Dual Sim iPhone & iMessage

Question

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Dual Sim iPhone & iMessage

Dear all and especially dear Apple,

iMessage on a Dual Sim iPhone doesn‘t really work. At least not nicely.

To describe my setup:

One private phone number
One business phone number
Private phone number used for iMessage
New conversations shall be started using Apple ID

The first issue is that only one phone number can be registered. Why is that? Before buying the XS, I used two cell phones - one for business, one for private purposes. I have been able to register both phone numbers without any problem. I have been able to send iMessages to the same people from both phones and my iPad. Now I have both numbers on one phone and it’s not possible any more. Apple, can you give me any sensible reason for that? Honestly, I really thought a while about it and I couldn’t find any.

Ok, if this was the only issue, I could halfway live with that. However, it is creating additional issues:

If I open an iMessage conversation that has been started with my business number, it switches to SMS. And I couldn’t find a way to change to my private number/Apple ID or any other possibility to enforce using iMessage.
Same setup as above, existing iMessage conversation started with business number. In some cases, it still shows that an iMessage is sent. However, it never arrives. Even if I switch the iMessage number to the business number later.
Ok, I then tried to use the method described by Apple on a support page to switch the message line: Simply start a new conversation. However, as soon as I choose the contact, no matter which number/e-mail connected to iMessage, I’m in the existing conversation again.
I then changed the standard number for that account to my private number. No change. I then switched back to standard number = business number for that contact.
I then deleted the conversation and started a new one. It still showed SMS or MMS (when Apple ID of the contact is chosen), however I then could at least switch to my private number and then iMessage was possible again. However, the setting is to use my Apple ID for new conversations, so why do I have to switch to the other phone number? The system knows that iMessage is possible so it should use it.

The behavior is currently not even close to what it should be. It is not possible to use iMessage on a Dual Sim iPhone if you either want to use both your numbers for iMessage (to separate private from business) or if there are existing conversations that have been started with the number that is not used for iMessage anymore. Ok, if you don’t mind to regularly delete the conversations, it might not be such a big issue... but is this really how the iMessage system should work?

I can’t help but wondering if anyone even tested iMessage on a Dual Sim iPhone... I don’t think so.

So please Apple, simply allow to use both numbers on a Dual Sim iPhone for iMessage. There is no difference from using several phones so there is no reason to block this function. Then all the above problems would disappear.

Or at least try to fix the problems mentioned above.

Thank you and best regards, Jogy

iPhone XS

Posted on Dec 18, 2018 6:23 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 22, 2019 8:26 AM in response to ishop4more

I know I am bumping this a little,

I think what everyone is forgetting is the current implementation is DSDS (dual sim dual standby) and not DSDV (Dual Sim Dual VoLTE)

I believe we are limited here because iMessage uses a data connection to send and recieve messages, and as you should know only ONE data connection is active at a time, hence the green bubbles.

This may change in the future via a software update but I am not holding my breath.

Intel 7560 Modem (iPhone XS / XR) Specs Page

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SIM Support LTE/LTE Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS)

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Answer 2

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Feb 21, 2019 4:27 AM in response to macmandanny

Another idea that just came to my mind: to register a number for iMessage, it has to be used on a device - the device sends an SMS to Apple for registering. This probably means that in Apple‘s database, the number is linked to that specific device. In consequence, if you use register another number on that device, the former one will be disconnected.

Could it be possible that Apple‘s database structure simply doesn‘t allow to assign two phone numbers to one device? Seems to be a minor issue at first sight, however changing a database structure can have a big impact on the whole system. Maybe that is the reason why Apple currently doesn’t allow to use both numbers.

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Answer 3

Firuz9

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2019 9:21 PM in response to PastorJB

I just tried and can confirm that it is still not working. Yes it shows 2 number entered in my account but in settings of iMessage you can only select 1 number and can’t select 2 number at the same time. Apple needs to address this and fixed. Thank you everyone.

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Answer 4

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 22, 2019 9:19 AM in response to macmandanny

This can’t be the issue in my opinion. As soon as a number is registered, it can be used for iMessage on any device connected to that Apple ID and not only by the one with that SIM card.

E.g. I can tell the iPad I‘m using right to start new iMessage conversations with the phone number of my iPhone. Even if it is switched off. When I have been using two iPhones before, I could tell one of the iPhones to use the phone number of the other iPhone for iMessage. And currently, I have registered my private phone number for iMessage, however I use my business number for mobile data.

So there is no connection between the active number for mobile data and the possibility of using any number for iMessage. And registering the number works by SMS as far as I know and this works with both numbers. So DSDS should not be an issue.

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Answer 5

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 23, 2019 2:19 AM in response to macmandanny

So you are saying all iMessages regardless of number used should come through that AppleID / Number.

