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General discussion

Two cell phones sharing the same number

Apr 25, 2009 12:52PM PDT

Is it possible to have one number on two cell phones?
Either both at the same time or one at a time?

Discussion is locked

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Re: sharing number
Apr 25, 2009 8:32PM PDT

For a GSM the number is burned into the SIM-card. And your provider won't make 2 SIM-cards with the same number. But you can use that same card in different phones at different times.

Kees

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Possible in Europe
Apr 25, 2009 9:08PM PDT

Depends on your operator. I have a phone built-in into my car, and another portable one. Both have a SIM card with the same number. Network routes call to the phone that last communicated with the network.

It's not ideal, you always have to switch-off one and then switch on the other one, if you want to make sure that the calls go where you want them.

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phone in US
Apr 25, 2009 10:54PM PDT

Might be possible in Europe but not in the US. The billing systems simply will not allow two SIM #'s active for the same phone #. I also think that is considered illegal in the US (cloning).

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that's too bad... :(
Apr 26, 2009 11:29PM PDT

... a while back I was looking into the possibility of getting one of the regional unlimited $30-50/mo or so plans for local area calling from a place like MetroPCS, Cricket, etc, while retaining my T-Mobile prepaid for roaming, but both having the same number so people I have given my number to in the past wouldn't need to be given a new one. Also I was wanting a data plan, because I'm getting tired of being restricted to T-Zones, ESPN, ABC and CNN for web browsing on my phone. I was thinking it would be nice to have it set up so that an incoming call would ring both phones simultaneously, and whichever one I answered would determine which account gets billed for the call. And, if I missed a call, either it would go to the voicemail of the phone last used on a successful call (or one I attempted to initiate), or I'd set it up so my voicemail all went on one account.

Oh well... one can dream, I guess Plain

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Also check out Google Voice
Apr 27, 2009 12:10AM PDT
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(NT) I too have the same dream...
Nov 30, 2010 1:03PM PST
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yes it is
Apr 27, 2009 7:35PM PDT

It is absolutely possible to do on a cdma network, however if you just walk in to your local verizon they will never let you and will tell you it is impossible.
What you need is a friendly local wireless shop and for a fee( very often in cash under the table- you never heard this here) they can programme the same number into both phones.
I have found this useful in the past when I had a hard wired car hand set, these days i dont find it so useful.

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Verizon will spit such a scheme back out
Apr 28, 2009 1:02AM PDT

System audits on the current technologies eliminate such schemes. It won't work, certainly not more than very temporarily.

-Pedro

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Same phone #'s different carrires
Apr 19, 2016 5:02PM PDT

Can two people have the same phone number, but different carriers. example Joe's phone # is (310)222-5555 his carrier is AT&T, and Billy Bob's phone # is (310)222-5555 same # as Joe's however, Ole Billy Bob's carrier is Verizon.

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That's an easy no.
Apr 19, 2016 5:15PM PDT

Sorry but just a short answer without offering to explain a long why. Mostly it's how the phone system works. It does not support this.

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Nonsense.
Apr 23, 2016 6:04AM PDT

One phone number on one active SIM card, period.
Let's look at how silly this is: If I'm calling that number, who gets my call? Joe or Billy Bob? Both. Who's annoyed? Everyone.

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Possible Victim?
Jun 1, 2016 7:44AM PDT

That's pretty interesting.

I've been receiving phone calls for about a week looking for a 'Carlos' in regards to shipping a car somewhere. I've probably gotten 25 calls or so (All from shipping companies), which made me assume this Carlos guy didn't want to give out his real number, but my wife just informed me that when our Vet tried to call me last week, he was just greeted with a Hispanic voicemail and hung up. Though when I try calling my number from my office, it still goes through to my voicemail. So something must be up. The plot thickens. Any suggestions?

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Ported number?
Oct 8, 2016 7:34AM PDT

It sounds to me that this number wasn't ported out of its native switch. People local to that numbers native switch will route to one voicemail and people outside will use what is called a LRN local routing number. You need to call you phone provider and have the reach out to the owner of the native switch to chech to make sue it is ported out correctly and two make sure it has a correct LRN assigned.

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what you want is conferencing
Apr 19, 2016 6:15PM PDT

Even Magic Jack offers that service. Various ways it works, but someone can call a number and then give it the numbers it wants added to the conference, so a multi-phone connection can be used. Check with your carrier.

Phone conferencing, low as $10 per month.

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No. Specifically, not on 2 SIM cards
Apr 23, 2016 5:58AM PDT

You can port your number to Google voice, (which is not on a SIM card) and keep your number on Google voice, using whatever prepaid sim you get from any carrier in the world. You can set Google voice as the primary on the phone for talk and text.

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Create a clone phone
Sep 24, 2016 10:32PM PDT

A phone needs to be made so that a parent can see and hear exactly what their child is seeing and doing at the time it's being done, like a land line phone in homes. I.E. If child is on the phone parent should be able to access the same conversation, web site, social media in real time

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Re: clone phone
Sep 25, 2016 2:18AM PDT

I'm afraid that is impossible.

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Doesn't work here.
Sep 25, 2016 11:31AM PDT

I'm in the NSA (a country formerly called the USA) and this doesn't work here. I've seen folk do this and in a few weeks the carrier sniffs it out and shuts done the account.

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Really ???
Sep 25, 2016 5:29PM PDT

What you are suggesting is called "Wire Tapping" from a law enforcement standpoint and can only be done with a subpoena from a judge. Why do you feel consumers could do the same thing??

Simple answer is it would not be legal in the US under any circumstance for a non-law enforcement reason.

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SimulRing
Oct 8, 2016 7:40AM PDT

Vonage: Use SimulRing to direct all incoming calls to ring your Vonage phone number and up to five other phone numbers, ...
use this for a long time, only issue CallerID when you call someone defaults to the calling device number (that can be with carriers)

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Yes
Oct 10, 2016 3:02PM PDT

But not from your cellphone provider. You can use some VOIP providers to accomplish that if they also have an app for it. I have both a samsung tablet and an LG phone, both with an magicjack app on them using the same home phone number, so that actually makes 3 phones with the number on it. It's still a bit disconcerting to hear both my home phone and my cellphone ring for an incoming call to the same number.

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Two cell phones sharing the same number
Oct 15, 2016 12:40AM PDT

It is definitely desirable to do on a CDMA network, however, if you just step into your local Verizon they will nevermore let you and will show you it is difficult.
What you want is a friendly local broadcast store and for a fee( very often in cash below the table- you nevermore tried this here) they can process the same number into both phones.
I should organize this useful in the past when I had a strong wired car handset, these days I don't find it so helpful.

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Absolutely
Dec 17, 2016 4:36AM PST

It is absolutely possible to do on a cdma network, however if you just walk in to your local verizon they will never let you and will tell you it is impossible. What you need is a friendly local wireless shop and for a fee( very often in cash under the table- you never heard this here) they can programm the same number into both phones. I have found this useful in the past when I had a hard wired car hand set, these days i don't find it so useful.