With dual SIM, SIM choice is not retained for a SMS conversation

[Jimbo G]

For an existing SMS conversation with one contact (when using dual SIM):

Expected behaviour: tap on conversation in messaging-app, the messaging screen opens showing the SMS conversation, with the previously used SIM selected.

Actual behaviour: SIM #1 is always selected, even if all previous SMS messages to that contact have used SIM #2.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[GT (gleppert)]

OTA10 Regression:
On my bq4.5 this very annoying issue appeared after updating to OTA10. Before OTA10, there was no problem, but now the SIM2 is not retained in SMS conversations and even actively tapping on "SIM2" does not send the SMS on SIM2, but SIM1. Since I am travelling in another country, this bug costed me approximately 30 Euro of mobile phone credit, because it was unpredictable whether the SMS was sent correctly via SIM2 or incorrectly via SIM1 (from my home country). There is a tendency of the phone to fall-back to SIM1 for SMS-sending after the OTA10 update. The behavior is very annoying and can be very costly!!!

[Jimbo G (jamespgilbert)]

I do in fact have the same problem as @gleppert (also on bq4.5).

It may be necessary to create 2 bugs:

- The SIM choice is not retained for an existing SMS conversation.

- Even when SIM#2 is selected while writing the SMS, it is incorrectly sent using SIM#1 (this appears to be unpredictable and does not happen every time).

[Ulrich (u-mann)]

I can confirm this issue on my bq E5, since updating to OTA 10.1 this week. I use the dual sim mode with a business and a private SIM. When writing a SMS on a private conversation, it always switches me to business. Choosing private conversation sometimes works, sometimes not. I have even set "always ask for outgoing messages" in the system config, but it just lets me switch to the first SIM.

This is annoying because it confuses my contacts with SMS sent from an unknown number and should be fixed as soon as possible.

[Paul Müller (8-mail-g)]

Just found out this bug was duplicated. Having the same problem on EQ 4.5:
The top of the messaging app allows to choose the sim-card. This worked previously in OTA 9 (I think also 9.1), but does not have an effect starting OTA10.

[Henry (6-ubuntuone-4)]

This is not really true: "This worked previously in OTA 9 (I think also 9.1), but does not have an effect starting OTA10."

It works perfectly upon starting the Messaging app, only. Means workaround is very simple (I am not saying its comfy), just follow this procedure every single time you want to send SMS:
 - stop Messaging app (swipe up in the list of opened apps)
 - wait (with lot of messages it takes time to read the db)
 - start Messaging app
 - open the conversation
 - if selected SIM1 fits - do not touch it!
 - if selected SIM1 does not fit, select SIM2 - and DO not touch it anymore
 - write the message
 - send the message
Make sure you do the above in one "row" of actions, any interruption or screen lock or changing apps may mean a wrong SIM will be selected and you shall start all over.

[Paul Müller (8-mail-g)]

Thank you, 6-ubuntuone-4, for the workaround/clarification and sorry for the confusion. I believe I started having this problem with OTA 10, but now I am unsure. It is a possibility that I previously followed your workaround every time I sent text messages.

I agree that this bug here might not be a duplicate of 1571686. However, comments by gleppert, jamespgilbert, u-mann made me think that the two bugs are somehow connected.

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

@tiago can you check this at the same time as the other similar issue

[Tiago Salem Herrmann (tiagosh)]

The feature to restore a previous sim selection in a given conversation was never part of the design spec, thus it was never implemented.
The current behavior is that messaging-app must always use the sim card selected as default in system-settings.

[Jimbo G (jamespgilbert)]

Thanks for the workaround, Henry.

However this is _definitely_ an OTA-10 problem, I would without any doubt have noticed the behaviour in OTA 9.

[Henry (6-ubuntuone-4)]

@Paul Müller: no problem at all. Actually I am pretty sure they are connected by being caused by same change in a code described by Paul McGowan in #1571686: "I was prompted to change the default setting but not for which sim to use, although the UI clearly highlighted the sim so perhaps the setting no longer makes sense."

@Jimbo G: yw, even if I must admit I wrote it in a bit of "sarcastic" way, just to point out the fact that the way it was implemented it worked correctly while now it is just in big trouble.
Regarding OTA-10 - I agree with you, also think it was fine in OTA9

[Jimbo G (jamespgilbert)]

It might have been slightly sarcastic but it has really helped me, I nearly had to start using my old phone again! :-)

[Amapohua (echazarret)]

I have the same problem with E4.5 and I'd identify it after OTA-10. I must to add that since I have the phone (OTA-8), the pop-up message that prompt us to select a default sim for calls/messages just works for messages, and even in that case it's an irreversible setting changing preference in “System settings”.