2-Line GSM Feature Questions

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Justin - 26 Dec 2003 21:06 GMT

I searched through the group and couldn't find the information I was
looking for.

I currently live in Estonia and use the GSM provider Radiolinja for my
service. I'd like to link up a US phone number to the phone as well,
for business purposes (to accept very few incoming calls). I was
thinking of subscribing to the minimum monthly plan with VoiceStream
($20/month) that also lets me do international roaming. I want both
numbers to be active on my phone at the same time (so I can receive
calls on either line), and the prospect of carrying 2 phones around
isn't appealing to me. Radiolinja and VoiceStream are roaming
partners.

So a few questions arise:
1. Assuming they'll allow it, when I sign up with VS, can I get
VoiceStream to link the US phone number to my existing Radiolinja SIM
card? (In other words, is this technically possible?).

2. How do I know if a phone supports 2-line service, or do all GSM
phones support it? I notice the Nokia 8890 has a 1/2 line indicator on
it. I use a Nokia 8210 when I'm in Estonia, and a Nokia 5190 when I'm
in the US. I read the manual for the 8210, and there's no indication
of such a feature. Does that mean it wouldn't work? Is there some easy
way to track down which Nokia phones support 2-lines?

Thanks,
Justin

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Joseph - 26 Dec 2003 23:43 GMT

>I currently live in Estonia and use the GSM provider Radiolinja for my
>service. I'd like to link up a US phone number to the phone as well,
>for business purposes (to accept very few incoming calls). I was
>thinking of subscribing to the minimum monthly plan with VoiceStream
>($20/month) that also lets me do international roaming.

First of all to get monthly service with T-Mobile you'll have to pass
a credit check for your *US* credit file. If you don't have US credit
it's unlikely that you'll be able to get a monthly account or you will
be asked to pay a very high deposit on your service. Mostly non US
nationals will not be able to get US mobile service.

>I want both
>numbers to be active on my phone at the same time (so I can receive
>calls on either line), and the prospect of carrying 2 phones around
>isn't appealing to me.

No can do. Your Radiolinja is on one SIM and T-Mobile would be on
another SIM. You cannot have two accounts on one SIM.

>So a few questions arise:
>1. Assuming they'll allow it, when I sign up with VS, can I get
>VoiceStream to link the US phone number to my existing Radiolinja SIM
>card? (In other words, is this technically possible?).

First of all there is no "VoiceStream" since September of 2002. It is
now T-Mobile USA.

You cannot link your Radiolinja and T-Mobile accounts together on the
same SIM.

>Does that mean it wouldn't work? Is there some easy
>way to track down which Nokia phones support 2-lines?

Two separate lines no. It is possible to dial out on a second line
and to do conference calling, etc., but it is the same number and is
only a second line in as much as you can answer a second call that
comes in with call waiting or you can initiate a new call and combine
the two calls in a conference call.
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marcus@myrealbox.com - 27 Dec 2003 00:07 GMT

>I want both
>numbers to be active on my phone at the same time (so I can receive
>calls on either line)

Why not just sign up for a US 1-800 number and have the calls
redirected to your phone in Estonia?

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Justin - 27 Dec 2003 18:30 GMT

> >I want both
> >numbers to be active on my phone at the same time (so I can receive
> >calls on either line)
>
> Why not just sign up for a US 1-800 number and have the calls
> redirected to your phone in Estonia?

Thanks for both the helpful replies. I actually do have an 800 number
to forward to my Estonian mobile, but the forwarding occasionally has
problems, and the connection isn't as good as I'd like (the delay is
too long). That's why I'd prefer a GSM phone with a U.S. number and
just roam it in Estonia, because I know the call completion will
always be reliable (and I can forward the 800# to that -- forwarding
to a U.S. number has been very reliable). But it sounds like I'd need
2 phones to do it, and I don't like to carry around too many devices.
I guess I'll stick with the 800# forwarding I have now.

Thanks,
Justin

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matt weber - 27 Dec 2003 04:11 GMT

>I searched through the group and couldn't find the information I was
>looking for.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>VoiceStream to link the US phone number to my existing Radiolinja SIM
>card? (In other words, is this technically possible?).

Nyet. Each SIM can have only one service provider. That has to do
with how International roaming works. When you turn on your phone in
another location, the local service provider picks up your SIM data,
and from that, figures out who the service provider is.

The local provider then request permission to accept that SIM from the
original service provider. The answer is either yes, or no, if it is
yes, the original service provider either provides one or three
challenge message and the correct reply. The local provider sends the
challenge message, and matches up the reply. If the reply is correct,
the sim and user are assumed to be authentic, and it registers you.

Obviously is you allow more than one service provider to recognize the
sim, something is going to have to give, because then the local
provider has no way to know who is who..

However most mobile phone operators are absolutely paranoid about
entering into contracts with non-residents, although as long you were
a resident at the time you entered into the contract, that is OK. So
you are going to have a tough time getting anything except a prepaid
from Voice Stream. In addition, overseas calling on mobil networks is
many times the price of landline service. It may be less expensive to
obtain a landline in the USA, and set it up to forward the calls to
your mobile number. When you are in the North America, you may want to
reverse the process, ie. have your mobile forward to the North
American Landline, and let it find you with a prepaid SIM in the USA.

When it comes to roaming, Voice Stream is to put it politely, dear....

>2. How do I know if a phone supports 2-line service, or do all GSM
>phones support it? I notice the Nokia 8890 has a 1/2 line indicator on
>it. I use a Nokia 8210 when I'm in Estonia, and a Nokia 5190 when I'm
>in the US. I read the manual for the 8210, and there's no indication
>of such a feature. Does that mean it wouldn't work? Is there some easy
>way to track down which Nokia phones support 2-lines?

Call Nokia customer support and ask!

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