Apple mobile phone dual card settings

After the pre-order of iPhone XS/XS Max began, Apple released two new dual-card dual-standby technical documents to introduce users how to set up dual-card dual-standby, and when the new iPhone XS/XS Max can use dual-card dual-standby.

After all, for most users, it is not clear which new iPhone supports "dual card dual standby".

We have also compiled a table to help you understand the differences between different versions of the new iPhone.

Bank of China iPhone XS or castrated version eSIM

It is worth noting that although this technical document of Apple China and official website introduces the way for iPhone XS (physical single card +eSIM) and iPhone XS Max (only the Bank of China version and Hong Kong version support physical dual card) to realize "dual card dual standby". But in fact, at present, there are no operators supporting eSIM in the regions where the Bank of China version of iPhone XS, Hong Kong and Macao version of iPhone XS, and Japanese version of iPhone XS (including Japanese version of iPhone XS Max with single card +eSIM) belong.

Apple official website listed the regions that support eSIM services.

In other words, these versions of iPhone XS, which are favored by domestic users, cannot achieve "dual card dual standby" by using physical single card +eSIM in China and areas where iPhone is purchased.

Then, if you take the National Bank version of iPhone XS in the United States, Britain and other regions that support eSIM services, can you achieve "dual card dual standby"? After Ai Faner's consultation, the reply given by Apple's China customer service is like this:

The iPhone XS of the Bank of China only supports physical single cards, but does not support the eSIM function. Even if you own the iPhone XS of Bank of China, you can't use the eSIM service in the United States and other regions that support the eSIM service.

Interestingly, Apple's iPhone XS details page in China and official website did not mention anything related to eSIM, while Apple's iPhone XS details page in Hongkong and official website both mentioned supporting eSIM technology.

The above picture shows the iPhone XS series specifications of the Bank of China, and the following picture shows the iPhone XS series specifications of the Hong Kong version.

Combined with the above customer service answers, we guess that the National Bank version of iPhone XS may castrate the eSIM function. In other words, even if domestic operators launch the eSIM service later, the iPhone XS version of the Bank of China will not be able to use the eSIM service.

How does the iPhone XR/XS Max of the Bank of China open "dual card dual standby"?

To put it simply, at present, the only new iPhones supported by Bank of China are iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max, both of which are physical dual nano-SIM cards.

According to this technical document of Apple China, the two phone numbers in the iPhone XS Max version of the Bank of China can be used to make or receive voice calls, and to send and receive short messages and multimedia messages. At the same time, your iPhone XS Max can only use the cellular mobile data network of one of the operators. In theory, the iPhone XR not mentioned in the file should also be the same as the iPhone XS Max.

Since the Bank of China version of iPhone XS series does not support eSIM function, the method of opening dual card dual standby is relatively simple. The customer service of Apple China said that the new iPhone XS Max can be directly inserted into two mobile phone SIM cards to realize dual-card dual standby, without waiting for the update of iOS 12.

As for official website's request to update iOS 12 (which will be launched later this year), it refers to the way of single card +eSIM to realize dual card, and this service needs to wait for the update of iOS 12 (note that this is not the official version of iOS 12, but the subsequent version of iOS 12.0).

At the same time, there is a note in official website that if you want to use two different carriers, you need to confirm whether the iPhone is unlocked. In other words, if you buy a mobile, Lenovo or telecom contract iPhone, you may need to contact the corresponding operator to unlock it, otherwise you can only use two SIM cards of the same operator.

In addition, regarding the CDMA standard, I would like to add here that the Hong Kong version of iPhone XS series supports full netcom as the version of Bank of China, but if dual-entity SIM card model is used, "dual-card dual standby" only supports one telecom card.

As for the opening method of eSIM service, readers who need it can go to this technical document to check.

How to allocate two number cards of iPhone XR/XS Max?

1. Assign notes to numbers.

When your second SIM card is activated, you can comment on two number cards on the iPhone that supports "dual card dual standby". For example, you can annotate one number as "business" and another number as "personal".

Of course, in addition to these notes preset by Apple, you can also customize the notes of two number cards, and you can change them at will after setting the notes.

2. Set the purpose of the main card and the auxiliary card.

Users who have used Android "dual card dual standby" mobile phones should know that the two number cards will be divided into primary and secondary cards. According to Apple official website, Apple has set three preset main and secondary card uses.

On the iPhone that supports "dual card dual standby", one of the cards can be set as the default number, which will be used for voice, SMS, data, iMessage information and FaceTime calls, or the "secondary card" can be set as the default number, and its use is the same as above.

In addition, you can set the "secondary card" only for cellular mobile data, while the "primary card" is used for voice calls and text messages. If you have special needs, you can also customize the purpose of the two cards.

Answer and make phone calls

In fact, you can use any number to make and receive calls. When one of the numbers is on the phone, the incoming call from the other number will go directly to the voice mail.

If you are worried about missing important calls, you can contact the operator to start "call forwarding" (if the operator supports it). After opening, all incoming calls from one number will be transferred to another number.

The switching mode between different numbers is the same as most Android phones that support "dual card dual standby" at present. Under normal circumstances, the default number will be used when making a call, or you can click the icon to switch to another number to dial out.