“Second line” from MTS: how to enable and disable?

The Mobile Telesystems company actively provides a wide range of tariff plans and optimizing options. Most additional services are included in the starter kit for each SIM card and contract. One of them allows you to communicate simultaneously with several consumers from one mobile device. But how to connect a second line to MTS? For this purpose, the standard “Call Waiting and Hold” function is implemented. In the article we will analyze in detail its characteristics and control methods.

Call waiting/holding service description

The option allows the consumer to communicate with several interlocutors simultaneously. After successful activation, you can receive incoming calls even while talking to another user. As soon as an incoming call occurs, you will receive a corresponding sound signal, as well as a number of suggestions for further actions on the screen of your mobile device. If you wish, you can answer an incoming call, while ending old conversations or leaving the subscriber on hold. Or, on the contrary, put the caller on hold.

Let's consider the features of tariffing and provision of proposals:

The function is automatically installed on all tariff plans of the provider. If the contract was established before March 13, 2009, then it will need to be launched independently.
When communicating with short and service numbers, the service is not provided. To answer an incoming call, you first need to end the previous one.
There is no subscription fee or additional commission for using the second line service.
The provider allows simultaneous communication with only two waiting users. While holding, start a conversation with the third one, you need to end one of the calls.
Voice communications are charged in accordance with the current tariff plan on the SIM card. Moreover, the subscriber must pay for the active connection and the hold mode of the second interlocutor. In international roaming conditions, the cost is calculated based on the country you are currently in.

The main advantage of the offer is that you will not have to interrupt the connection to answer another incoming call.

Financial conditions for using the service

is provided completely free of charge. Its connection is also free of charge. There is no subscription fee. However, there are some changes in call tariffs. In particular, this applies when making two calls simultaneously. For example, you first called your work colleague, then while talking to him you remembered that you urgently need to call a friend. If ending the first call is not entirely convenient, you can call a friend directly during the conversation.

Thus, you will make two outgoing calls at the same time. In this case, charging will be carried out according to the tariff plan: the cost of two calls will be summed up and debited from the account after their completion. In the case of incoming calls, charges will not be made, since they are free. The exception is when it comes to roaming (within the network, abroad).

Service management

Now let's look at the principle of operation of the service. Let us remind you that you can only communicate with two users at the same time. If you are talking to your interlocutor and the second subscriber is trying to reach you, you will hear a beep. Then proceed according to the instructions:

If you do not want to accept an incoming call, ignore the alert and take no action.
To reject a non-essential call, press "0". At the other end of the line, the subscriber will hear short beeps and a busy signal. If the forwarding function is available, an automatic transfer to the specified telephone number will occur.
Click on “1” to end the active conversation and start a new one.
"2" or call button. After this, the status of the interlocutors will change. The old one will go into standby mode, and you will begin negotiations with the caller.
“N”—all active conversations are put on hold. You can make an outgoing call in a different direction.

Most modern mobile devices display special buttons on the phone display when an additional connection arrives. Select the desired mode and continue voice communication.

Second line on MTS

When you have already accepted the call, all other subscribers trying to call hear short beeps, and then receive a verdict - busy. This situation does not happen with the “Second Line” option. If you are already in a conversation, the other party will hear a busy warning, but may remain on hold. You will hear the characteristic sound of an incoming call in the handset and will be able to reject the incoming call or accept it by putting the first interlocutor on hold.

For example, you are talking with your mother and receive a call from a colleague. By accepting, entering, you will be able to discuss work nuances, and then return to your mother again without losing the dialogue.

The service also works in the opposite direction; you can make outgoing calls while having a dialogue with another subscriber.

If you receive a call on the second line, you can press:

key 1 to make a new connection, disconnecting the previous subscriber;
button 2, then the first call will be put on hold, and the new interlocutor will be able to hear you;
number 0 to reset the new incoming message and continue communication.

Please note that the functionality only works for two subscribers. If a third person calls you, it is impossible to connect him.

