Motorola lets loose dual SIM card-packing MING A1800

Motorola's Linux-based A1600 MING 2 may still not have seen a release 'round these parts, but that apparently hasn't stopped the company from churning out a new model in the form of the A1800, which has now wound up in the hands of The Boy Genius Report. According to BGR, this one shrinks things down even further while still staying "sturdy as a rock" and, somewhat interestingly, includes two SIM card slots. Apart from that, you can expect the CDMA / quad-band GSM handset to pack a 3-megapixel camera and built-in Bluetooth, but any other details seem to be a bit hard to come by at the moment. That unfortunately also includes any word on pricing or availability, though BGR says not to expect a launch at CTIA next week.

[KazSur @ Mar 27th 2008 2:03PM]

Can someone explain to me how 'Useful' are dual SIM card slots. I understand you may be able to switch services really easily, but apart from that?

[bachviet @ Mar 27th 2008 2:08PM]

Two numbers into one phone so you could easily answer either one. Now you only need to carry one phone instead of 2. Great for travelers since you could easily slip a prepaid SIM card into the phone while keeping your original SIM active.

[KazSur @ Mar 27th 2008 2:20PM]

Thanks,

Well, I understand using two SIM cards isn't that special that multiple portals will open in the world,.. I was just wondering if using dual would introduce some more advantages then (like you said) multiple lines/services usage...
Or are the SIM cards still relatively primitive for that?

[letstakeawalk @ Mar 27th 2008 2:22PM]

Why hasn't anyone done this before? I would certainly spend $$ to have only one phone to carry with two discrete accounts and numbers. One personal, one for business. (drives me nutz when I have to carry both around...)

[SurKaz @ Mar 27th 2008 2:25PM]

There are phones out there... It's just not Mainstream yet.. (Depending on where you are)..

[Iain @ Mar 27th 2008 4:19PM]

@KazSur: SIM cards are too primitive for what?

A SIM card is a connection to a network and nothing more.

[不告诉你！ @ Mar 27th 2008 6:58PM]

I live in Shenzhen, China, but work in Hong Kong. There are thousands of other people who do the same, and hundreds of thousands who make the trip for other reasons... every day! We are always switching SIM cards in out phones. You can get 1 SIM card with a HK and Chinese number, but they are expensive as f*ck!

I will look into this phone for sure!

[Naveed @ Mar 27th 2008 9:36PM]

@letstakeawalk

isnt it possible to forward calls from one phone to another so that you only have to carry one phone?

[Twitchy @ Mar 28th 2008 5:26AM]

Yeah you can forward calls. Except you pay for it by the minute. Having 2 SIM card slots is also awesome for those that have one work and one private number.

However, the big question is are they hot-swappable? Most phones that can handle two SIMs that I have seen require one to turn off the phone an turn it on again in order to switch SIMs, which is a pain in the arse.

[Todd @ Mar 27th 2008 2:12PM]

Like a cat coughing up a hair ball, this Ming ( which is actuall kinda cool )represents the last few signs of life from the Moto consumer phone division. Sad.

[retro77 @ Mar 27th 2008 2:21PM]

Would you buy a phone from a company that you don't know will be around to support it?

[retro77 @ Mar 27th 2008 2:21PM]

no

[SurKaz @ Mar 27th 2008 2:24PM]

Lemme answer your question...


No.

[L @ Mar 27th 2008 2:30PM]

@retro77

Just how pathetic is answering your own question immediately after you stating it?

And anyhow, Moto is certainly not disappearing within the a year, and that's usually as long as anybody keeps a phone. Not buying a Moto *now* because of service problems that might arise in 3 or more years, if at all, is pretty ridiculous...

[retro77 @ Mar 27th 2008 2:37PM]

So that my anser is right there with all over your guys answers. Sorry.

[anonymouspimp @ Mar 27th 2008 2:48PM]

I dunno, maybe.

I can't remember the last time I had to contact the manufacturer for any of my cell phones (and I've had a lot of 'em!). I've had a couple phones break in the past but I was planning on buying a new phone anyways, so I never tried to contact the manufacturer.

