eSIM phones come with many benefits
WhatPhone has written about eSIM technology for several years before becoming a mainstream feature on flagship phones. Thankfully, eSIM devices are now widely available in Australia, and customers have several eSIM plans choose from. But what exactly are the benefits of owning an eSIM device?
The benefits eSIM technology brings to mobile devices are plenty. Let’s touch on a few:
- eSIM phones can save you money on roaming while traveling overseas
- eSIM phones allow customers to buy and activate SIM plans in minutes, eliminating the possibility of missing new, valuable phone plan deals.
- eSIM phones allow customers to have separate voice and data plans, so bundling is no longer mandatory.
These are just some of the many benefits eSIM technology brings to the consumer mobile phone market. However, this article will focus on a different benefit: eSIM phones allow users to have two phone numbers on the same device. Read on to find out.
What is an eSIM?
A digital SIM card, known as an eSIM, works much like a physical SIM card, except it’s embedded directly into the device. Rather than purchasing a physical SIM card from a telco and installing it in your device, the eSIM virtually identifies your device and downloads your telco’s profile to connect you to their network using the relevant SIM plan you purchased.
Although the eSIM was first introduced in Australia in 2017, it was initially used primarily on wearable devices like smartwatches. For several years, Australia’s major telcos were hesitant to offer eSIM plans for more critical devices like smartphones, possibly because the convenience of switching telcos quickly could have affected their revenue.
Despite the slow initial adoption of eSIM technology in Australia, a variety of eSIM plans and phones are now available for Aussies to choose from. Later in this article, we will list these telcos, and the types of eSIM plans they offer.
How an eSIM phone can give you two phone numbers on the same device
If you own a phone with eSIM technology, you can purchase a phone plan without waiting for a physical SIM card to get delivered in the post. That’s because the eSIM is a digital feature that downloads your telco’s profile after you purchase an eSIM plan. The entire process can be completed in minutes, saving time and the expenses of buying and shipping a physical SIM card.
But the fact that an eSIM serves as a digital SIM also provides another benefit – dual phone numbers on the same device. While some telcos and phone manufacturers might limit the number of phone plans you have active simultaneously, a typical eSIM phone also comes with a physical SIM card tray. Users can then use the additional physical SIM card slot to purchase and activate a different phone number.
Further, some flagship phones, like Apple’s iPhone 14 models, also have multiple eSIM slots for several eSIM plans. Such phones allow users to use two active eSIM plans simultaneously without needing a physical SIM card as a secondary phone plan/number. In fact, the iPhone 14 models do not even have a physical SIM card tray.
Having two phone numbers on the same phone is handy for several users. But the most popular use cases for two simultaneous phone numbers are:
- People who wish to have a separate business and personal number on the same device.
- People who wish to buy a local phone plan in their destination country when they travel abroad, thereby eliminating the need for expensive roaming plans.
How to use two phone numbers on your eSIM iPhone
Apple began installing eSIMs on the iPhone XS lineup and later. While the iPhone XS to iPhone 12 models only allow dual phone numbers when using an eSIM and physical SIM card simultaneously, iPhone 13 models and later support two active eSIMs simultaneously.
To learn how to set up and activate your eSIM plan on your iPhone, read our article describing how to activate your phone plan when you have an eSIM. For even more details, you can visit the Apple website to learn different methods for activating your eSIM plan on an iPhone.
After activating your eSIM plan on your iPhone, follow these steps to use two phone numbers simultaneously:
- Label your eSIM phone plan, which will be your first or second number. Your label can be changed later in the Settings menu if you wish.
- Choose which phone number or plan to use as your default call number (either the eSIM or physical SIM plan in a device that does not support dual eSIMs).
- If you want to use a specific phone number for particular contacts, tap the contact > Preferred Cellular Plan > choose your preferred phone number when calling said contact.
- You can also choose which number to use immediately before making a call by entering the phone number on your keypad > tapping the number at the top of the screen > and then choosing the number you wish to use to place the call.
How to use two phone numbers on your eSIM Android phone
You can use two phone numbers simultaneously if your Android device supports eSIM technology. The process is similar to that of iPhone models described above. However, many Android devices need a physical SIM card tray in addition to the eSIM to support dual, simultaneous phone numbers.
In the case of an Android phone with both eSIM and physical SIM card slots, using two phone numbers simultaneously on the same device is as simple as switching between phone numbers when prompted before placing a call or sending an SMS.
Telcos offering eSIM plans in Australia
If you’re interested in purchasing an eSIM plan for dual phone numbers, here’s a list of Australian telcos offering eSIM postpaid and/or prepaid plans.
| Postpaid eSIM Plans | Prepaid eSIM Plans | |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra | Yes | Yes |
| Optus | Yes | Yes |
| Vodafone | Yes | Yes |
| Woolworths (Telstra Network) | Yes | Yes |
| Kogan Mobile (Vodafone Network) | Yes | Yes |
| Lebara (Vodafone Network) | No | Yes |
| Amaysim (Optus Network) | No | Yes |
| Gomo (Optus Network) | No | Yes |
| Felix (Vodafone Network) | No | Yes |
Final words
eSIM technology boasts several benefits for Australian phone users. But one of the most valuable benefits of the eSIM is the ability to use two different phone numbers at the same time on the same device.
The eSIM’s dual phone number feature is handy for Australians who wish to use separate phone numbers for their business and personal callers. Dual phone numbers also come in handy for Australians traveling overseas to save money on roaming costs. Such users can purchase a local phone plan from their destination country and activate it on one of their eSIM slots, eliminating the expense and need for roaming plans.