Keepin' it real fake, part LXXXVII: "Manhattan" mobile not a T-Mobile Dash

Although this "Manhattan" Wide Screen GSM Dual Card Mobile phone doesn't rip-off any logos, it most certainly is more than "inspired" by T-Mobile's Dash. You probably won't want to pick up this $224.99 model, unless you don't mind living without any internet access at all (it doesn't even do GPRS), but if you need a phone that does two SIM cards -- we can't imagine what for -- then you're in luck. Then again, if you live in the US or Canada, you're out of luck again, because apparently this doesn't work there. Double lame.

[Ipaq3115 @ Oct 6th 2007 4:11PM]

these are all over ebay

[DannyBoyUK @ Oct 7th 2007 5:45AM]

You are right, of course. Look at Ebay, especially the UK site, and you will find literally tons (or is it tonnes?) of fake, ripped-off mobiles.

[Ipaq3115 @ Oct 7th 2007 2:14PM]

Yea I know...
I guess they are making money off them cause they look so similar to the real thing, and they're cheap...

P.S. I think its tons.

[Brian Ta @ Oct 6th 2007 4:17PM]

WOOHOOO I tiped this one to engadget.

[C @ Oct 6th 2007 4:18PM]

There was a post here at Engadget about a company which lets you build your own electronics. I forgot the name of the company. Does anyone know which company was it, and could you point me to that post?

[Samuel Fieldhouse @ Oct 6th 2007 4:40PM]

What i find interesting is that if you look at a lot of these knock offs on eBay, or come to that any of the smart phones produced in China, features like duel sim, decent cameras and flash are pretty much standard. The price is also very reasonable so why can't we see some devices with these features from 'mainstream' manufacturers like HTC, iMate, etc...

[derek @ Oct 6th 2007 4:55PM]

@Samuel Fieldhouse

The components these are made out of are crap. That's why.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 6th 2007 6:37PM]

The components aren't "crap". The components are the same. The phones of HTC, iMate and so on ARE produced in China. Hell iPods and iPhones are produced in China.

Why are they so cheap? Well because they are much cheaper to produce than you think.

What adds cost is the management, design, additional safety procedures and regulation procedures in US. The better manuals, the support phone lines and repair services.

Last, but not least, the marketing and advertising costs.

And last (but totally not least), the ever increasing profit margin which is mandatory in US, but for one reason or another, optional for Chinese manufacturers (most Chinese factories are happy to break even, let alone get money on top).

[Eric @ Oct 6th 2007 4:52PM]

I especially like the "widescreen" that looks almost square.

[Arochone @ Oct 6th 2007 6:07PM]

Uh...it's pretty wide for a phone. Most that I've seen are a lot taller than they are wide...so a square would be abnormally wide.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 6th 2007 6:39PM]

It doesn't say "widescreen" implying 16:9 ratio.

It's just a damn wide screen for a phone, don't you think?

[john @ Oct 6th 2007 5:14PM]

This almost has as many non-working features as the iphone and touch.

[Shoaib @ Oct 6th 2007 5:28PM]

Plenty of people have uses for two SIM cards, for example say I have a phone from my company, and my personal one, if I don't want to lug 2 handsets around, I could simply plug in the SIM's from both of them.

[Tony @ Oct 6th 2007 5:44PM]

So what number shows up on caller ID when you call?

[thomjunk @ Oct 6th 2007 8:43PM]

i agree, i'm surprised at the comment 'we dont know what anyone would want 2 sims for." for a business and home phone line this would be great, especially if there were options for turning one line off or sending it straight to voicemail, etc. i have wondered why there are not more phones with this option, epecially with the number of people i've seen carrying around 2 (sometimes even 3) phones.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 6th 2007 6:09PM]

This copies neither the logos, brands, nor even keyboard layout and buttons of T-Mobile Dash.

You're turning those series into parody of themselves.
So it's ripping T-Mobile Dash because it has similar form factor?

If you'll be calling it "fake", tell us what's fake it in, since it doesn't even try to pretend to be a T-Mobile Dash (nor it is made for the US market).

[iDevin @ Oct 6th 2007 6:20PM]

I bought my T-Mobile Dash a year ago for $100 with 1yr contract. My first question is why would anyone pay $224.99 for this when you can get the real thing just as cheap? My second question is why would anyone bother ripping off the T-Mobile Dash? I like mine, but it's not like it's particularly cool or popular...

[Reader @ Oct 6th 2007 7:40PM]

Will there be a special giveaway or something for "Keepin' it real fake, part C"? :D

[recieveithk-hk @ Oct 7th 2007 5:06AM]

it's really common to use dual sim cards for those people who work between countries.
the phone can receive calls from both sims just like you're using two phones.