For some time now, dual SIM phones have been hot among the masses. Majority of the handsets that have these are China phones or locally branded ones like MyPhone, Cherry Mobile or Torque.
I actually wrote a similar entry last year — Why Dual-SIM phones aren’t picking up?
I remember, about 8 year ago, people would go to Greenhills and have their Nokia phones converted to dual SIM phones. It involved a replacement part attached at the back of the handset and makes the battery compartment bulging at the back.
Then we got them dual-SIM China-phones that are uber-cheap with price range from Php2,000 – Php4,000. That really got a lot of attention (and we’ve covered that topic here several times, including that Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho feature).
The big brands seem to take their time in introducing similar handsets. The first one I’ve encountered was from Samsung. Not sure if it was the Samsung Fizz or the SGH-780 (Samsung actually has a total of 5 dual SIM phones but I’ve only seen one model introduced locally). Earlier this month, I also saw LG putting out an ad for their very own dual SIM phone under the model LG GX200. I have yet to see Nokia and Sony-Ericsson showing off their own versions.
I guess the main reason why the big brands are not too eager with dual-SIM phones despite of the growing demand ia because it will just eat into their market share.
We’re already familiar with people owning 2 or more phones at the same time. Instead of buying two handsets, consumers might settle for only 1 unit with dual-SIM capability. That trend could eventually affect total sales and margins of the big brands. That’s on top of the other reasons I mentioned here earlier (i.e. battery life and telco subsidy).
Nevertheless, at least we’re seeing the big names producing their own dual-SIM although the ones they’re making are mostly entry-level phones. I don’t think they’ll dot he same with their high-end smartphones though.
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Apart from the reasons already mentioned such as: Demand for multi-sim phone is not for all countries/markets, and Dual sims decreasing their market share… They are probably not keen on creating multi-sim brands, since it will not sit well with their partner TelCos. If I were a Telco, say Sprint, ATnt, Verizon, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile, Smart, Globe etc… I will not be happy knowing that there are phones out there created by my partner Phone Manufacturers (who’s phone I sell lower for a contract), that have Dual-Sim capabilities and thus decreasing my own Marketshare. However, this idea though will sit well with “secondary SIM options” such as SUN or Virgin Mobile in some cases, since their real marketshare are customers who are looking for a “secondary SIM card”.
I think the demand for dual sim phones were only here in the Philippines, that is why big brands like nokia, SE, ignores it. Try these Other Ninoy and Cory Phone Models.
i bought nokia 6300 china phone last year, wasn’t satisfied at all.. Natuwa ako bcoz dual sim sya.. I’m fond of having different sim cards kse eh.. But then, habang tumatagal makikita mu talaga na low quality sya.. I already gave it to my sister so I bought nokia e63 for myself.. Di nga sya dual sim but then ok na sakin to.. High quality and i know tatagal talaga sya.. If i’m gonna buy a dual sim phone cguro,di na china phone.. Mura nga sira naman agad.. kung ok naman quality ng dual sim phone brands,why not?
At such a wonderful moment,
I came to your blog. I like what’s introduced
in your blog. To have the opportunity to talk with you.
Also welcome you to visit my blog and have some advice.
Thank you
the only drawback i experienced from my samsung dual sim phone is that when the battery gets empty it is the end =(
The only thing that I don’t like with those My|Phones is that the external memory capacity only supports around 2gig.
my wife is not a fan of dual sim cellphone. she urged me not to get one. i dunno why.
Had a Samsung D880 for over a year, it was a slider phone, something i really didn’t like in my phones (Just a personal thing), it was good and like I said lasted over a year. Had the ribbon changed 2x within 2 months though. It had served it’s purpose so I retired it. Now using LG GX200 worth less than 6k, battery life lasts 7 days, I’ve had it for less than a month now and I only charge it once a week! Now my dream dual sim phone would be like this:
Candy bar type
Dual sim
Wi-fi capable
Not qwerty, not touch screen
Not china phone…
any manufacturer out there who can heed to this please, will pay cash outright!