NOTE: This review was written when the app used to be called 'MTK Control'. So any references in the text to 'MTK Control' now refer to the app's new name of 'Dual Sim Control'.
I have been using chinese dual SIM phones for quite some years now and love the facilities they provide. I can have both my work SIM and my personal SIM in one device rather than having to carry two phones around with me as I used to. Also using the dual SIM solution allows both SIM's to be connected to the hands free system in my car so that I can make and receive calls on either SIM through the car system.
However, there has always been a downside and that is the SIM management facilities built in to Android. When making a call or text, when you press the send button a box will pop up asking which SIM you want to use to make the call/text which you have to select before the call is made. There is a facility whereby you can assign each contact in your address book to a particular SIM but even this does not automatically make the call using the assigned SIM. All that happens is that when you make a call/text the same box will pop up asking which SIM to use and the only difference is that now there will be an indicator next to one of the SIM's recommending it based on the SIM assignment but you still have to manually select it. Now I don't find this a particular problem when using the phone normally but it is a major problem when using the phone via the hands free system in my car because when I make a call through the car system the box still pops up on the phone asking which SIM to use which is a big drawback and means that the phone has to be accessible and visible while in the car.
However, I have now found a great solution that I have been using for about a month now and is working great. It is an APP called 'MTK Control' which is available through the Google Play Store and is available as a free version and a premium version. I would suggest testing it with the free version first to make sure it will work with your phone but if it does work ok then I would wholeheartedly recommend purchasing the premium version which is only 79p (around $1) and adds additional functionality like homescreen widgets etc.
So, what does 'MTK Control' do that the built in SIM management does not. Well, everything to be honest. Firstly it gives you toggle actions to turn each SIM on/off or to toggle calls between the two SIM's and also to toggle the data connection between the two SIM's.
All of these functions can be added as widgets to the homescreens in the premium version as shown below.
However the best part comes with the ability to create rules to assign contacts and numbers to a particular SIM and have that SIM used automatically with no user intervention required. This is done in the following screen.....
….where you can input a single number, a group of numbers using wildcards, an individual contact or a group of contacts and then select which SIM you want to assign this rule to. So the following screen shows that the contact groups 'Family', 'Friends' and 'Services/Shops Personal' are asigned to SIM 1 (personal SIM) and the groups 'Coworkers', 'Customers' and 'Services/Shops Work' are asigned to SIM 2 (work SIM).
There is also an auto learn function that can be activated so that the first time you dial a new number or contact it will ask you which SIM to use but it will then automatically create a rule for this number so that in the future it will be automatically chosen.
The best part about this is that it works seamlessly with the hands free system in the car. When I initiate a call from the car system the phone will automatically select the SIM to use based on the rules that have been setup. This means that I don't need to physically access the phone at all and it can stay in my pocket.
In my view this app does what the built in SIM management should have done from the start. The developer of the app is constantly updating it with new features and is very approachable and takes on board feature requests.
One word of note, as the title of this thread suggests, the app will only work with Mediatek based mobile phones and will not work with phones like the Samsung Duos range etc. I personally have tested it with the following phones:
UMI X1S (MTK6589)
Jiayu G3 (MTK6577)
Jiayu G4 (MTK6589)
Jiayu G4S (MTK6592)
I haven't used the text or data functionality so can't comment on that specifically but the call related functions and the calling rules I use all the time and have worked flawlessly.
NOTE: This app is now called 'Dual Sim Control' and is now compatible with Samsung Duos phones as well as MTK based phones.
I have no connection whatsoever with the developer of this app. I am just a very happy user of it.
Update: Edited top post to reflect this additional information.
I have now tested and can confirm that 'MTK Control' also works on the Jiayu G4S phone which uses the MTK6592 Octa-core SOC.
Hi,
Thanks Russell for the review.
I'm the developer of this app, and if you have any doubts regarding the app, suggestions, or problems with any function please contact me directly using the contacts available at the Google Play app page or (as long as Russell doesn't mind having his thread slightly hijacked) ask here.
Thanks
MTK on G4S
Russell_S said:
Update: Edited top post to reflect this additional information.
I have now tested and can confirm that 'MTK Control' also works on the Jiayu G4S phone which uses the MTK6592 Octa-core SOC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Russell,
I have a G4s but don't seem able to get it to work right, can you confirm that you are using the kitkat rom with this?
I have bound numbers with the app and with the system but still asks me for a sim when dialling via Bluetooth.
Any help greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Hi,
Can you post the configuration you have on MTK Control, and on Android Settings.
Do you have any contact SIM preference defined?
