Branded handset vendors moving into dual-SIM smartphone segment, say sources

Owing to a fast growing number of cross-border workers, branded handset vendors including Nokia, Motorola Mobility and Samsung Electronics, in addition to white-box handset makers in China, have strengthened their deployments in the dual-SIM smartphone segment, according to industry sources.

Samsung, for example, has launched two dual-SIM smartphones, the Galaxy Y Duos and Galaxy Y Pro Duos, targeting the entry-level sector, said the sources, noting that the hardware specifications of the Galaxy Y Duos lineup are not high, given the models are powered by 832MHz CPUs and come with displays with a resolution of 320x240 and 3-megapixel cameras.

While dual-SIM smartphones rolled out by branded vendors generally come without high-end hardware specifications, Samsung, Nokia and Motorola are differentiating their products from those made by white-box handset makers by pricing and are unexpected to engage in cut-throat competition in the segment, commented the sources.

Citing data from Strategy Analytics, the sources indicated that the number of subscribers of dual-SIM smartphones is expected to grow by 80% in the next two years.

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