How to connect and disconnect

The service comes in a starter kit with all modern tariff plans and does not require additional installation. This condition applies to offers activated after March 2009. If you signed a service agreement before this date, you will have to launch the option yourself or with the help of third parties. To connect a second MTS line, select one of the following methods:

Use the special USSD command, enter *43# in the call menu of your phone.
Go to the official website of the telecom operator and log in using your account in your personal account. In the service you will see the exact status of your personal account at the current time and the number of package units within the tariff plan. Find the service management tab and set wait and hold in the list of available offers.
Launch the “My MTS” utility, which is a simplified version of your personal account in the network space. The application is available for download and installation on all modern gadgets. You can download it for free from the company’s resource or on any software portal for smartphones. To authorize in the utility, you need to register an account and a security key for your page in your personal account. Go to the services and options section, find the one you are looking for in the list and enable it. To implement this method, you will need to have an active access point to the World Wide Web.
Ask for help from a free seller at your nearest service branch and assistance from your provider. Provide your passport to confirm your identity and ownership of the SIM card.
Dial the technical support phone number “0890”. You will hear the voice of an automatic informant in the receiver. It will offer a range of products and offers from the operator. To go to a direct line with a consultant, press “0” and wait for a response. In case of high employment, you will have to wait or pay 20 rubles to be transferred to the first positions in the queue. Ask to install the function on the SIM card remotely. To do this, you need to answer a few questions and provide your passport information. Communication with a specialist is not subject to tariffs throughout Russia.

To disable the second line, dial the combination #43# or use any activation method listed earlier. After successful action, you will receive a notification from the operator confirming your registration. If you want to know the current service status, enter *#43#. The display will show the status of the function.

Who can benefit

MTS does not provide a description on the official website. Since 2009, the option has been available to all users for free; it is automatically included in the starter package, so it does not need a detailed description on the official website. Information about the service can be found in your Personal Account, but the name of the option sounds different than what is commonly said - “Call waiting and holding.”

Subscribers who connected before 2009 will also be able to use the “second line” without additional expenses, but it must be connected through a Personal Account, USSD code or with the help of a consultant.

Second line settings through the phone menu

Currently, most modern mobile devices have a special button to activate or disable the second line. The function will work if the hold and call waiting service is installed. To configure the settings follow the instructions:

Turn on your cell phone and go to the call menu.
The display will display a list of completed incoming or outgoing calls. Find the settings section.
Select Voice Controls and the Advanced Options tab.
Here you will see the line “Waiting”. If necessary, check or remove the checkbox next to the function.
Save your changes.

It should be borne in mind that each manufacturer produces its equipment according to its own discretion and development. In different models and brands of devices, the location of the main menu elements may differ.

Attention! The article examined the features of providing the option and its cost for the Moscow region of the country. If you are in a different area, the characteristics and prices may not be the same. Find out information from the provider in your locality.

The article discussed all the ways to enable a second line on MTS. Don't worry about missed calls; with its help you will see information about the incoming call, even if you are in an active conversation at the moment.

“Second line” from MTS: operating principle

If the caller gets to someone who is already talking, he will hear a polite request to wait. In turn, the talking subscriber hears periodic sounds that inform him about the presence of a “second line” .

The subscriber himself decides which line is more important to him and makes a decision. The decisions a person can make are:

He can ignore the incoming call, continuing with the current conversation;
If the second caller persistently calls you, then in order to answer him, you should first enter the number “2” and then the green call button, but in this case the first caller goes into “waiting” ;
If the second incoming call is very important and involves a long conversation, then in order to answer the second caller and interrupt the conversation with the first, you should alternately first press the number “1” and then the green call key;
It also happens that the second incoming call comes from a person who is not interesting to you, and you do not want to talk to him. The periodic sound begins to bother you or distract you, then the second incoming call is reset by pressing the number “0” and the same green call button, while the current dialogue is not interrupted.

