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Cape Town – Fin24 users have indicated that dual-SIM technology is handy when you have to manage more than one mobile number.
Fin24 recently reported that MTN has expanded its pivot to dual-SIM with the availability of the Huawei Mate S.
“I have a small business and use two cellphones – one for my personal use and the other is the business line. Both MTN … MTN is awful – they should have done this LOOONNG ago!” enthused Fin24 user Chris.
“I’m using one already from Cell C, no longer have to carry two phones. Also I get services from different service providers in one phone, hassle free,” added Andile.
Dual-SIM is especially useful for company reps, said Fin24 user Thomas.
“Dual-SIM phone comes in handy when you carry your work phone and personal phones like reps when their company gives them a work phone to use. So then you can have your work and personal SIMs in one phone.”
Despite national obligation for mobile operators to cover the entire country in terms of their universal service and access obligations, many areas are still spotty with regard to reception.
“There are still many places in SA where one or the other service provider fails completely to provide a signal,” said Fin24 user Paumgart.
The International Data Corporation recently reported that dual-SIM smartphones now make up 34.6% of devices in SA.
For Fin24 user Paul, dual-SIM technology is an ideal way to save money on calls.
“I have an iPhone 6s Plus as main phone with a Telkom Completely Unlimited SIM. The pain with these packages are exuberant extra charges for phoning 086 & 087 numbers.
“Sometimes reception is bad on any network so an extra phone is great. Therefore I have a Microsoft Lumia 640 dual-SIM running Win Phone 10, with a low cost Cell C SIM (no data) as a backup phone for voice calls, as well as to call 086 & 087 numbers and a duplicate Telkom data SIM.
“That's the beauty of the dual-SIM phones in that you can choose which SIM to use for data and can quickly use the phone to create a Wi-Fi network if needed.”
Some Fin24 users enjoy dual-SIM when they travel.
“Yes I do use dual-SIM, I do expat work and have an SA SIM and Eritrean SIM in the phone,” wrote Philip.
“I am using dual-SIM phones, as I travelled a lot in Africa and around the world. For this, I have a company SIM, and a private SIM. Funny enough, both SIMs are with MTN. My one phone then got lost on one of these trips into Africa, making me realise that it is better to control one phone, with two SIMs,” said Fin24 user Riaan who has Sony and Samsung dual SIM smartphones.
“Both of these phones were bought on the grey market, seeing as none of the operators wanted to support top end dual-SIM phones. My current contracts are thus airtime/data only, and the phones I buy cash,” he added.
For Fin24 user Stephen, dual-SIM is ideal for device management, but he questioned hidden personal motives for the technology.
“Dual-SIMs are ideal in the business world: One for business only and one for personal use. Other than that, I see the use of dual-SIMs as a means of attempted dishonest behaviour in a relationship. What are you hiding?”
