How many SIM slots does your phone have? In some regions, dual-SIM models are quite popular, although in recent years the embedded SIM (eSIM) has begun to replace the secondary slot for an external card.
Many carriers offer cheap roaming or there is no roaming at all (for example within the EU), so having the ability to insert an additional card from a local carrier has become less important. But that’s now, a decade ago, some manufacturers weren’t sure how many phone lines you might need in your pocket.
One? Two? Four? Let’s start with the loneliest number. As we explained in a previous installment, early GSM phones had SIM cards, the full size ones, of the kind you might have used on a pay phone. They performed a double task. First, they told the operator’s network who to charge for the call. Secondly, they served as a memory since the early phones had no memory for phone numbers or text messages.
So, the need for at least one SIM is pretty obvious (although if you grew up in a CDMA region you might not agree). How about two SIMs? In 2000, the Benefon Twin, the world’s first dual-SIM phone, was presented. Well, “twin” actually referred to the phone with dual-band connectivity, it is actually the Benefon Twin Dual SIM that interests us.
The Benefon Twin Dual SIM, the first of its kind (image credit)
Finnish operator VLP bragged about its usefulness: “Using two SIM cards in one phone will provide our customers with a smart and practical way to combine the economies of our Citikka subscription and the global coverage of GSM services. Citikka Q is especially for users who frequently move outside the service area of our Citikka network “, said Erik Sjoberg, chief executive of VLP. “As far as we know, Benefon Twin Dual SIM is the first GSM phone on the market with an operating system and space for two SIMs, substantially facilitating the management of users’ phones with two lines.
“It offers significant added value not only to customers of regional Cityphone services, but also to all users who, for whatever reason, use two separate mobile subscriptions,” added Jorma Nieminen.
As far as we know, the Gigabyte Gsmart G1317 Rola was the first Android to have dual SIM. Announced in late 2010, it was launched in April 2011. Note that ViewSonic also claimed to be “first” when it unveiled the ViewSonic V350 in February 2011, although that was redesigned and the launch was postponed to June.
Gigabyte Gsmart G1317 Rola, the world’s first Android phone with two SIM slots
The first triple SIM phone we can find arrived in 2010, the Intex IN 5030 E Tri.do. This is an insignificant name for an amazing phone – it supported GSM + GSM + CDMA connectivity and could handle SIM cards from Airtel, Idea for GSM and Tata Indicom (three major operators in India at the time) at the same time.
Intex IN 5030 E Tri.do, the world’s first triple SIM phone
LG introduced its first triple SIM phone, a feature phone, in 2012. It was the LG A290. A year later LG and MediaTek announced a collaboration to build the world’s first 3G Android smartphone.
One poster, HateU, commented: “Triple-SIM? Are you kidding me! I want quad-SIM! Otherwise I have to buy 2 different phones for my 4 SIM cards. Shame on LG! “
Wish Fulfilled: The Flying F160 from late 2010 claimed to be the world’s first Quad-SIM phone. And it also had a dedicated slot for a microSD card. But that’s not the whole story.
Around the same time another phone emerged: the OTECH F1. He also claimed to be first, but there is no reason why both can’t be first. In fact, looking at their hardware, it is quite clear that this is a whitebox device labeled a Flying or OTECH phone.
The OTECH F1 (aka Flying F160), the world’s first Quad-SIM phone
Not long after that folks looking for a Quad-SIM phone were spoiled for choice: A company called T&T launched four models, each of which was priced at just $ 30. They were basic functionality phones, of course. and they did not hide that they had taken inspiration for the design from BlackBerry, Motorola and Nokia.
Cheap Quad-SIM Phones – Only $ 30 a Pop!
LG also released a couple of Quad-SIM phones, LG C299 and LG A395 in 2013. But our database doesn’t have many phones that can hold four physical SIM cards. As mentioned above, there isn’t much need these days, not even for three. Maybe not even for two physical SIMs, given the convenience of the eSIM.
Have you ever had a triple or quad SIM phone? Do you think there is still a need for such devices, especially a use case that cannot be managed by eSIM?
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