Enable a second line on iPhone

First, open your iPhone's general settings by tapping the Settings icon on one of the home screens.
Scroll down the list of settings a little and select “Phone”.
In your phone settings, find the line called “Call Waiting” and click on it.
On the settings page that opens, move the slider labeled “Call Waiting” to the “On” position.

This is all. Now the second line of your iPhone is activated and you will not miss a single important call, even if you are busy talking with another interlocutor.

To all of the above, it is worth adding that for some operators the call waiting function may be disabled on their side or even be a paid service. In this case, the call waiting enable slider will not be active, and to activate the service you will need to contact your cellular operator.

If you see the message “Call Waiting setting could not be saved,” try restarting your phone. If this does not help, check the availability of the service with the operator. If the operator says that the service is available to you, reset your phone settings - in this case the option appears in 100% of cases.

Characteristics of the Call Waiting and Holding service Megafon

Let’s figure out what the meaning of “Waiting” and “Holding” is in order to correctly understand what we are talking about.

The first concept of “Waiting” means the case when you are communicating on a mobile device, and another subscriber is trying to reach you on the other line and is waiting for you to answer him.
“Holding” a call is a case when you are talking on a mobile phone, and at this time you decide to call another person without interrupting the current conversation, that is, holding it.

Both discussed useful features from Megafon are provided to subscribers in one combined package. What are these services developed and used for? The first function allows the user not to miss the desired call from a specific person. For example, you will be talking about various matters with close people or relatives, and you may miss a call from a business client. A busy first line will not give you the opportunity to find out that someone is trying to call your phone.

If you had the Call Waiting and Hold option activated on your number, you would receive a special signal in the background. It indicates the presence of a second incoming call. At the same time, along with a sound signal, the backlight of the mobile device display turns on. It displays information about the incoming call. Having heard its signal, you can switch the first active call to waiting, and accept the second call at this time.

In addition, it is possible to reject the second call, or turn off all calls at once. Such control is carried out through a mobile device. To do this, special commands are displayed on the phone display. At such a moment, subscribers sometimes get confused about the names of the buttons and lose incoming calls. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful.

How much does “Call Hold” cost on Megafon?

Let's look at the prices for this service provided by the operator. In this case, you need to clarify that “Call Waiting” is not paid, but “Call Hold” works for a fee. For example, for the Moscow region this amount is equal to 1 ruble for each call held. The exception is tariff plans from the “All Inclusive” series, even older versions. In them, “Call Hold” functions without any payment.

The table below shows the cost of “Holding” calls for different regions of Russia.

Region of Russia	Hold price	Conditions for tariff plans
Moscow region	1 ruble	All inclusive, Warm welcome XS-SM, City connections, Megafon-Unlimited, Turn on! - for free
Leningrad region	The first 10 deductions per month are 5 rubles, the rest are free	All inclusive VIP, All inclusive L – free
Voronezh region	For free	Warm welcome and Warm welcome 2013 – 1 ruble, Everything is simple, Go to ZERO, Everything is simple 03.17, Go to ZERO 03.17 – 50 kopecks
Krasnodar region	For free
Ekaterinburg and region	1 ruble	Turn on!, All inclusive, Warm welcome S-S2017-M-M2017, Megafon-Online - free
The city of Vladivostok and Primorsky Krai	50 kopecks	All-inclusive ML-VIP, tariff plans from the Get Involved series! – not paid
Samara Region	For free	Go to ZERO 2021, Go to ZERO, It's simple, It's simple 03.17, Warm welcome 2016-2017 – 50 kopecks
Nizhny Novgorod Region	For free	As easy as shelling pears, for your own, Best friends 2013, Warm welcome S-2013-2016, Everything is simple 2015-2016-03.17, Go to ZERO 2014/03.17, Fairy tale, Smart home, Mobile, Region, Megafon-Online (2014) – 50 kopecks
Krasnoyarsk region	The first 5 deductions per month are 2 rubles, the rest are not paid	All inclusive, My Republic, Turn on!, MegaFon-Online - not paid
Republic of Yakutia	50 kopecks	All inclusive M/L/VIP, tariffs of the Get Involved! - for free

