Day phone, night phone, sim card switch?

I spotted an interesting idea while here in Singapore. And first putting this into context. Singapore is one of the over 20 countries already where there are more mobile phone subscriptions than the total population (Taiwan and Hong Kong lead this statistic with over 125% penetration rates). As 1 year old babies don't really know numbers and can't handle phones, and most over 100 year olds have forgotten numbers and how to use a phone, there is only a limited number of the total population that reasonably can use (and own, and thus become a subscriber of) mobile phones. How can we reach 100% and above? The only way is that some people start to have two phones. In Western Europe, where the average mobile phone subscription penetration rate per capita is about 95%, about 55% of the population has one phone, and about 20% of the population has two phones. Thus 55%+20%+20% = 95%.

Originally when the cellular telecoms technology was being invented, refined and standardized, nobody thought that anyone might carry two phones. The early phones were so big - carphones - that with their batteries they were the size of a small, but quite heavy briefcase. But today it is quite common for the young employed to have two phones. It in itself presents new problems. And then, new ways to deal with those. Here in Singapore the local - and very innovative - mobile operator M1 has launched a dual SIM card service where you have one mobile phone number but get two cards. You can thus have two phones and easily switch between them without doing the SIM-card switch. So this is for example if you have a bulkier smartphone for work use, and want to use a slim phone for the evenings when you go out.

Previously you had to do the SIM card switch. Shut down the phone, remove the battery, remove the SIM card. Remove the battery from the second phone, slip in the SIM card, re-inset the battery, and then power up the phone. Quite inconvenient. Yet if you don't want to walk around with the bulky work phone, that was what you had to do. And then before you went to work, you had to do the same to switch back to your work phone with its smartphone features. Not anymore. Now all you need to do is insert the two SIM cards into the two phones, and send an activation message from one phone to the network. All of your calls, SMS text messages, etc will come to that phone. The other phone seems to be "disconnected" from the network, even if you had it turned on. But if you want to switch phones, take the other phone, send the activation signal to the network, and immediately it becomes your phone and the same number now rings on that phone. Again all of your messages etc arrive correctly and your first phone becomes inactive.

Simple idea, but one that shows that the operator understands our life and the little hassles, and is taking steps to make our life better.

Comments

[Ian Wood]

Tomi, whilst this is a great idea do you think that networks like Orange and T-Mobile will provide a cloned SIM even if you pay for it?

I can think of a number of teens who are running multiple SIM lifetyles that would love such a phone. My niece has three different accounts each with a seperate network which she rotates depending on who she is trying to avoid/contact.

I can remember that Nokia did a few twin SIM handsets when the 6110i first came out but they did not take off as they were full price rather than carrying network subsidies.

When do they think that they will have one that accepts the eight SIMs I currently own? More importantly when can I have a communicator that morphs into the ideal device for my needs so that I don't need multiple sims for phone, datacard and email device?

[Ritesh Kumar mishra]

I am keen interested in Mathematics.Rightnow I am writing Calculus book with a good concepts.If a chance is given to me I can do something outstanding work in the field of mathematics worldwide.

[Ritesh Kumar mishra]

I am keen interested in Mathematics.Rightnow I am writing Calculus book with a good concepts.If a chance is given to me I can do something outstanding work in the field of mathematics worldwide.

[Filix]

Anybody know If I can get the WIKI dual SIM phones at any of the T-mobile stores?

[Henry Peise]

I just can's believe how surprise when i receive my iphone 4. Its so charming and functional! But there's one thing i don't satisfy, i don't like the color. Waiting for the coming white iphone 4 conversion kit.