Normally, when I traveled to another country from the USA, I would get a local SIM card (either in advance or at the arrival airport) and swap it with my US-based SIM for the duration of my trip to avoid roaming charges/lousy service from my US-based carrier. I finally learned (many years into their existence) about E-SIM cards. Basically, a virtual, software SIM card that behaves like a physical one. And that, if you have a physical card in the SIM slot, allows you to have a phone with two numbers operating more or less simultaneously. And luckily, my current iPhone model allegedly has both physical and E-SIM capability.
This would be great for future trips. I’d love to have a local SIM to use at my destination AND be able to receive the odd call on my US-based number—and ESPECIALLY receive texts, like those 2-factor verification texts for all my US-based accounts and services.
So, has anyone here used a dual-SIM phone in this manner before? What are the tricks and drawbacks I should be aware of? How do you ensure that you get incoming calls/texts on your US-based number while using the travel SIM for most of the data, etc.? What about roaming charges, coverage issues for the US-based SIM?
I do it all the time on my iPhone 12. I’ve got a physical SIM from my provider here in Canada and then I get an eSIM when I am travelling. I turn data roaming off on my Canadian SIM and forward the number to a VOIP line. Incoming SMS messages are free for me even when roaming.
Note that many pay-as-you-go eSIMs are data only and do not have a phone number for voice or texts. Last summer I was in Croatia and used an Orange France so I could have a local number. I am heading to Italy in 2 weeks and will just get an Ubigi Data Only eSIM. At 10GB for $15 vs. the $15/day my provider charges, it’s a no-brainer.
I use physical Orange SIMs whenever I go to France/Europe. It was when I saw today that they offer E-SIMs that I started to look into it more.
What VOIP line are you using? Seems like this would be a 3rd thing I’d need to coordinate…
I’d also need to check Verizon’s policy on incoming texts while roaming…
I use Teams at work, so I just forward the number there. Take a look at something like Google Voice, it’s free for personal use.
Looks like Verizon charges $0.05 (USD) per received text, which is fine … so long as nobody send me photos or videos, which presumably might trigger data rates.