Brands battle it out for dual SIM mobile

Published Friday, February 15, 2008

By David Tusing

(FILE)

We are always on the go. We’ve swapped writing letters for e-mails, we grab fast food rather than cook a meal from scratch and we want to be in contact with everyone at the touch of a button.

It was only a matter of time before busy professionals began juggling more than one mobile phone – and the multi-tasking community began to aspire for a device that would help them be accessible 24 hours a day, no matter where they are.

The dual SIM card phone is answer to that integration dilemma – and we have South Korean mobile giant Samsung and WND, a smaller company but South Korean nevertheless, to thank.

But these two manufacturers alone cannot be credited for turning our two-faced mobile phone dreams into reality.

As of early 2007, there were already a couple of Chinese-made mobile phones that featured dual-SIM features. Mostly catering to the Asian market, these phones however, had neither the finesse nor class that today’s discerning consumer prioritises.

Moreover, their technological know-how was limited to creating two SIM card slots where users were forced to restart their phones to switch from one to the other.

Another Taiwanese “hi-tech” company has also been actively marketing what it calls an “intellectual card with encrypted algorithm”.

What they mean by that is they sell you a custom-made adapter which can fit two SIM cards. You can then even switch between cards without having to turn off your phone.

But read further and you will find the device requires you to physically maul your two cards into smaller sizes and fit them in a special holder, which is then inserted into your conventional single-SIM card phone. For the clumsy, there is an option of buying a SIM-cutter.

Which is why the arrival of WND’s Wind DUO series and Samsung’s D880 DuoS phone comes as a breath of fresh air.

But the only problem is, a lot of us brand-conscious lot have not heard of WND. Samsung – which launched the D880 DuoS in December last year – on the other hand, we already know and trust.

These two however, are innovative products in their own right – and come guaranteed with enough research and development for ease of use. Yet, while both feature dual-SIM capabilities, they are very different in design and function.

The Wind DUO 2200 is a two-faced phone – with two keyboards, two screens and two motherboards – is literally two phones that have been physically merged into a sleeker, more user-friendly interface. This means you can store your contacts, save messages and record call history on two separate sides.

What’s more, you can even make calls on one phone using Bluetooth while someone else uses the phone. However you can’t remove the battery.

Samsung’s D880 DuoS sings a slightly different tune. Featuring a single screen and keyboard, you can easily shift from one SIM card to the other without any problem. The design philosophy follows in the footsteps of the company’s successful slider-style. Unlike WND’s offering, you cannot make two different calls with the D880 DuoS, but the battery is removable.

Dubai’s growing expat population who thrive on multiple-phones catering to their home countries and their country of residence will love these phones, as will the judicious businessman who refuses to mix work and family life.

Products available at Cellucom (04 341 0503) and Jacky’s Electronics (04 341 4858)

Dynamic Duo

WND wIND DUO 2200

Price: Dh1,940

Dimensions: 98 x 47.5 x 17.3 mm

Weight: 95 grams

Phonebook: 1,000 entries each side

Bluetooth version: 1.2

Camera: 2 megapixels each side

Call records: 20 dialled, 20 received, 20 missed calls each side

Samsung D880 Duos

Price: Dh1,599