Forum Discussion

Confuzzled's avatar
Confuzzled
SMARTY Maverick
11-08-2023

Swapping the numbers of two SIM cards (is this possible?)

Hi,

Here's the deal:

I have a phone with two SIM cards in it.
One is my shiny new SMARTY SIM, the other is with a different provider.
I want to swap the phone numbers associated with each SIM so that I can have my main phone number on my SMARTY account, and the number currently connected to my SMARTY account switched to the other provider.

Is this possible? If it is, what hoops do I need to jump through?

Thanks in advance for your input.

20 Replies

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    11-08-2023

    Confuzzled  You can certainly move the number from your other sim to your Smarty sim by requesting a PAC code from the other provider.

    The problem I see is that you would then lose the current number on your Smarty sim - that's not exactly what you are trying to achieve.

    I don't believe that a full solution will be possible without losing one of the numbers. Not sure if anyone else will have any bright ideas though - I stand to be corrected m'lud.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      11-08-2023

      I think that Confuzzled needs to do what you have outlined, but twice :

      Port number from Smarty to Other Network

      Port number from Other Network to Smarty

      This will of course involve two new physical plastic SIM cards, and new accounts with each provider using new email addresses. 

  • Confuzzled's avatar
    Confuzzled
    SMARTY Maverick
    11-08-2023

    Thanks for your thoughts, MSF & JJP2. From what you say, as the most important thing I'm trying to achieve is to switch my main phone number to SMARTY, I think I have to  sort that, and then think about getting another number with another provider (which can wait, it's not urgent).

    Perhaps I should clarify why I'm asking this: I want to avoid replacing an otherwise perfectly good SIM – to me, that seems like a waste of resources.

    Yes, yes: I know that SIMs are only teeny tiny things, and 'free' (if you exclude the externalities), but it all adds up. Call me a doomer nutcase, but I firmly believe that if we don't rapidly rethink how we do almost everything, it's going to get pretty bad before long here on Spaceship Earth.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      11-08-2023

      Your current Smarty SIM card has a number attached to it. This cannot be changed. 

      Further complicating matters is that the number you wish to become your Smarty number is currently in use by another network. 

      The only way to transfer numbers between networks is to port them from one network to another *on a fresh unused SIM card* 

      Ultimately, you will have to choose to maintain the status quo on environmental concerns, or. If it is more important to you to bring what you wish to be your main number to Smarty, then you will have to accept that you will need new tiny piece(s) of plastic, for your main and secondary numbers. 

      • Confuzzled's avatar
        Confuzzled
        SMARTY Maverick
        12-08-2023

        JJP2 wrote:

        Your current Smarty SIM card has a number attached to it. This cannot be changed.

        Further complicating matters is that the number you wish to become your Smarty number is currently in use by another network. 

        The only way to transfer numbers between networks is to port them from one network to another *on a fresh unused SIM card* 


        Thanks, but that statement is contradicted by Smarty's own help: https://help.smarty.co.uk/en/articles/7019273-keeping-your-number which clearly shows that the number can be imported from another provider, and it doesn't mention the need to get another SIM.

        I'm even more confuzzled than before!