I think twice I've had problems with phones and I just took it back to the T-mobile store and to the store I bought my old Nextel phone and they took care of it.

But i'm also not one of those people who keeps a phone forever. If I were, I probably would say "no" to your question.

[Jamar @ Mar 27th 2008 9:48PM]

Recently because of support troubles I've always been buying phones with the expectation that I will get no support. So that's perfectly OK with me.

[Ping Wang @ Mar 27th 2008 2:24PM]

Because in today's society, there are cell phones for toddlers, old folks, even cavemen.

[SurKaz @ Mar 27th 2008 2:28PM]

Hey, I've go a question... Do all articles in Engadget HD/Mobile show up on Engadget as well?.. Or only some?

[Phoenix @ Mar 27th 2008 2:57PM]

Some are posted to both. they are however separate articles with different comments.

[SurKaz @ Mar 27th 2008 3:07PM]

Thanks, Phoenix..

That's what I thought.. Same articles in Engadget Mobile.. no comments..

[SurKaz @ Mar 27th 2008 3:09PM]

Anybody else feel that the markets about to get flooded(or up till the ankles) with Dual SIM card phones... They were out there.. but I feel a small wave coming...

[jahl2001 @ Mar 27th 2008 3:31PM]

You can't have two SIM cards simultaneously active in one phone. The best Moto can offer is a feature to let you switch between them, maybe read stored contacts from both.

[Iain @ Mar 27th 2008 4:28PM]

Do you mean that it's impossible to use both at once or just that this phone can't do it?

Because if it's the former, then you're mistaken, there are some phones out there that allow it: http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/02/12/be-safe-have-two-carriers-on-the-go/
If it's the latter, I don't know but I'd guess you're right.

[Jamar @ Mar 27th 2008 9:50PM]

This is a dual-mode phone. China uses cards for CDMA as well as GSM. Thus, you have two cards active simultaneously- one on CDMA and one on GSM, because they're separate transmitters.

[poopie pants @ Mar 27th 2008 3:53PM]

one for personal use. one for business

[Joji @ Mar 28th 2008 9:59AM]

How do the phone software manages two SIM's/numbers. Are they both active simultaneously? Can you have call waiting for incoming calls across both SIM's/numbers? Can you take a call on line 1, put it on hold, call out on line 2?

[SNP @ Mar 27th 2008 4:43PM]

with dual SIM AND CDMA, I wonder I can do Verizon, TM, and ATT all at the same time, or having GSM and CDMA both active is not possible?

[Jamar @ Mar 27th 2008 9:51PM]

It'll take a bit of work; China uses R-UIM for its CDMA service, meaning it'll expect a card in the slot for CDMA service. You'll have to manually create a card with the necessary Verizon network data and your number. Once you get it working, though, that would be cool.

[SNP @ Mar 27th 2008 10:27PM]

Oh, I didn't know that's what the 2nd SIM is for CDMA, I was thinking both are GSM...wait, I guess it's interchangable depends on the SIM's carrier.
As for a Verizon CDMA SIM, I think the one that they put in the 8800 world edition may have the info I need...

[Max @ Mar 27th 2008 6:42PM]

I had a Ming for about 2 years - it was about a year before it started to act up... I had to replace the body (with one of those cheap knock-off housings they sell on fleabay) because the stylus wouldn't stay in. Then the touchscreen started becoming inaccurate and I had to squeeze on it to get it to kinda work right. It made typing text messages very difficult. I ended up buying the e6 rokr because I like the software on these, but I really had my heart set on the e7 that has phantomized. The rokr is a lot more sturdy.

I'm hoping Motorola pulls themselves up by their bootstraps. I have a feeling this bleeding money thing will get tightened up before the company goes under. I'm optimistic about a second coming for them.

[Max @ Mar 27th 2008 6:44PM]

Oh yeah - relevant to this... oops... well, even though my first Ming wasn't so sturdy - I loved it. I want to get this one when it arrives.

