Jon Pitts <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> "Mike Casswell" <nobody@there> wrote in message
> news:VA.00000004.b5981d94@there...
>> My employer is offering to supply me with an Orange phone with which to
>> make work calls. They also offer the ability to set up 'Orange Enhanced
>> Line 2' so that I can also make private calls, billed to me, on the
>> same phone.
>>
>> If I take them up on this and set up the Enhanced Line 2 account, will
>> both the accounts then continue to function correctly if I transfer the
>> sim card to my own (unlocked) phone?
>>
>
> At the risk of replying too late to be useful, be careful whether you're
> referring to "Standard Line 2" or "Enhanced Line 2".
>
> Standard Line 2 uses the GSM "ALS" functionality as some other posters have
> mentioned - and, within reason, any GSM handset will support it.
>
Thats not true.
Even though it is a GSM service, not all phones do support the service.
Most WiMo touchscreen phones prior to the latest release of Windows Mobile 6
do not support Line2, while Windows Mobile for Smartphone does.
However, the more recent WiMo phones support the service.
Same for Blackberry. While the earlier phones do not support the service, the newer
devices, like the Bold or Curve, support Line2/ALS.
I would therefore rather say: Most phones do support the service, but not all.
Unfortunately, it seems like Orange discontinued ALS. At least their website states
"not available to new customers" - which sucks. This service is great!
Better never change your existing services from now on, if you alreade got it!
Its way better than "Enhanced Line 2", which Orange seems to sell now.
With "Enhanced Line 2", it is not possible to choose different ringtones for incomming
calls, nor exists any other way to determine on which line a call comes in, which
makes this service completly useless (at least for me).

> Enhanced Line 2 uses a Java menu in the SIM which the handset must support.
> It allows roaming and outgoing SMS on Line 2 which the "standard" variant
> doesn't. There did exist a list once on the Orange website of which phone
> supported it - of course, this page is doing a very good job of hiding now.
> I'd guess Business CS might still have it to hand...
>
Thats again not completly right.
It not a "Java"-menu, but a "SimToolkit" menu.
It can be found in the "Extras" Menu of the phone.
However, even if the phone supports Line2, one cannot use the Line2 phone menus,
like choose the line for outgoing calls, nor one can set different ringtones
for incoming calls.
The "Enhanced Line 2" service feels more like having two simcards in one of those
dual-sim adapters, which can be switched from the phone menu.
My recommendations:
If you can somehow get a hand on the original ALS Orange Line2 service - go for it.
Its just great and so easy to use.
If you could only get the "Enhanced Line2" service, forget it. Its annoying.
In that case, you could also arrange yourself a dual-sim adapter, or, even better,
a dual-sim phone.
But, if I where you, you better go for the standard Line2. Try it. And tell us.
Regards,
Steve



› See More: Advice Please - Orange Enhanced Line 2