2 Numbers, 1 Device?

Scatterbrain

Hi all. Been using GOS for quite a few years now. A W E S O M E piece of work, truly.

I am now starting a small sideline business which needs its own phone number, separate from personal stuff. I'm very short of money so need cheap solutions. I use a P7A (I think!), bought used off ebay. I was thinking of getting a second one, and just carry two phones. But I'm old fashioned, so before I do that (which will be a bit clumsy), I wondered if anyone can advise me on any better approaches? I am in UK and have a UK sim already, no phone to put it in yet. Is there a Pixel with 2 sim slots maybe? If so, how does it work? Could I have two user accounts in GOS, one personal, one business, but with calls coming through regardless of which profile I am in at the time?
Any ideas appreciated, thanks

xxx

Scatterbrain
One Sim and one ESim work at the same time. Probably this is what you want.

harp

xxx One Sim and one ESim work at the same time.

You can also use two eSIMs active at the same time if no physical SIM is in the slot or the physical SIM is deactivated in the settings. Also, you can install a lot more than 2 eSIMs on the phone, but you can just use up to 2 SIMs active at the same time - either 1 physical and 1 eSIM or 2 eSIMs.

Scatterbrain Could I have two user accounts in GOS, one personal, one business, but with calls coming through regardless of which profile I am in at the time?

You can also use a lot of different user profiles on GOS, each with different apps and settings (but some settings, e.g. some network settings, are system-wide and can only be configured in the main profile).

xxx

schweizer People will think you are a one man show.

Scatterbrain I am now starting a small sideline business

Should be fine. ;-)

xxx

harp You can also use two eSIMs active

on Pixel 6 not / on Pixel 9 yes I don't have a Pixel 7.

Most easiest would be one new ESim since not all providers have one.

harp

xxx on Pixel 9 yes I don't have a Pixel 7.

AFAIK on P7A (what TO "thinks" to have) it's also possible. And on all later ones of course.

xxx Most easiest would be one new ESim

Yes, if a physical on already exists, of course.

xxx not all providers have one.

But providers not offering eSIMs are very rare in 2026.

Scatterbrain

Thanks for replies. Sorry I made a mistake, I am actually using a P8A currently.
I have not heard of 'ESIM' before. I have one physical SIM for personal, which is contract and will remain. Unfortunately I already got a second sim on contract for this purpose but now just thinking about how much more convenient it would be to have only one phone to carry around.
Does anyone know if there's a Pixel model (GOS supported) that has two physical sim card slots by any chance?!
thanks

harp

Scatterbrain Does anyone know if there's a Pixel model (GOS supported) that has two physical sim card slots by any chance?!

Nope, no currently supported models.

Scatterbrain Unfortunately I already got a second sim on contract for this purpose

You can check, if your carrier - or one of your carriers if the contracts/SIMs are from different ones - offer eSIM. Usually you can easily change your physical SIM to an eSIM. Most carriers don't charge extra costs for such a first change. "Change" means, the physical SIM will be deactivated by the carrier and they send you the data/the code for activating the eSIM.

xxx

harp Usually you can easily change your physical SIM to an eSIM. Most carriers

@Scatterbrain
Yes check with your providers. Change one sim and your good to go.

Novaliss

harp no currently supported models.

The Wikipedia article on Pixel 6a says "Dual Sim, Nano-SIM and eSIM". But on all other supported Pixels, just "Nano-SIM and eSIM".
Update; removed and looked, didn't see a place for a second on my P6a

Scatterbrain

harp Ah I see, so I may be able to convert my physical sim to e-sim. That would be very cool, thank you! I'll check it out

harp

Novaliss "Dual Sim, Nano-SIM and eSIM"

Yes, Dual Sim , in this case, means 1 Nano-SIM and 1 eSIM. Dual SIM just means, you can use 2 SIMs active parallel, it doesn't say anything about what type of SIM.

Scatterbrain I guess I don't really understand as I am thinking of the esim being 'applied to a second user account', but it probably doesn't work like that.

Yes, it seems like a misunderstanding. What I wrote about profiles has nothing to do with the usage of SIMs. User profiles on Android/GOS you can imagine like different user accounts on a PC, in simple words. (Actually it's not exactly the same, of course.)

You can use both SIMs/phone numbers parallel at every user profile - of course also, if you just use one, the main ("owner") profile. You can make and receive calls and SMS through both numbers. You can define in settings either a default number for outgoing calls and SMS or if you want to be asked, which one to use for every call or SMS. Also you define the default number for mobile data (network). These defaults doesn't have to be the same, you can define it for each of the three kinds (calls, SMS, mobile data).

Since English isn't my first language, please apologize if I wasn't able to explain it any more clearly.

Scatterbrain

So, IF I can convert to e-sim - can I just confirm... I can run the two numbers side by side. I'd just stay in personal profile all the time, but would calls/texts to the esim come through on main profile/personal sim? This is all very new to me and I'm quite old now so don't take easily to new ideas like this! All I really need the second sim for is incoming calls and SMS, and maybe one or two apps like business bank app or something, which would all go in that second profile.
I guess I don't really understand as I am thinking of the esim being 'applied to a second user account', but it probably doesn't work like that. But if not, how would the phone know which sim to dial from for example when I want to call my brother?! :D

xxx

Scatterbrain I can run the two numbers side by side.

Think of 2 lines that work at the same time. One profile is enough.

You receive calls on both numbers / you chose one when you call.

Novaliss

harp Dual Sim , in this case, means 1 Nano-SIM and 1 eSIM. Dual SIM

Agreed. I guess that wiki page was just a fluke with the P6a.

harp if I wasn't able to explain it any more clearly.

It was super clear.🫡

schweizer

In my country it makes a bad impression if you have a mobile number only. People will think you are a one man show. You can get a landline number and either forward it to your mobile or use it directly with SIP on your mobile.

Scatterbrain

schweizer Here in UK they are cutting the copper lines gradually, so no landlines in my area. And for the reason you mention, it really pisses me off as I think exactoly the same if i see a mobile instead of landline nujmberr!

schweizer

xxx I rarely see it written in the advertising that someone runs only a small sideline business. What you communicate among peers is not what you communicate to customers.

Foggy For a business 'landline' number you could get a VOIP number

That is what I was trying to say. SIP is VOIP. In most countries landline calls are cheaper than mobile calls. You do want to make it cheap for customers to call you.

Foggy

For a business 'landline' number you could get a VOIP number and set it to forward to your mobile (which would have per minute costs) or run a VOIP app and have it log into your VOIP provider (which would be free to receive, apart from the data usage). eg Andrews and Arnold are £1.80 per month for the number and a few pence per minute to make calls. They can also do things like sending voicemails as emails, eg sending calls to voicemail outside of business hours. Proper Business Telecoms let you do lots of Real Business things like that, and it's cheap with VOIP.

xxx

schweizer SIP is VOIP. In most countries landline calls are cheaper than mobile calls. You do want to make it cheap for customers to call you.

You're right. I don't know which voip providers are available in uk and if they are reliable.