number Vodafone called the service then 'Multisim'.

I had the service for around 8 years and it was excellant, when I got in the van tapped in 131 into the van phone and that took over, then when I left the van 131 on the handheld.

That would be just what you want, surprised if they don't still do this, if I remember at the time it was under a tenner a month.

Cheers
Andy

 

[georgethackray]

I tried searching for Multisim yesterday, and it seems they've discontinued it for some strange reason: http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16548

 

[Peter Cee]

I had the same system but 'multisim' was withdrawn by vodafone last september.

Without fitting a bluetooth kit - the only way round it on vodafone is have a second sim with it's own number in the car and divert your handset to the carphone when you're in the car and cancel divert when you're not.

In practise I just let close freinds and family know the car number and leave the mobile switched off - who wants to deal with clients whilst enjoying yourself in a 911 anyway - but then I only really drive it at weekends and holidays.

 

[SimonP]

Well, thanks to all for your comments, I should have mentioned when I bought the XDA I gave the O2 sim to my daughter as it was 600 mins/600 texts/month, (I still can't understand how she can manage to get through up to 1000 texts in a month!!!)
Anyway, as the XDA was unlocked from new I fitted my existing Vodafone sim and have a spare PAYG Vodafone sim that I can use in the car phone (the old Nokia).
My only concern is how much if at all it will cost to divert call to the PAYG sim...?
Next time I am in town I will go into the store and see if they can advise, I can't stand calling Vodafone, I haven't got much time left in my life..