Cell phones with two numbers

Kent German, Senior Editor July 7, 2009

CNET readers often ask me if it's possible to get two numbers on the same cell phone. For a long time it was near impossible, but in recent years it's become a lot easier. The first option is a GSM phone with slots for two SIM cards. Though such handsets have been common in Asia for some time, they're relatively rare in the United States. Since they allow you to make and receive calls from two distinct phone numbers, they can be great for overseas travelers or for callers who want to use one cell phone while keeping their business and personal lives separate.

We've looked at two such handsets thus far: the Duet D8 and Duet D888, both from Beyond E-Tech. The Duet D8 initially piqued our curiosity because it looks like an iPhone clone, but after we put it through its paces we didn't find much to like. Luckily, the Duet D888 is a much better option. It offers good call quality and it's easily obtainable from National Geographic and Cellular Abroad.

Surprisingly, there's even an option from a U.S. carrier. Nextel's second-line service is available on phones like the Motorola i580. It, too, allows you to make and receive calls from two numbers on one handset. It will cost extra, of course, but you can have separate ring tones, separate billing statements, and even phone numbers with different area codes.