The ability to operate 2 SIM cards on a single mobile phone has recently become available to consumers. While in the past it was necessary to carry two phones at all times for business and personal calls, cell phones are now available that can send and receive calls from both numbers simultaneously. Not only useful for those with a line dedicated to business calls, this technology is quite handy for those in frequent travel status. Rather than paying roaming charges or switching phones when crossing international borders, travelers can insert SIM cards from two countries into their mobile phone and switch between them. This saves travelers and businessmen a great deal of time, hassle, and pocket space. It is not hard to see why the popularity of dual SIM phones continues to grow.

However, the pioneers of this revolution are not who you would expect. In fact, very few of the prominent mobile phone manufacturers currently sell phones with this capability. Most of the unlocked, dual SIM mobile phones available today are from Chinese brands, such as CECT, Ming Xing, and JINCEN. These phones are available in numerous designs, from iPhone type models like the CECT i9 3G, to more standard cell phone models like the Ming Xing A008. The latest models are high caliber phones.

Some might ask to why China is a dominant manufacturer of Dual Sim Card mobile phones. Possibly that is due to high volume of electronics being manufactured in China and also due to fast adoption of new mobile technologies in China that local mobile phone manufacturers are more likely to develop new mobile phone features. Another reason could be that the mobile calling rates in China are much lower then other countries so mobile users can afford to have 2 or more mobile numbers.

Many of these Dual Sim Card mobile phones have gained huge popularity in many countries. For example, the Ming Xing A008 comes with MMS, SMS, WAP, and GPRS capabilities. It has an MP3 / MP4 player, web browser, FM radio, 1.3MP camera, and Bluetooth capability. The CECT i9 3G includes all of the same, along with a 3.2" high-definition touch screen and 2.0MP camera. It also has a built-in gravity inductor which supports auto-horizontal video and picture display. These phones offer all the same features as their single SIM relatives, and include the flexibility of dual SIM operation. In addition, they can be purchased online from wholesale manufacturers for around $100.

So why have many big manufacturers not responded to this increasing demand? The reason is that they are under extreme pressure from mobile carriers around the world. The most popular service providers wield a great deal of power and influence over many big mobile phone manufacturers. As we all know, mobile service providers like to lock their users in for the long haul, attaching 1-2 year contracts to most of the handsets they sell. Similarly, they are not eager to have manufacturers produce phones that are compatible with other carriers. Consumers looking for unlocked dual SIM phones will have to look elsewhere, at least for the time being.