Ideas & Opinions

Comment of the week – Nokia dual SIM phone debate sparked

By Mike on 21 September 2009

GLOBAL – A few days ago we posted a reader poll to open up a discussion on how many phones you carry (if you haven’t already, get your vote counted today). We’re only a few days into the voting and already the response has been great, with over 700 of you getting involved. Notably, the current poll figures show that 56% of the Nokia Conversations readership carry two or more phones. Equally as interesting is the fact that the topic of dual SIM phones has somewhat naturally bubbled to the surface in tandem and become the hot topic of debate related to the question how many phones do you carry? This week’s award goes to one of you keenly involved in the debate.

Read on to find out who wins this week’s copy of the Gravity Twitter app, and to join the dual SIM discussion.

Burak is one of our readers from Turkey, and wins comment of the week for his story for carrying more than one phone, and sharing his thoughts on the whole dual SIM debate. Here’s highlights of what he had to say:

Burak Says: “I am carrying two phones (both Nokia) because of a couple of reasons. One of the phones has a pre-paid sim card and the other has a pay per use sim card and they belong to different operators. In my country (Turkey), interopreator calling rates are extremely high and carrying two phones allows me to communicate with the least cost. Moreover, I am allocating one of the phones for work and I do not give away the phone number of the other phone so that I can easily distinguish between personal and work related calls. If necessary, I can turn off the work phone and I can still communicate with my personal contacts. You may also ask if call forwarding is an alternative option, but when you forward calls, you cannot receive S(M)MS… And if you are buying a new phone to carry two phones, it creates an unnecessary waste of resources, besides inconvenience. A dual sim phone would have done the same job with less harm to the nature and with less cost.”

To read the full comment (it’s quite a long one, hence the abridged version above) and to join the discussion visit our latest poll on how many phones do you carry and get involved. And don’t forget to vote.

Congratulations Burak, a copy of the Twitter app, Gravity, is on it’s way to you. Please keep your comments piling in, and don’t forget to suggest a topic for Conversations here.

Photo from mroach

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Nokius Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Why NOKIA will not bring a N900i with sucks 2 Sim Cards!!
One for calling and one for WEB?!?!

I think out there are few people how want a phone like this !!!

Sathish Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 5:11 pm

@ Nokius You and me sail in the same boat , i too need dual sim N900 , one for web/internet another sim for calls

please Nokia please.

Leon Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:50 pm

I use two, the first one is a Nokia with Mexico sim card and the second with USA sim card and Nextel radio
Before the Blackberry I used three devices a radio and 2 Cell Phones.

I need a device with dual-sim cards and Nextel Radio to be that works in Mexico and USA

Don’t misaligned my suit

cycnus Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 5:43 pm

I think Nokia should make the dual Sim card EXCLUSIVE of the E-series. Because.
1. Most of the businessman would be happy to have separate number for separate purpose.
2. It would distinguish the E series from the N or X series. Because the line between E, N & X series were very blured.
3. It would give nokia no excuse to crippled the E series anymore in the multimedia department. Such as Carl Zeis optic. i.e. If we could have a N97-like E series, I would expect it carry Carl Zeis too (other than software difference), and use the dual sim to differentiate between E and N series.

Stuart Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 6:50 pm

I realize that a dual-sim phone would be something most carriers would not want so it would have to be marketed to the people directly. I would hope it would be more a business phone (E-series) since many people who would want a dual-sim do so to separate business from personal. A feature-phone which is not a smart phone wouldn’t be as usual to do all the business-like things but a phone with too many features would canabalize the single sim phone market. So something like an candybar E-series, simple yet functional would be great.

cycnus Reply:
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:32 pm

Hi,

In the place where dual sim card phone were offered by the phone operator (like in Indonesia and China, AFAIK). The China Unicom, locked the 1st card to be used only with China unicom, and you can put any card on the second slot.

same as in Indonesia. 4 Indonesian provider: telkomsel (the biggest provider), Indosat, ProXL & Axis offering some US$80-US$120 BB clone with the first sim card locked with the provider. i.e. if you bought from telkomsel, the 1st card were locked to telkomsel. And you can put the second slot for any provider.