Thanks for sharing.
joaormf said:
Hi,
Can you post the configuration you have on MTK Control, and on Android Settings.
Do you have any contact SIM preference defined?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
what info do you need?
I have some numbers as preferred in contacts (they show a little symbol and the sim card name next to them in the phone book) and added some rules also in mtk control, and slid the enable button on and it said always validate, but still get the box pop up saying which sim.
Let me know if you need anything else, and thanks for looking at it.
Bomberfrog said:
Hi,
what info do you need?
I have some numbers as preferred in contacts (they show a little symbol and the sim card name next to them in the phone book) and added some rules also in mtk control, and slid the enable button on and it said always validate, but still get the box pop up saying which sim.
Let me know if you need anything else, and thanks for looking at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
try to remove all the preferred contacts in Android settings, and then set on of the SIMs as the preferred one. This way I think that the Android popup to select SIM should not be shown.
Then you use MTK Control entirely to select the SIM used to dial.
Please tell me if this helped.
is confirmed working on kitkat ?, I have huawei honor 3c. thank you
I confirmed that it works off sims, but not to create rules, always asked to choose sim, its free version. my phone huawei honor 3c
elmajor said:
is confirmed working on kitkat ?, I have huawei honor 3c. thank you
I confirmed that it works off sims, but not to create rules, always asked to choose sim, its free version. my phone huawei honor 3c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I've made an upgrade last week to improve KitKat compatibility.
However, the best is to try the free version like you did. There is also a grace period on the payed version (not in-app purchase, only on the full version) so you can always try all the functions and cancel the order to get refunded.
Regarding your problem when you say that you are always asked to choose sim, you're talking about a MTK Control popup or the stock Android popup? If it's the latest, look my previous post where I explain how to get the best experience with the Call Rules.
Regards
joaormf said:
Hi,
try to remove all the preferred contacts in Android settings, and then set on of the SIMs as the preferred one. This way I think that the Android popup to select SIM should not be shown.
Then you use MTK Control entirely to select the SIM used to dial.
Please tell me if this helped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Sorry for delay, did a full reset of phone to make sure no other apps messing with it.
No sim associations are set in android.
voice calls set to always use one sim
Rules created in MTK control to use second sim.
Phone will dial via Bluetooth speech recognition and appears to choose the sim but call ends without ever connecting. No box pops up asking for sim choice, interestlingly if the screen lock is off the calling screen doesn't show either.
I can hand dial a number and it appears to choose the sim and show calling screen but uses Bluetooth for voice.
Any other ideas?
Thanks
Bomberfrog said:
Hi
Sorry for delay, did a full reset of phone to make sure no other apps messing with it.
No sim associations are set in android.
voice calls set to always use one sim
Rules created in MTK control to use second sim.
Phone will dial via Bluetooth speech recognition and appears to choose the sim but call ends without ever connecting. No box pops up asking for sim choice, interestlingly if the screen lock is off the calling screen doesn't show either.
I can hand dial a number and it appears to choose the sim and show calling screen but uses Bluetooth for voice.
Any other ideas?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if you dial using Bluetooth the call is never made... but if you dial from phone with the Bluetooth connected it works as expected?
Can you send me the application debug information after replicating the first situation?
Thanks
joaormf said:
So if you dial using Bluetooth the call is never made... but if you dial from phone with the Bluetooth connected it works as expected?
Can you send me the application debug information after replicating the first situation?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Have sent as private message the debug log.
Thanks
Bomberfrog said:
Hi,
Have sent as private message the debug log.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
can you please try to increase the time before the call is made using MTK Control settings?
Try it with 0 ms delay or with a delay like 500 ms.
Tell me how it goes...
joaormf said:
Hi,
can you please try to increase the time before the call is made using MTK Control settings?
Try it with 0 ms delay or with a delay like 500 ms.
Tell me how it goes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changed the delay to 500ms and this has fixed it, now dials via Bluetooth speech recognition and call connects.
Many thanks for the advice and help.
Steps for anyone else having an issue.
1.remove associations in android
2.set sim association in MTK control
3. set a sim as default for voice in android
4. set time delay to 500ms in MTK
Thanks again
as remove associations in android?. thx
elmajor said:
as remove associations in android?. thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
In Android settings you can define one of the SIMs as the prefered one for a given contact.
This associations induce, in my opinion, a not very user friendly behaviour even .when not using my app.
You should remove them to make sure that my app can work it's magic without interferences.
xperia c
does it work on xperia c
kcube said:
does it work on xperia c
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I believe that it doesn't work, but you can try it with the free version. I'm however preparing a new MTK Control version that will bring support to Android One and Samsung phones.