How to enable “Call Waiting”

This service from Megafon is basic, so it is usually activated by default on all tariffs and works automatically. If it was disabled, then connect it in one of the following ways:

Dial the USSD request *520# on your mobile device and press the “Call” button. This way it will connect. To connect, use the command *#43#, which is sent by the same button.
Use the capabilities of your Personal Account. This service is provided by the operator on the Megafon website. To use it, you first need to go through the registration procedure, which does not take much time. Its essence is to fill out the proposed forms and receive an access code to your Personal Account. After authorization in it, go to the section of available services, find the option “Waiting - Call Hold”. Connect it following the site's prompts.
Use the Megafon mobile application, which operates directly on your mobile phone and does not require a personal computer or access to the World Wide Web. The application is installed from the Google Play online store. After installing the application on your phone, open it and wait for authorization. The system will determine your number based on the installed SIM card of the Megafon operator. In the “Services” section you will find the service in question, and connect by clicking on the switch. If you have an Apple gadget, for example, an iPhone or iPad, then the application must be installed from the AppStore online store.

Alternative connection methods

If the options discussed above do not suit you, then use other methods. They do not have a way to send a text message, as this is not provided by the operator.

Contact a Megafon support operator for help. For this purpose, there are several free phones, namely three. The first number 0500 is used to call from a Megafon phone. Another federal number +7800-550-05-00 can be dialed from any phone, including home. If you are traveling abroad, then the number +7-926-111-05-00 has been prepared for you. You can also use it to reach a contact center specialist. After the call, you will have to spend time listening to the autoinformer's prompts, then press the button provided to connect with the operator. Next, you need to wait for the connection and ask the operator to connect. The operator will ask you for your passport details, so it is better to prepare them in advance.
Go to the nearest Megafon sales point, or to a communication store or customer service office. Such points can be found on the interactive map located on the operator’s website. Tell the consultant your request to connect to the service, and if necessary, fill out the application form. You will also be required to have a passport if you are the owner of the number. If the number is registered to another person, a power of attorney certified by a notary is required from him. You can invite the owner to the office. If these conditions are not met, you will not be able to activate the service.

After activating the service in any way, you will receive a notification about the successful operation. No money will be debited from your phone balance, since the connection is free. Money will be debited only for the call on hold, at the cost indicated above in the relevant section.

How to disable Call Waiting and Hold

In fact, disabling such a service does not make sense, since its terms and conditions do not include a subscription fee, and no extra money will be charged for it. If you do not want to pay for a call on hold, do not use this feature. Some subscribers still sometimes decide to disable the service. To do this, the operator has provided several methods similar to the previous ones.

To disable both services, use the same USSD commands as for connecting: *520# and *#43#, respectively for “Hold” and “Waiting” calls. Commands are also sent by the call button.
Log in to the Personal Account described above by entering your username and password on the operator’s web resource. If you are logging in for the first time, then go through a simple registration and receive your login information. In the active section, disable it.
The mobile application from the Megafon operator also allows you to fully manage your phone number. Having opened it, also find the service in question, and click on the corresponding switch to disable the service. The application operates on IOS and Android operating systems. Authorization occurs automatically if a Megafon SIM card is installed in the phone.
Call the contact center of the Megafon operator and ask a specialist to disable the service. At the same time, be prepared to spend some time listening to all the automated informant’s prompts, and then wait to connect with a specialist. The numbers to call are listed in the previous section of the review. Next, you will need to provide passport data and control information under the agreement with the operator. The service will be disabled within 15 minutes.
Visit a Megafon communications salon or a company store. Staff will assist you in disconnecting. The only condition for such actions is the presence of your passport if the number is registered in your name. If the SIM card was purchased by another person, his presence or a power of attorney will be required by a notary. Otherwise, you will be denied service deactivation.

