Devices with dual SIM card slots are nothing new, and in fact they’ve been rising in popularity in many of the emerging markets around the world thanks to the brutal price wars that operators are waging, but what is novel and unique is the dual SIM smartphone. These specimens are so rare that whenever we read news of one hitting the market, we immediately want to test it out. This latest dual SIM mythical creature is from Gigabyte and it’s got a rather corny name: Gsmart Rola. It’s got a 3.2 inch screen with a WQVGA resolution screen, runs stock Android 2.2, 256 MB of RAM, 512 MB of ROM, WiFi, 3G, quadband GSM/EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, and there’s even an FM radio in there for good measure. The processor is clocked at 528 MHz and it’s probably an old ARM11 chipset, but whatever, you get to have two numbers.
Is this a good buy? Hard to tell, since only one of the SIM cards is expected to support 3G, meaning the other is there strictly for voice and SMS. It sure is nice to have to lug only one device around, but how will Gigabyte support this handset? And when it ships in Q1 2011 for 175 EUR wouldn’t it make more sense to pick up a dedicated Android device and a cheaper low end Nokia? You’ll have to ask yourself these questions before throwing your money on the table, but if it was up to us we say get a single SIM card device first, and just keep whatever you have in your pocket now for the other number.
Would you ever buy a dual SIM card mobile phone or just carry two devices? Many technology editors carry an iPhone and another device, either Android powered or made by RIM, because neither of today’s smartphone platforms can satisfy all their needs.
[Via: GSM Arena]