Chris Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 am

I need a dual sim phone completely compatible with my cars bluetooth have tried two so far, can receive calls on both carriers but cant access phone book from dashboard display.Is there a Nokia phone that can do this ? Car is audi TT 08

Ivan Says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm

Here in Brazil also the costs for calling between operators are High. And with the growing data usage, some operators has good price in Voice, but high price in data. And others good price in data, but high for voice.

A dual SIM Nokia will be the best solution.

Burak Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 6:21 am

Thanks.

I just wanted to express my feelings, I didn’t expect that my comment would be the comment of the week.

I agree with the comments that E series can include dual sim functionality since dual sim usage is usally a result of work/personal phone number separation.

anatoliy Says:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

i carry 3 phones. i would be happy to see 8800 and n97 dual sim!!!

i own vertu ascent for my work number and 8800 arte for my personal number as well as samsung witu for mobile internet and do not understand why nokia can’t make at least 8800 and n97 quad band and dual sim??? it is important for execs to stay connected any place…

wanted to get n97, but it is a disgrace to have this phone made from plastic and no dual sim again……………

Colin Robinson Says:
September 29th, 2009 at 2:11 am

Why does the new nokia music application not support bluetooth. I thought we were trying to reduce the numbers of wires, and the old music transfer application supported bluetooth, and worked very well? When will Nokia Music be bringing back bluetooth support?

Colin Robinson Says:
September 29th, 2009 at 2:28 am

The media players included with most nokia’s are very basic. I almost exlusively listen to podcasts which can be 2-3 hours long. If something goes wrong half way through, I then have to listen to the whole first hour again just to catch up. Why don’t the media players allow fast forward / review,and some of the common features found on digital media players as standard. I am sure more people would prefer the one device rather than having to carry a phone, ipod, digital radio reciever, camera.

Dinesh Says:
September 30th, 2009 at 8:40 am

Why u r not making dual sim cell phone

lolu Says:
October 1st, 2009 at 7:55 am

Dual/Multiple SIM Phone, a must for NOKIA…

I am a Nokia freak and I have been using Nokia phones for the last decade. I need Nokia to respond fast with a dual SIM phone as it’s a pressing need for us out here who have to carry 3-4 phones.

Apart from some chinese phones with this capability only samsung has some dependable phone in this category and samsung seem to be creaming the market.

I live in Nigeria and would appreciate Nokia’s prompt response in making available phones that could operate with more than one SIM card, simultaneously. If this is not done, Nokia might loose customers like us that change their phones every 3-6 months. Thanks.

Bernard Says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am

and how about this new dual sim holder platinum from simore, that work in 3G networks and fit in all mobiles including iphone, have U heard about it?

http://www.simore.eu/en/Dual_SIM-168-Dual_SIM_Platinum.php

Ahmed Says:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:04 am

looks like chinese companies are way ahead from Nokia as around 5 years ago they introduced dual sim in their phones. And its still runing and coming in chinese latest N97 as well. Check this out http://www.domesticutilities.com/copy.htm

Danish Says:
October 8th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

i have three shop of in Mozambique Mobile phons my many coustumer asking about NOKIA dual sim card and i show Samsuneg dual sim card becous nokia is not making, realy its good idea Nokia dual sim card.
Danish from Mozambique..

Danish Says:
October 8th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

i have three shop of Mobil phon in Mozambique my many coustumer asking about NOKIA dual sim card and i show Samsuneg dual sim card becous nokia is not making, realy its good idea Nokia dual sim card.
Danish from Mozambique..

DB Says:
October 11th, 2009 at 6:14 am

I bought dual sim holder GDST3G from http://www.g-telware.com and it works great on my Nokia N97. I was afraid to cut sim cards, but it all was well. Sim cards can get back in one piece and work like before. The most important that is supports 3G data transfer and works great. My advice: put on home screen shortcut to ‘SIM Services’ – it saves a lot of time to change sim cards, and working better.

