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Having two phone numbers may seem like something only international spies need, but it can actually benefit everyone by organizing your contacts and boosting cybersecurity. But if you have to have a separate phone to use two numbers, that’s even more overwhelming. So, can you have two numbers on one phone?
The short answer is yes. Read on to learn how two different numbers can help you and the options that exist to make it happen.
How Using Two Phone Numbers Can Help You
One cell phone number is sufficient to get you through the day, but what about reducing the risk of spam and fraud, streamlining traffic on your phone, and organizing contacts? This is where a second number comes into play.
Here are some specific examples of how a second phone number can help you:
Organization and Traffic Control
A second phone number is a great way to separate contacts and reduce the number of calls and text messages you have to sort through on your main mobile phone number.
The most obvious choice is to create a business phone number, directing coworkers and clients away from your main digits. This can make it easier to create a work-life balance and reduces the risk of you missing something important.
You could save your primary number for friends and family and use your second number for everything else. This means online account creation, online shopping, online dating/chatting, and anything else that requires a number. This again helps organize your contacts and makes it easier to sort through messages.
Overall, dividing contacts and accounts across two numbers will help reduce the number of calls and texts you receive on your main number. This helps ensure you see every notification from friends and family on your smartphone. You won’t have to go searching through loads of miscellaneous phone calls and texts to find what’s important.
Reducing Spam and Boosting Cybersecurity
Another key perk of using a new number for your iPhone or Android is the reduction in spam calls and cybersecurity threats. The more your number appears online through account sign-ups, online purchases, and chats, the more likely it is to be leaked or hacked. It’s also more likely to become targeted by spam callers, and nobody likes to deal with those annoying calls.
This includes online dating as well. If the person you’re talking to isn’t who they say they are, they won’t have access to your personal phone number, which significantly limits what they can do to harm you.
Your number is also associated with key information about you like your address and full name. If hackers have your number, the door is open for them to find out much more about you. This can lead to all sorts of unwanted issues like identity theft and blackmail.
Using a secondary number when entering your digits online can reduce the likelihood of hackers and cybercriminals using your main number against you. If your second number gets hacked, you can simply get a new one. And you won’t have to inform all your friends, family, and other contacts of your new number.
How Do I Add a Second Number To My Phone?
To avoid buying a different phone, you have two main options for adding a second number to your main phone. You can either get dual SIM cards, or download a mobile app.
Dual SIM Cards
A physical SIM card is a small card that goes inside your mobile device. It identifies and authenticates your phone so it can connect to a mobile network. SIM cards also help store messages, contacts, and other data so you can transfer everything you need to a new phone or carrier if needed.
An eSIM card is a digital version that functions the same but is embedded into the device. You can’t remove it. ESIMs are useful because you can reprogram them digitally as needed, adding second lines and switching carriers easily. New Apple phones, Samsung Galaxies, Google Pixels, and more are compatible with eSIMs.
To add dual SIM cards, you’ll first need to check that your phone is dual SIM compatible. If it is, you can also check if you can physically add a second SIM into an additional port or if your second SIM has to be an eSIM. You will need to contact your carrier company to set up your second number.
Verizon
With Verizon, you can sign up for a second number online and they’ll either send you a physical second SIM or a downloadable eSIM. Your new number will automatically integrate with your existing one so you can easily use both.
T-Mobile
You can get a second SIM on your phone plan with T-Mobile the same way as Verizon, or you can download their free DIGITS app to add a second mobile number. DIGITS actually allows you to add up to five numbers on one phone.
AT&T
AT&T works the same as the other carriers, with dual SIM phone options that allow you to choose the number you send SMS messages or calls from.
Second Phone Number Apps
Another option you have is to download a second phone number app like Burner phone from the app store. These apps can easily be added to your mobile phone, and all of the messages and incoming calls associated with that number can be kept inside the app.
Many apps also come with built-in spam-blocking filters to reduce spam calls for better cybersecurity. A few commonly used apps include:
- Burner
- Google Voice numbers
- TextNow
- Hushed
- Flyp
- Sideline
Most high-quality second number apps will include a monthly subscription cost. With these apps, you won’t have to go through your carrier company. You can also quickly cancel the number at any time without having to inform your service provider.
So, Can You Have Two Numbers on One Phone?
Yes, you can absolutely have two numbers on one phone. By getting a second SIM card or downloading a second number app, you can easily call and text with a second number on your original phone. Second numbers open up a world of organizational opportunities and boost cybersecurity. So, don’t wait. Add a second number today to experience the benefits.
Sources:
How to get two phone numbers on one phone | Verizon
