What is Dual SIM and how do I use it?

Dual SIM provides the convenience of having two phone numbers on a single smartphone. You can have separate personal and business numbers, or add a second line when travelling internationally.

How does it work?

With Dual SIM, you can have two phone numbers to make and receive voice calls, and to send and receive text and multimedia messages (SMS and MMS).

Dual SIM service is offered through a combination of a physical nano-SIM and an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical SIM card.

The two phone numbers can be on the same account, on different accounts, or from different carriers (for example, one line from Bell Mobility and one line from an international carrier).

Compatible smartphones

• Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL
• iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max

If you activated a line on iPhone XR, XS or XS Max, Bell has reserved an eSIM for your phone.

To start using Dual SIM service, you must download this eSIM to your iPhone:

1. Check that your iPhone is updated to iOS 12.1.
2. Go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan.
3. Tap the Add Cellular Plan button.
4. Scan this QR code:

Alternatively, you can enter the details manually:

1. Select Enter Details Manually.
2. In the SM-DP+ Address field, paste or type:
   CUST-011-V4-PROD-ATL2.GDSB.NET
3. Leave the Activation Code field blank.

For more information, watch this YouTube video from Apple: How to set up and use Dual SIM.

If you activated a line on a Google Pixel 3a / 3a XL, Bell has reserved an eSIM for your phone.

Before you begin: make sure that your Google Pixel has been updated to Android Q (10) and that it is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Network & Internet.
3. Select the + button beside Mobile Network.
4. Select Don’t have a SIM card?.
5. Select Next to download the eSIM.
6. Select Activate. 

Note: if prompted to confirm your network, select Bell as the network.

What devices are compatible with Dual SIM?

What rate plans are available for the two lines?

• The first line can be on any Bell Mobility rate plan and the second line can be activated on a Bring Your Own Device rate plan. You can choose to have a voice and text plan or a voice and data plan on either line.

I have two phone numbers with Bell Mobility, on two separate devices. Can I move one of my phone numbers to an eSIM so that I have both phone numbers on one smartphone?

• At this moment, this is not possible.

How do I tell which phone number I’m using?

For Apple iPhone:

• The default labels for each of the lines are named “Primary” and “Secondary” respectively. In the “Cellular Settings” of your iPhone, you can create your own labels for each line. For example, you can name your lines “Work” or “Personal” or something else.
• When you make and receive calls, as well as send and receive text messages, the first letter of each label will pop up as an indicator so you can identify each line by its respective label.

For Google Pixel:

• Select Settings > Network & Internet and then select the line you would like to edit by selecting the pencil icon.
• When you make and receive calls, as well as send and receive text messages, the smartphone will identify each line by the name and colour you have chosen (only compatible apps will display the colour). 

If I have a data feature on both lines, which data feature will I use and therefore be billed for?

• Both lines can support data features; however, you can only access one line’s data feature at a time. Therefore, you cannot access both data features simultaneously.
• At any one time, your data usage will come out of the default data feature you selected in your Apple iPhone’s “Cellular” settings or in your Google Pixel’s “Network & Internet” settings. You can then toggle to your other data feature within those settings. For example, during work hours, you can use the data from your “Work” line, and after work you can switch to your “Personal” line. For details, please see the information from Apple and Google.

Can I use data while on a call?

• Yes, but only one line can use data at a time. 
• If you’re on a call using a line that was not set to access data, you won’t be able to access that line’s data while on a call unless you enable “Cellular Data Switching” (via Cellular settings on Apple iPhone) or “Data During Calls” (via Network & Internet settings on Google Pixel).
• You can also access Wi-Fi on either line regardless of which line you have selected for your data usage.
• To learn more about changing your data number, see Apple’s information on Cellular Data Switching, or Google’s information on Data During Calls.

How will I be billed for voice and messaging?

• Voice and messaging are calculated according to the rate plan of the line used for each activity. With Dual SIM, you have the choice of which phone number to use for each call and text.

Can both lines be connected to the network at the same time?

• Yes, both lines are connected to the network at all times. However, when you are on a call on one line (e.g., Line 1), the other line (e.g., Line 2) automatically goes on standby mode. This means, if someone tries to call you on Line 2 when you are on a call on Line 1, you will not receive a call waiting notification for the incoming call. Instead, that call will be directed to your Line 2 voicemail.
• Please be mindful that this has implications for 9-1-1 calls. If you are in a situation where you need to call 9-1-1 from Line 1, your phone then disconnects and you get another call on Line 2, you will not receive a notification that the 9-1-1 operator called you back.

What happens when I roam?

• Just as you can choose which line to call, message or use data from while in Canada, you can do the same while you roam. Please note: you will receive your roaming notifications from Bell for both lines in the same message thread. It’s important to pay attention to the line indicator (Line 1 or Line 2) in the message thread so you can tell which line you are using for roaming, especially if you have different roaming features on each line.

Will E9-1-1 and T9-1-1 work on both lines?

• Both lines have the capability to dial 9-1-1. Where E9-1-1 is available, the caller’s number and approximate location will be provided, regardless of the line used.
• For T9-1-1, each line needs to be registered separately. Register for T9-1-1.