FP Says:
October 13th, 2009 at 10:12 pm

I do not agree that mobile operators will dislike two SIM card phones. It will only spark up the competition and increase sales. On the other hand, 2SIM Nokia is excellent environmental leap for otherwise very polluting small electronic devices. E series is my favorite and currently I have 3 phones (2 x NOKIA + BlackBerry), would very much like to swap two phones for one solid, 3G, fast operating, good quality 2SIM NOKIA.

Knomanho Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 7:58 am

I hope Nokia realises that :-
1.one sim phone is a thing of the past.
2.Dual sim will make a clean sweep
3.Before long 3 sim phones will be available to tide out the problems of network failures….by providing access to different networks in one phone.
Hope Nokia leads.

Dark Angel Says:
October 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm

I was a user of Nokia for about 5 years since last year I had to change to Samsung as I carry 2 Sim’S its been more than an years since I have been waiting for a Dual Sim Mobile to be Released By Nokia.. I have been constantly checking for any new release, but its not useful since other brands like Motorola Has launched their Version of Dual Sim Mobiles. Hopefully Nkia will do so soon…

I really hope it gonna be worth waiting for a Nokia Dual Sim Mobile as its been more than an year since I have changed my phone.

mdjibz Says:
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 pm

i used a nokia mobile and now i use a dual sim phone. since i started to use dual sim phone i realized the user interface is completely difficult than nokia phone. that is the difference between others and nokia. i agree. but for as my cocern of using 2 numbers at a time (although a number will be in roaming mode) i prefer to stick to the dual phone. what i miss is the nokia brand.
i came to know that a rival of nokia is making dual sim phone.
this makes me think that why nokia is getting late on to the trend. i also like to say that if nokia doesn’t care about this they may be going to loose their market share..

Miljo Says:
November 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am

Please produce dual sim mobile I Am Using Two Nokia Phone I think Change Nokia And By Others Phone

Timothy Says:
November 1st, 2009 at 4:13 pm

I own a dual sim phone and i am telling you, it was the best cell phone i ever bought. One line is business the other is pleasure and its easy to distinguish which is which.

The only thing is, i wouldn’t mind it (a lot of my client as well as i sell phones) owning a brand like Nokia with dual sim capability.
Time to get with it guys, do not fall behind again, be proactive.

AKT Says:
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm

currently I carry three phones- a work BlackBerry and two personal phones on different networks.

I will be the first to buy a DUAL_SIM Nokia when it comes on the market.

I have seen knock-off Nokia phones in Africa. these were made in China, but clearly they are fake and are not the real thing. I am tempted to buy the dual-sim Samsung, but I am holding on to the Nokia.

Solomon Zak. Says:
November 6th, 2009 at 8:23 am

About a year and a half ago I was on the Nokia website and e-mail specifically my opinion, about Nokia having dual sim phone, I dont know what happened to that e-mail, I have almost lost hope, this forum is highly appreciated.I carry three (3) phones, two (2) being Nokia. Iam an advocate of a Nokia dual sim phone, and can’t wait to see one.
In my country -Nigeria, you will surely need a double sim phone especially if you travel a lot,no any single network operator/service provider has covered the entire country 100 percent of course it is not peculiar to my country, and making calls within same network is cheaper.Having a dual sim phone will be good but a three (3) sim phone should also be considered or even a phone that may not even need a sim card, maybe just register with your network operator/s and off you go.

hrnndnn Says:
November 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

I am a nokia freak i used a china dual sim because of the hell reason nokia is not introducing any.I throwed it bcoz oo it’s features.now i have 5800 and n85.So please NOKIA we hop soon a dual sim mobile from you.

SACHIN P GITE Says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm

from last 7 years i am using nokia handsets-5100,3110,3115,N 79,N97,ETC. recently i am using e-75 alsa SAMSUNG 880 with dual sim,nokia will reduce his customers himself if he will not launch a dual sim bcoz now its a trend to use 2 phones 1 personal and the other official,so not for customers sake but for the company sake launch a new handset with dual sim so that customer like me will not go to the handset other than NOKIA.