It‘s slightly different. If you register a phone number with iMessage, you can use that number on any device using the same Apple ID for sending and receiving iMessages. This has been my setup before buying the Xs. I had two phone numbers and the e-mail address ai use for Apple ID registered to iMessage and on each of my devices (MacBook, two iPads, two iPhones) I have been able to choose

if iMessages to a certain number/e-mail address are received on that device
which number/e-mail address is used for new conversations

And I have been able to reply to any iMessage on any device with the number/e-mail it has been originally been sent to.

I still think this has something to do with the single active data connection

I don’t think so. If this was the case, my current setup on my Xs of using different numbers for data connection and iMessage could not work.

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Answer 6

PastorJB

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2019 9:04 PM in response to K-B-

I’m not sure if you all tried this or not. I just went to settings and clicked on my Id. I then went to emails and phone number(s) clicked edit and added my second number for iMessage. Now iMessage works for both numbers at the same time.

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Answer 7

Firuz9

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2019 9:23 PM in response to PastorJB

I just tried and can confirm that it is still not working. Yes it shows 2 number entered in my account but in settings of iMessage you can only select 1 number and can’t select 2 number at the same time. Apple needs to address this and fixed. Thank you everyone.

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Answer 8

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Apr 5, 2019 8:12 AM in response to JogyB

Tried your method as well, doesn‘t work for me. I have both numbers in the Apple ID settings, however the second one isn‘t shown in iMessage settings. And if I send a message to a contact for which I have specified the second number as standard, it automatically chooses SMS. If I change the standard setting for the contact to the first number, then iMessage works.

Anyway, if this was the solution, then the limitation is really arbitrary. Why not simply offer the same in iMessage settings?

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Answer 9

JogyB Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 18, 2018 8:44 AM in response to askbarnabas

Yes, that is the Apple support page I have been referring to.

The method described as "You can switch phone numbers before you send an SMS/MMS message. " does not work if a conversation already exists with that number. You first have to delete the conversation or you can't chose the line you want to use.

And I'm well aware that I can change the line I want to use for iMessages in the settings. So if I want to send a message to my wife, I have to go to the settings and switch to "private". Then I want to send a message to a colleague, so I go to settings again and switch to "business". Oh, then I remember that my daughter needed some info, so I switch again. And so on.

That's already annoying, however sometimes it happens that changing the line takes some time... can even be hours (happened last weekend), so this method is not usable anyway.

Best regards, Jogy

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Answer 10

Dec 26, 2018 1:09 PM in response to JogyB

I agree. I was in exactly the same boat as you, Jogy.

I absolutely HATE having green bubbles.

There is absolutely no reason why it can't support both. My iPad could before too. Maybe there will be an iOS update soon that will address this problem. I went through and even picked which line to use for every one of my contacts.

Surely people in other countries who have had dual sim for years have complained too.

I also wish I could name my group texts, but that is only possible with iMessages. I can't name anything if it has a green bubble.

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Answer 11

Jan 23, 2019 1:58 AM in response to JogyB

I kind of get you now,

So you are saying all iMessages regardless of number used should come through that AppleID / Number.

I still think this has something to do with the single active data connection, I also think this is resolvable, maybe the implementation washed rushed out the door.

I'd like to see Apple comment on this limitation, and let us know if we should hold out hope for a future update.

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Answer 12

Jan 23, 2019 2:23 AM in response to JogyB

So you get iMessage to the phone number without the data connection set as default. If that is the case I cannot understand why it does not work already. something is not right here and I hope apple fix it asap.

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Answer 13

petom

Level 1

4 points

Feb 25, 2019 12:20 AM in response to JogyB

Then it's time for Apple to fix their database. Current limitation is really a non-sense.

Basically Apple should understand that if people have dual sim phone, they can be running two sim cards in it and therefore also two phone numbers on one iPhone !! And there shouldn't be the limitation of being able to register only one of the phone numbers for iMessages.

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Answer 14

Firuz9

Level 1

4 points

Mar 1, 2019 7:48 PM in response to JogyB

I have the same problem. Also when I delete message that I send to same contact that uses iMessage then start new conversation it is works ok as iMessage but after sometime it is changes to SMS/MMS and that contact can't send me instantly pictures or videos anymore. Please, Apple fix this issue!!! This is becoming an annoying big issue. I even think about going back to iPhone 10 with single sim. Thank you

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Answer 15

Pozy718

Level 1

4 points

Mar 15, 2019 6:01 AM in response to Firuz9

It’s nice to have one phone now. I’m not liking that I can’t have both numbers registered as iMessage.. I am hopping in the upcoming releases apple will fix this. If not I might be going back to two phones which I want avoid at all cost..

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