Is It Convenient to Use More Than One Phone?

Many of us have often thought about getting a second phone. It would be expensive, but it would be a big help for business and travel. It is difficult to know for sure if the decision is worth the cost. Often, the choice is different depending on your needs. There are also other alternatives to consider as well.

The Benefits of Having 2 Phones

There are many advantages in having two separate phones. First, it is an excellent way to keep your business and personal lives apart. Many professionals feel uncomfortable sharing personal contact information with business contacts. That helps make sure the business doesn't interrupt your night when you're off the clock. It also makes it easier to keep track of phone-related business expenses. That can be a huge plus when listing tax deductions.

Another benefit involves traveling abroad. Roaming charges between countries can be extremely expensive. You could always change out your SIM cards to make local calls. Unfortunately, that makes you unreachable through your original number. Without that SIM card installed, you would also have no way of knowing you were called.

There are plenty of other upsides as well. Having two phones is helpful if one of them runs out of battery or breaks. Each phone can run through a different carrier, making it more likely to have a signal anywhere. They can also both work as additional data storage if the need arises. There are plenty of reasons to have two phones, but they do come at a price.

The Drawbacks of Having 2 Phones

The most immediate disadvantage of having two phones is the cost. If a second phone is not provided by your work, then you have to foot the entire bill for the additional phone. Then, you have to pay the monthly phone plan. This also includes talk minutes, text messaging, cellular data, and any other provided service. You then have a doubled chance of overage charges as well.

The extra costs do not end there. Each phone will ideally have its own set of accessories. That includes phone cases, chargers, adapters, headphones, and more. Each phone will also require its own insurance plan and warranty. Without those, you may be required to foot the entire bill for a replacement phone if one breaks.

There are more than financial drawbacks. An extra phone takes extra pocket and purse space. They can also be mixed up by accident. Accidentally taking just your personal phone to a business meeting could mean trouble. If you go with two different carriers, then you will also have to deal with each company's customer service separately. After a few years, you'll have to deal with having two obsolete phones.

Dual SIM Phones

There are compromises to needing more than one phone. One that has been gaining popularity is the dual SIM phone. Kent German at CNET explains the many benefits of owning a dual SIM phone. The main benefit is that both phone numbers exist on the same phone. A second handheld unit is unnecessary.

Dual-SIM phones have gained popularity overseas, but they haven't taken off fully in the US yet. Carriers do not support the idea of the dual-SIM phone. This is because it makes it easier for consumers to swap to different companies. It also encourages users to use different carriers simultaneously.

Those using dual-SIM phones can easily swap between phone numbers. It seamlessly transitions from personal to business or international. Users can also see which of their numbers is being called. That way, the purpose of incoming calls is instantly known.

Of course, this still requires two phone plans. Each number requires a separate plan. There also is no way to turn one number off while keeping the other on. This makes it harder to ignore unwanted business calls when off the clock. Using a phone for two purposes also drains the battery power more quickly. The available storage space of the single phone also has to split between the two numbers.

The Double Decker Case

The other alternative is to accommodate for having two phones. This is most easily done with the Votec Double Decker phone case. This case is specifically built to hold and protect two phones at once. The main caveat is that users are required to have two of the same phone. This also works to its benefit, though. This is because the phones can share accessories, and users do not need to learn how to use two different mobile operating systems.

The Double Decker sports a folded design that saves space and protects both phones from damage. It also comes with a belt loop and clip for ease of use. The case is designed to hold two cards, helping it double as a wallet on the go.

This does nothing to combat the cost of owning two phones with separate phone plans. You will also still need two sets of other accessories if you plan to charge the phones at the same time. Only the one case is needed, though. It makes it easier to use and carry both phones at once. Having the different phones in the same case also keeps your personal life apart.

Final Verdict

The decision to have two phones entirely depends on your needs. If you simply prefer to have a separate number for business or travel, then a dual-SIM phone may be best for you. If you need help with work-life balance and extra storage space, then having a second phone is a viable option. Users without much need for any of these will probably find themselves needing to stick with a single phone with a single number.

Regardless, it is an important and potentially expensive choice. If any contract is involved, the wrong choice could lead to frustrating consequences down the line. The US has been pushing against long contracts with carriers. This has helped open the door to a wider variety of dual-SIM phones.