Join the Google+ community since I will announce there when it's released.
Thanks
This APP looks great but you clearly state it will not work on other phones, like my LG G3 so I was wondering if you know of any other APP like this that will work on a normal LG G3 dual SIM phone ?
Thanks mate
Related
I have always wondered what the SIM toolkit application tool does. Whenever I try to run it ti says "Your SIM Card has no application installed." Uhm.. Okay.. Neither does my wife's SIM card on her XDA I.
Does this have any use at all?
Just wondering..
Some operators give SIMs which has applications installed in it.
SIM toolkit does nothitng else but shows you a menu. And you can use this menu.
In Pakistan most gsm operators have applications in their sim. Which allows you to check weather updates, news etc.
Basically what happens is, when you click on a menu the application will auto-compose and send an sms to server. And then you get a reply to that as a regular sms.
Thats all about sim toolkit, its nothing Fancy
sim toolkit
I think it depends on the services available from your provider. I have a uk orange contract and my sim toolkit has "call orange", "information" and "group text". (I have to say I have never used these).
There have been other posts on this subject so it may be worth searching the forums for more info.
SIM Toolkit applications are additional menus, that mostly contain SMS information services, that are ordered automatically without manually typing keywords into a SMS and sending it to a service number. One could also make a phone call a certain number by choosing an item.
All German operators have SIM applications on their SIMs. So when you enter you can choose from news/weather/stock rates/ordering logos and ringtones and such stuff. When you choose an item a request-SMS will be send automatically and as result you will receive a common SMS or ringtone or logo.
In my opinion this is a relic from the pre-WAP-times. I don't see a real use in it and I have used it maybe 3 years ago for the last time.
By the way, the SIM applications are able to update themselves - sometimes the menus are updated automatically to make new SMS info services available.
On Nokia phones SIM applications appear as the last menu called "Services", but only if available.
hi
I got this thing called TC-200, which is basically a product of some mom-pop cell phone development house with no support of any kind...
http://www.umibuy.com/tc-200-mini-phone-children-s-positioning-association-found-device.html
https://www.google.com/?q=tc-200+mini+phone
These are the only operating instructions!!!!
Operation:
Boot:
Inserted SIM card will auto boot, no need any operation.
Firstly, you must set emergency contact.
*Key 1: send SMS”HM1” via a mobile phone for setting emergency contact No.1.
*Key 2: Send SMS “HM2” via another mobile phone for setting emergency contact No.2
TC-200 will reply a SMS: Received your command call pick up Press any key(except hang up key) to pick up an incoming call. Call hang up press hang up key to hang up calling.
Make a call
For calling emergency contacts No.1 or No.2, press speed dial key 1 or key 2.
SOS function
Press SOS key, the SOS mode will be triggered, TC-100 will send SMS”HELP” and call 2 emergency contacts by turn.
Quiet care function
When you want to know your children or elders without disturbing them, just send “JY” to TC-200. After confirmation SMS received, you can call TC-200 and device will pick up incoming call automatically, the sound will be transmitted via TC-200 smoothly.
Under this station, send GSM1 start voice control, when sound around, the product will call your mobile. Send GDM2 stop voice control.
Return to normal mode
Send “MT”, the function will successfully back to ordinary conversation after received the confirmation message.
Low battery alarm
When battery is less than 100%, TC-100 will send a SMS of low battery warning to emergency-contact No.1.
Also you can send “GSM3” inquire electric quantity.
Note:
*Pull out SIM card will loss all emergency contact information.
*The new machines need to be recharged 2-3 hours before first use. Please use our distribute charger to protect TC-200
* Standby time: 45-60 hours
* Talking time: 1-1.5 hours
Network
GSM 900MHZ/DCS 1800MHz
GSM 850MHZ/DCS1900MHz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tinkered/used this device... any users from china who have tried using this.. any info would be greatly appreciated.
I have tried to use this with a tmobile-USA sim, the phone chimes as soon as you insert the sim card apparently stating that it is working or so, but none of the operating instructions work...
Let me know..
hi
Anyone...
Anyways, for the guys in US who do get to this post from a search engine, please note that I am thoroughly dis-satisfied with my purchase. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE until we know how to use it. The instructions above don't work and there is no way to debug the device...
As I get time I will open the device and post whatever I find somewhere on this forum. From the looks this is a very good device to drop in the bag/pocket of your 3-10 year old for emergency...
[if any one has the contact information of the manufacturer of the device from China, let us know)
ghatothkach said:
hi
Anyone...
Anyways, for the guys in US who do get to this post from a search engine, please note that I am thoroughly dis-satisfied with my purchase. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE until we know how to use it. The instructions above don't work and there is no way to debug the device...
