Cellphone Mysteries Explained; What Is Dual SIM And Dual Standby
Even despite the not quite iPhone OS and sometimes questionable quality.
But what does does dual SIM mean, what is it capable of and how can you best use it.
When looking at a a dual SIM phone you really need to take into consideration two things:
- Dual SIM
- Dual Standby
What Is Dual SIM And Dual Standby?
Dual SIM
Dual SIM is simply a single cellphone with two SIM card slots. Simple!
Dual SIM essentially refers to a phone that can hold and utilize two SIM cards in the same GSM cellular phone.
It doesn’t matter if they’re dual SIM TV phones or any other dual SIM phones as long as they take two SIM cards and read them, then they are dual SIM mobile phones.
Just because a cell phone can take two SIM cards, it doesn’t mean that both SIM cards are working. You need the dual standby function for that (More about that below).
However this doesn’t mean that having two SIM cards isn’t very useful for:
- Keeping all of your personal and business contacts separate while keeping them in the same place
- Keeping two separate numbers so that you are always in touch
- Traveling between country to country
Dual Standby
A dual stand by phone is different to a dual SIM phone in that has one CPU but, will actively monitor both networks at the same time.
While dual SIM cell phones will put two phone numbers into the same phone you need to physically switch between them by going into the settings menu and making the switch.
However, dual standby phones can actively switch between the two without any input from you.
How Does Dual SIM And Dual Standby Work?
Dual SIM
A dual SIM phone always has two SIM card slots and, occasionally, two CPUs.
Phones that have two CPUs are few and far between. In fact, even though we have sold hundreds of cell phones and looked at thousands more we have only seen one example of a dual CPU phone.
A phone that has dual SIM slots without having a dual standby function will require you to go into settings and change it from SIM 1 to SIM 2 and vice versa.
There are some older forms of dual SIM available where the second SIM card slot is just another place, besides your wallet, to keep your spare SIM card.
Dual Standby
With Dual Standby phones there is an electronic switch in the phone which will automatically switch between SIM cards depending on which one is getting a call from somewhere.
If a second call should happen to arrive when you are already talking on the phone one of two things will happen:
1) If you have call secretary software, or your carrier has an online call secretary service then if you’re on the phone and another call comes in then it’ll be shipped to voicemail.
2) If no such software or option exists on your GSM dual mobile then the other caller will just be told that your line is busy.
How Can I Use A Dual SIM/Dual Standby Phone?
Making a call
Insert the number you wish to dial, and select SIM 1 or SIM 2
Sending A Text Message
Select the options icon and select SIM 1 or SIM 2
Saving A Number To A SIM
to store a new contact, insert their number, tap the “add contact” option and select either SIM cards or the mobile phone memory itself
