Dual SIM handset data usage

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quickymart

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#288196 13-Jun-2021 10:53

I'm looking at dual SIM handset for my next phone. For the purposes of this question, let's say it works on all the bands of Spark and Vodafone, so coverage won't be an issue.

I have a Spark prepaid SIM with no plan, so everything is on casual rates. I also have a Vodafone on-account plan with data. Both have their own separate Whatsapp account (for one thing), tied to the specific number. SIM-1 would be the Vodafone one (the main one) and Spark would be SIM-2.

My query is if I send or receive a photo or video on Whatsapp (for example) for the Spark number, does it use the data allowance on my Vodafone one to complete the download/upload? Or does it look at the Spark number (where the message is destined for) and say, "you have no data allowance on this number, therefore I'm downloading this at the Spark casual data rate".

Assume that wifi is not available but mobile signal for both networks is.

Sorry for the basic question but dual SIM is something I don't know a lot about.

Thanks :)

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#2727828 13-Jun-2021 10:58

@quickymart You select which SIM to use data / calls / SMS

Edit: add photo

for calls and SMS you can select ' always ask ' or set a default for outgoing

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#2727830 13-Jun-2021 11:04

Here is another screen shot just taken with Wi-Fi calling turned off VoLTE1 on 2degrees & VoLTE2 on SparkNZ

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#2727831 13-Jun-2021 11:09

When I select ' Calls ' and same option for ' messages ' - SMS

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#2727832 13-Jun-2021 11:11

Mobile data you can not set to ' always ask ' it is one SIM or the other or mobile data off

lxsw20

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#2727833 13-Jun-2021 11:20

iPhone can use the SIM2 for data if SIM1 has poor reception.

quickymart

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#2728107 13-Jun-2021 18:56

Thanks to both of you, much appreciated :)

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openmedia

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#2728188 13-Jun-2021 23:55

How are you going to manage having two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

MaxineN

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#2728196 14-Jun-2021 07:35

Some phones let you clone messaging applications for this very purpose.

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cisconz

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#2728272 14-Jun-2021 09:42

openmedia:

How are you going to manage having two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone?

Duo on Samsung Android lets you have 2 accounts, and if you use Work Profiles (Via Intune etc) then you can have a "Work" and "Personal" version of each app.

Not sure how IOS does this.

Hmmmm

MaxineN

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#2728273 14-Jun-2021 09:44

cisconz:

openmedia:

How are you going to manage having two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone?

Duo on Samsung Android lets you have 2 accounts, and if you use Work Profiles (Via Intune etc) then you can have a "Work" and "Personal" version of each app.

Not sure how IOS does this.

From my brief 5 minutes of trying to find out.

I don't think you can.

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halper86

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#2728283 14-Jun-2021 10:12

cisconz:

openmedia:

How are you going to manage having two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone?

Duo on Samsung Android lets you have 2 accounts, and if you use Work Profiles (Via Intune etc) then you can have a "Work" and "Personal" version of each app.

Not sure how IOS does this.

iOS is due to have a feature similar to this with iOS15, but I am unsure if this will involve dual sim.

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quickymart

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#2728308 14-Jun-2021 10:52

Yep, Android lets you have two instances of Whatsapp on the same device (as well as a few other apps, I believe). That's what I'm planning to use.

lxsw20

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#2728367 14-Jun-2021 11:08

MaxineN:

From my brief 5 minutes of trying to find out.

I don't think you can.

Correct, you can't. I think the only solution I've seen is to set it up then use the browser version, but extremely clunky/no alerts.

quickymart

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#2736466 29-Jun-2021 21:54

Something I forgot to ask - I want to keep SMS's and contacts separate between the SIM cards. So all the SMS's/contacts on SIM1 should have nothing to do with SIM2. Same thing for the Google Photos (each phone has its own Google login so they're separate).

If it's a Samsung Galaxy I'm looking at getting, does this work, or do they all need to be combined into one massive thing? ie, all the contacts/SMS's/photos are mixed up together, or can they be separated?

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#2736470 29-Jun-2021 22:20

Not dived that deep into the setup but in the SMS log it shows if SMS sent from SIM1 or SIM2

Edit: Battery life is impacted when both SIMs are enabled

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