After disconnecting the service, a message about the refusal of the service will be sent to your number. There is also no charge for disconnection.

Features of the service

The two combined services from Megafon have their own operating features that you need to know about before connecting.

Call waiting and holding services are activated by default when activating a SIM card from the Megafon operator, and work even if the tariff plan is changed. They work until the user refuses them using the available methods discussed above.
All calls are charged according to the base rates of your call plan.
The service can be activated by all subscribers of this operator in any region of Russia. The operation of the option when traveling to other countries is not completely guaranteed and depends on the quality of the mobile network of Megafon's partner.
To place a call on hold, you will be charged according to the terms of the Call Hold option.
The Megafon “Conference Call” option operates in conjunction with “Call Hold” in such a way that all telephone conversations that occur are subject to payment.
To learn how to use call hold, see the manual for your mobile device.

Conclusion and reviews

The service is useful for subscribers in many cases. But unfortunately, it also has a lot of disadvantages. Everything has to do with payment. The problem is that if the connection is lost during communication, the hold is automatically activated on Megafon. After this, the connection may not be restored. But it is still considered that there was a deduction, and the ruble is debited from the account. If you ask for a refund at the office, you can sometimes get the money back. The only way to get rid of this is by disabling the service. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do this. At one time, the operator set a fee for the service without notifying anyone. At least no such data was received in news or SMS mailings.

Many users complain about the call waiting service. When talking to one person, another may call, then another. If you didn’t have time to switch, the money for retention is still written off, and this happens several times a month. Sometimes it is not possible to disable the service in your Personal Account. Therefore, you have to call the operator. Of course, the money for the service is small, but why should subscribers pay for functions that were not used? Therefore, think about whether you need such a service, or even the operator himself. Maybe you should switch your number to another network.

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How to use

If someone else calls you during a call, you will hear a beep. Most modern smartphones have a built-in second line control system. In this case, when you receive a second call, you will see a corresponding message on the screen and the ability to choose what to do with the new call: end, hold, answer while holding the first, or answer by ending the first.

If these features are not available on your phone, use key controls:

0—reject the second call, the subscriber will hear a busy tone, and if voice mail or forwarding is enabled, the call will be forwarded. 1 - end the first conversation and accept the second call. 2 - accept a new challenge. 2 — swap call statuses (keep the active one, and make the one on hold active). N—hold all active calls and make a new call to phone number N.

After pressing the desired key, do not forget to press the call button. If none of the above is done, the current call will continue, and the subscriber on the second line will hear call tones.

At the moment, the MTS network supports only 2 simultaneous calls: one on hold and one active. If you want to answer the third call, you will have to end one of the previous ones.

Source

What to do if it doesn't work?

But what if the option on your phone doesn’t work? In fact, there may be several reasons why the service may not work correctly:

Regardless of the reason (except for the last one, here you will need to replace the gadget) why the service does not work on a mobile device, the subscriber can solve the connection problem in no time. Here's how to do it:

If none of the above steps help, you can always contact MTS support service for help at 0890. Calls are free for network clients.

Source

Connection methods

Before you enable the option, you can check its availability on your mobile device using the command: *#43#. If the status shows that the option is not installed, then you can connect the “Second Line” to MTS in the following ways:

Enter the USSD combination on your mobile phone: *43#;
Go to the settings menu on your mobile device, select call settings, find the “Call Waiting/Hold” option in the list, select the “Enable” function and wait for activation. At the end of the procedure, the phone will display the “Call Waiting/Hold On” status. If you see a negative status, for example, “Failed to complete,” then check the antenna divisions, since you will not be able to connect outside the network coverage area, or reboot the phone.

Newcomers to the company, as mentioned above, do not need to activate the “Second Line”, since it is installed by default. But if you disabled it yourself, then using the methods described above you can re-enable “Call Waiting and Holding”. There are no restrictions on the number of connections.

If the methods described above did not help you, then you can always contact the MTS office or call the customer technical support number.

How to enable and configure a second line on your phone - 3 simple steps