Two Numbers, One Phone: Simplified Solutions for Business and Personal Use

Let’s start with the basics. What does having two numbers on one cell phone mean? 

It’s as simple as it sounds. It means you add a second phone number to your current smartphone. Incoming calls, messages, and more to your new number ring your current phone – just like your native number might. Usually, this is done through the use of a second SIM card or a mobile application, which allows you to distinguish easily which of the numbers is being contacted. Each of these has its drawbacks and benefits, but all of them allow you to have a new, second number that you can take calls and send messages with.  

Keep Your Personal Life and Line Personal: Get a Second Number for Work 

If you don’t want business intruding on personal or family time, then having separate numbers is a key part of an overall strategy to maintain that balance. Just like you might have a separate email address, mailing address or separate office space (even at home) for your career, it just makes sense to make a similar distinction with something as personal as a phone number. There’s a reason most companies provide email addresses, laptops, and even smartphones. It prevents your personal life from being overrun with work concerns, though carrying around an entire second phone can be a real hassle. 

The Business Advantage to a Second Number  

Just like personal ought be personal, so should work be work. That’s true for both your clients and employees. With a second business number on your personal cell phone, you can ensure you never miss important business that may come in while you’re away from your desk – without giving every client your personal cell number. This Improves customer relationships by communicating with them over the channels that they prefer: think texting, WhatsApp, or even Microsoft Teams.  

A Dedicated Business Number Enhances Convenience and Organization 

Enterprises of any size need the ability to connect with customers in the ways that they prefer, and in today’s mobile world, that means calling, texting, and WhatsApp messaging. An ideal business phone number solution would support voice, caller ID, SMS, social messaging, and integration into MS Teams, SFDC CRM, and more. It would allow organizations to let employees to work off of their own device – no more two-device hassle. It would respect privacy, meaning ensuring work can only access the voice, SMS, and social messaging that happens through the application itself – leaving personal communications separated. But it needs to do so in a way that isn’t cost prohibitive. Avoid spending valuable time and effort managing a physical fleet of devices, especially in high-turnover industries. An ideal solution would be easy to deploy and cloud-based for all your employee phone numbers. Think about it: an email address is the property of the company. Why shouldn’t the phone number be as well?  

Explore Ways to Have Two Numbers on One Device 

The options basically break down into three categories: use of a second SIM (either physical or virtual), VOIP mobile applications, or MultiLine by Movius. 

SIM-Card or e-SIM based solutions 

While a second SIM-Card or e-SIM does provide a second number to your smartphone, by providing a whole separate SIM card with a number associated it to your device. As such, it only works with single purpose devices.  

If you’re in an industry which requires that all conversations that relate to business be recorded for compliance purposes, a second SIM or e-SIM solution might be limited. For instance, it won’t be able to distinguish between personal and business. It will simply record every conversation that happens over the phone, which is not particularly ideal for either the employee or the business. A few more notes:  

• It will only work with mobile phone calls and regular SMS. Consumer messaging channels such as WhatsApp would require a separate app. Most employees would prefer that all their business conversations be present in the same inbox, to prevent hopping from app to app to connect to their clients and customers.  

• Carrier / Region dependent – employs a multiple carrier/multiple provider approach, as each country will require a different SIM card.  

• Limited flexibility and consistency with integrations.  

VOIP-based solutions 

While these applications do provide a second number to your smartphone, they come with some limitations. The biggest issue with VOIP-based, mobile app solutions (think Teams Phone, or Google Voice) is that they don’t work over the carrier radio networks. Rather, they require a strong data or Wi-FI connection to function well, which means: 

• Coverage gaps 

• Poor quality voice 

• Dropped calls and delayed message sends and more… 

Potential Benefits of the Switch to MultiLine 

MultiLine by Movius helps solve a critical gap businesses face with employee to client communication, over voice and messaging. The innovative solution helps protect the business, improves employee productivity, and provides frictionless experiences for clients.  

MultiLine provides a second number via a mobile application to any smartphone without being limited by a second SIM card, or a VOIP connection. The MultiLine Application uses patented technology to take advantage of whatever connection is strongest at the moment: whether that’s Wi-Fi, mobile data, or the underlying cell carrier network. It’s a completely separate carrier-grade business line on a personal device, unlike e-SIM or Dual SIM solutions. MultiLine can only see and record the communication that happens over the application: allowing you and your employees to communicate with your customers over the channels that they prefer, all while maintaining business and personal separation.  

All integrations happen within the application as well: with MultiLine, you can communicate via Microsoft Teams or WhatsApp without leaving the Teams or MultiLine application. Incoming calls, for instance, would ring both in Microsoft Teams and in your MultiLine mobile application, meaning you can answer wherever you see fit. All of that communication can be securely recorded as well for easy compliance with FINRA, SEC, HIPAA, and more regulations. As a hardware-free solution, MultiLine means no more buying expensive phones, and no more carrying two devices around. It’s convenient for your customers, convenient for your employees, and convenient for you. 

 Some more benefits include:  

• Scalable globally with no gaps in compliance while roaming. 

• In addition to regular mobile phone calls and SMS, addresses Wi-Fi calling scenarios and WhatsApp/Consumer messaging, such as iMessage.  

• Complete business and personal separation on any smartphone. 

• Software-Defined and consistent API integration with enterprise provisioning and business apps. 

• Provides business flexibility – Business Performance Management, integration with UC solutions and CRM 

• Rich media support: MultiLine allows you to send rich media content, such as pictures and videos, and supports group conversations. 

Addressing Common Concerns and FAQs 

1. Can I have two phone numbers on one phone with T-Mobile? Yes, of course. Movius partners with T-Mobile in the USA to provide second numbers to any smartphone. 

2. Can I use MultiLine if I have Verizon? Yes! MultiLine works regardless of carrier. If you want to keep your current carrier: Verizon, AT&T, Mint, whoever, you can do that and still use MultiLine with all the connectivity advantages it brings.
3. Will MultiLine use all my data? 

From a data usage perspective, MultiLine is a very efficient solution. You probably won’t run into any issues with your data plan or minutes plan, but if you happen to, you can always turn off the ability to use certain connection types in our settings. You can also choose a default connection type, if you know you’re in an area where one is stronger than the other.  

Choosing the Right Solution for Seamless Communication 

Every situation is different, and every business must do their own due diligence to figure out which second number solution is right for them. Evaluating the best option for business and personal needs is essential. We believe that we have a strong solution for a variety of business problems and encourage you to give us a call to further explore what we might be able to offer your firm.