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Johannesburg - It is up to South Africans to demand dual SIM functionality from mobile operators, says a manufacturer.
Sony has launched an Xperia M4 Aqua in SA, but the manufacturer has also offered the dual SIM version of the waterproof smartphone to the local market.
But while dual SIM technology finds a welcome reception in other African countries, SA has not seen the same uptake of the platform.
"If there's a customer that we supply that is prepared to range and wants to range dual SIM devices and feels that they have a market for it, we're very happy to deal with them and supply those devices," Andrew Fraser, channel marketing manager for Sony Mobile told Fin24.
Dual SIM is often perceived as a threat to the business model of major operators who subsidise the cost of mobile phones to the public.
Top-end features
A dual SIM phone can give the customer the freedom to swap network providers at will.
Sony offered the latest Xperia M4 - billed as a mid range device that offers features more commonly found on top-end mobiles.
"We have created a new category in terms of super mid-range phones," said Mark Fenzel, country manager Sony Mobile South Africa.
Cell C ranges dual SIM phones. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
The device has a 13 megapixel camera with a f/2.0 aperture. Sony was at pains to point out that the front facing selfie camera is rated at 5 megapixels and has a wide angle lens.
As expected for Sony smartphones, it is powered by the Google Android Lollipop (5.0) operating system. The device sports a waterproof earphone and charging jack.
Junior South African operator Cell C does range dual SIM smartphones. It is convenient for smaller operators who may struggle with their own networks to offer the technology to consumers.
"Dual SIM - You don't have to have multiple personalities to qualify for dual SIM, it simply means that you can have two mobile phones with separate SIM cards that are linked, enabling you to be reached wherever you are," Cell C says on its website.
Reliable technology
The company sells a number of dual SIM enabled smartphones, including the Nokia (now Microsoft) Lumia 730.
The Orange online store sells dual SIM devices including the Acer Liquid Jade and Motorola Moto G.
Fraser also said that Sony was determined to offer its cheaper phone as dual SIM.
"We have a dual SIM device in our entry model - the E4 model - we have a dual SIM version of that which will be available in South Africa through certain channels."
He added that the technology was reliable, though early dual SIM phones were low cost handsets that often performed poorly.
"We've got a very robust dual SIM solution; the device works very well with dual SIM," said Fraser.
Watch as Sony Mobile channel marketing manager Andrew Fraser says that the company is prepared to offer dual SIM phones to South Africans:
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