Two cell phones/BlackBerries?

[BoldDiddy]

Hey guys -

How many of you business users use two separate devices, one for personal and one for work?

Just curious! I'm a real estate agent who puts his cell phone number on his business cards and marketing, but (thankfully!) I've been getting busier lately, which means my phone is ringing a lot more. Some of my clients treat my number as an "office" number, so they call me on Saturday night at 10PM to leave a voicemail, but since I have only one phone, I still have it go off if I'm out at a restaurant with my girlfriend on that Saturday night.

Anyway, was just curious how many of you actually separate your business/work and personal lives with different phones.

[lando69]

I would use the nokia E73 Mode
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[BoldDiddy]

Huh?

[blueyestm]

carrying around 2 phones is annoying in my opinion and I just lump it all into one. Emails can wait until I get to work most times and I still take the phone calls cuz its usually always my boss giving me instructions for the next day as he thinks about them cuz he's not one for emails.

[sedalia066]

A single device works fine for me. Google Voice gives me a second phone number and the opportunity to manage the line as I see fit. No late night ringing for me.

[crackie]

I use 3 blackberry's and i just bought a evo4 to try out for fun.

[AmigaDude]

Originally Posted by sedalia066

A single device works fine for me. Google Voice gives me a second phone number and the opportunity to manage the line as I see fit. No late night ringing for me.

Ditto, get Google Voice and hand out that number only. I only get calls from 8am - 8pm, but email notifications will alert me to voice mails.

[BoldDiddy]

See, I've tried the Google Voice thing. It doesn't work, because I've been in the business for five years already and have an established client base that has my current phone number. So even if I pass out my new GV number and get business cards with the new number (which I already tried doing), my past clients still call my original number, and they've passed on my phone number to their friends (which I am VERY happy about! That means I've done a good job and they want to share that with their friends!!) But that original number is the one being passed on, NOT the Google Voice #.

I once had a past client from two years ago pass out my old number to three of her friends who purchased homes this year. That is AWESOME, but again - the transition to Google Voice just did NOT happen. My emails had the GV number, the business cards, all my stationary...but because I started off with the original number, I have to keep it.

I guess, in theory, the Google Voice option would work if I was brand new starting off in this business. But since I have about 100 past clients who have my current number, it's very difficult to make that transition.

The easiest thing to do, in my perspective, is to simply make my current BlackBerry Bold a "work/business" phone, and then create a new number with a new phone and share that with only my girlfriend and one or two friends. That way, if I need to unplug or just have a night out with the girlfriend, I can just take the other phone with me for emergency purposes but not be caught off-guard or distracted with phone calls and emails.

It's just...I agree that it sucks to carry two phones, and also, I'm on Verizon, which means the cost is going to be ridiculous. I don't have to be on VZW for the second line; I could get a Boost or Virgin BlackBerry Curve as the "personal" phone.

Any thoughts, ideas, different perspectives? Anything will help, guys! I'm just thinking out loud here...trying to figure out a way to separate personal and business without making it a hassle.

I appreciate all your help!!

[Spykedjadedragon]

I carry two phones. I used to have three because of an old job (don't ask) BoldDiddy has valid reasons for carrying around that extra phone, shame we don't have dual sim phones in the states.

I carry two phones because I'm a gadget junkie and love experiencing new tech. Plus, all my close contacts got pissed off at the amount of times my number kept changing so now I have to keep my personal number fairly stable lol

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[Last Resort]

I have carried two phones before and it turned into more of a pain than anything...I am also in Real Estate and if you are like me you may be sending your clients info on the go...even on the weekend if you hear of something...I would lose touch if on a Saturday just doing my thing and I hear of a property that would be great for a client I know then realize I left my "work" phone at home...I think that it is easier to hit the silence button than to pay and carry for an extra phone

[1ofthe600]

Personal no phone anymore I just never found a use.

I have skype for if I ever need it.

Work I have an office line, that goes to my assistant and a cell line that goes to my assistant as I make him use my phone.

For weekends I have both numbers set on it (they might be forwarded you'll have to forgive me I didn't set it up myself.) And I'll get calls to both lines. Hence I tend to leave my phone in my car or in my office.