As I get time I will open the device and post whatever I find somewhere on this forum. From the looks this is a very good device to drop in the bag/pocket of your 3-10 year old for emergency...
[if any one has the contact information of the manufacturer of the device from China, let us know)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine works fine. But you need to disable PIN check on the SIM card for it to work. I found that quite obvious as there are no way to enter a PIN on the tc-200.
Only major disappointment is that it does not have a GPS, as listed where I bought it from. It only uses GSM bases to give a localization. Will probably still use it. Really small, but I would really like to have a similar device with GPS.
Hello
I have a dual sim Samsung S20 5G with 2 sim. Since the upgrade to Android 11 and UI 3.0 , I see only one call icon when I click a contact. The only option to choose from which sim to call is to set the phone to ask before, but is very annoying.
Also if I go on keypad, there is only one call icon.
Is any new setting moved somewhere else ?
ME DOnt Support 5G
Tekodrink said:
ME DOnt Support 5G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello
could you please give more details? What do you mean by “me do not support 5g” in relation with dual sim problem?
I have this problem too after update to android 11.
Any one know solution to fix that?
I have the same issue and I hope someone helps soon. I was ok with the setting of asking which sim to use before every call, but it doesn't work with android auto as it needs a default sim, so I can't make calls while driving.
The only solution that I've found by this moment is to manually open each contact and under the name you will find a button with 3 options: Ask everytime, SIM 1 and SIM 2. Selecting one or another will only use that SiM when calling (still frustrating if u want to use both SIMs to call one person)
I have to ask you gurus.. this is getting annoying. i have one private sim, and one work sim.
i call and text with both depending if it is work related or not.
the way f.ex motorola/huawei handles dual sim is so much better, automatically using which sim i used last, for a call/text to a specific number.
but with samsung`s way of handling this, i have to edit each contact to select preferred sim to use.
am i missing something here?
Mine always uses /defaults to whatever sim i originally used to call a number. I can change to a different sims if I want but otherwise it just does it automatically
raul6 said:
Mine always uses /defaults to whatever sim i originally used to call a number. I can change to a different sims if I want but otherwise it just does it automatically
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i get a pop up asking wich sim to use?
buljo said:
i get a pop up asking wich sim to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every time you make a call even to a number you called already on default sim? Are you using Samsung phone app?
raul6 said:
Every time you make a call even to a number you called already on default sim? Are you using Samsung phone app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, it was like that on my S20 FE also. every time i get a pop up asking which sim to use. i have to manually edit a contact to make it use the desired sim.
Try to use the TrueCaller application for default Call & SMS and it will stay with the simcard which one was the last used for both Call & SMS....mate.
The way Samsung used to have the dialler was with two call.buttons, one for each sim. That was much better than today.
I have two SIMs and it seems the audio system of my Ford does not support dual SIMs: when calling via Bluetooth the SIM choice happens only on the phone and not on screen. Is there a way to assign in bulk a SIM to a list of contact (I know how to do this one by one).
Also, even fir contacts with only one number, when calling from car I am prompted with two equal numbers, and this happens only for those on whatsapp as well.
thegios said:
I have two SIMs and it seems the audio system of my Ford does not support dual SIMs: when calling via Bluetooth the SIM choice happens only on the phone and not on screen. Is there a way to assign in bulk a SIM to a list of contact (I know how to do this one by one).
Also, even fir contacts with only one number, when calling from car I am prompted with two equal numbers, and this happens only for those on whatsapp as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this app ... Dual Sim / Multi Sim Selector
As far as I can tell from the reviews you can bulk group contacts into say Work and Friends, then use the app to assign a default sim to each group. I might be wrong but hope not, had a brief read of the reviews as there's not much description about the app. Can't try it though as I don't use multi-sim. Hope it helps
reg66 said:
Try this app ... Dual Sim / Multi Sim Selector
As far as I can tell from the reviews you can bulk group contacts into say Work and Friends, then use the app to assign a default sim to each group. I might be wrong but hope not, had a brief read of the reviews as there's not much description about the app. Can't try it though as I don't use multi-sim. Hope it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used this app in the past, but it's annoying for several reasons...
To be honest, mist of the times I use Android Auto that always asks me which SIM to use, but my Ford's system dies not Stupid Ford developers
thegios said:
I used this app in the past, but it's annoying for several reasons...
To be honest, mist of the times I use Android Auto that always asks me which SIM to use, but my Ford's system dies not Stupid Ford developers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Time to root your car?
wangdaning said:
Time to root your car?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a company car...
Time to root your company