[Taylor @ Mar 27th 2008 7:16PM]

This runs linux, which means that as soon as the full kit is released, someone will end up porting Android to it, which makes me really want one!
-Taylor

[wraith808 @ Mar 27th 2008 8:12PM]

I actually had this *several* years ago in a Motorola phone from Nextel. Other than the fact that it was Nextel service which was *expensive* and *sucked* in my area, it was heavenly. I'd give my family, friends, and close business acquaintances one number, and everyone else the other. I miss that ... sigh.

[NewJohnny @ Mar 27th 2008 11:21PM]

Two sims is a cool idea. Work phone and personal phone together.

[Nick @ Mar 28th 2008 9:21AM]

Dual SIM cards are popular in Asia as business types move around from one country to the next - switching accounts so not to quickly add up roaming fees. Asian markets have been requesting this for a very long time. Nice to see somebody finally address it. Easy to see the need in Europe as well.

[conor @ Jun 12th 2008 2:09PM]

If you have a dual sim phone can it operate with only 1 sim card???

[chinawholesale @ Jun 18th 2008 11:53PM]

Dual Sim Phone let you get two calls simultaneously
Dual SIM phone indicates that one cell phone with two SIM card slots,and you can receive two calls simultaneously(namely dual standby).People are always pesky in taking two cell phones when on business trip.Now,dual SIM phones have solved this issue,you don't have to take two cell phones beside you,unnecessary to switch between two sim cards,it is rather easy and convenient for you to receive two calls from two different countries at one time,that saves your much time and energy,more importantly,your peer never get message "Sorry,you dialed number is busy now,please try later" and get you through instantly.
http://www.sourcinggate.com/Cell-Phone-Dual-Sim-Phone/c4_145/index.html

[chinawholesale @ Jun 18th 2008 11:56PM]

Sure, you can.Just like your house contains two rooms,and you can take one room one night,unnecessary to take both.It is easy to understand.Right?lol......

[Jay @ Jun 21st 2008 11:14AM]

What do you think??

CECT P888 Unlocked PDA Cell Phone Dual bluetooth, Dual sim card.Tri-band Phone

HOT! 3.0 Inch Touch Screen PDA Mobile Phones Cell Phones with Dual Bluetooth, Tri-bands, Takes in Dual Sim cards and you can change between number anytime you wish to or you can operate two sim card at the same time. Mp3/Mp4 playersFeatures

Multi-Languages: Chinese, English, Arabic, France, Russian, Tailand,Viet Nam
Frequency: 900/1800/1900MHz
3.0 Inch QVGA 260K TFT Fashionable PDA, Touch Screen hand writing mobile Cell Phones
Bluetooth V2.0 supporting two sim cards
Dual SIM cards in one and work simultaneously
high-quality cameras with 1.3 Mega pixel high resolution
64 chord dual speakers
Support MP3/MP4/video/video record/voice record
Five trumpets 3D stereo speaks
Support T-flash memory card 256M
Built-in games

[cell phone @ Nov 20th 2008 12:43PM]

The best Moto can offer is a feature to let you switch between them, maybe read stored contacts from both.
http://www.wholesalediy.com/mobile-phone-c-6.html

[dual sim phone @ Dec 20th 2008 9:31AM]

Dual SIM Mobile Phone
Dual SIM Phones Supporting Dual Standby: It was very normal for one cell phone to accommodate a piece of SIM card. However, that happened before. Since the birth of dual SIM dual standby mobile phones, one SIM cell phones will be out of date soon. Dual SIM dual standby mobile phones satisfy with the needs and requirements of one machine more SIM cards to many businessmen in the fast-paced commercial society. You can insert two SIM cards (some cell phones have even 3 SIM card slots) into one cell phone, and the two SIM cards are on line simultaneously, needless to switch between them. Surely, if you only want one of them is on line, you can set it in menu, as dual SIM dual standby mobile phones support four modes (dual SIMs, SIM1, SIM2, Flight mode). Besides, most dual SIM dual standby phones at onThesource.com support dual Bluetooth, you can phone and listen to music via Bluetooth devices.
http://www.onthesource.com/cell-phones-mobile-phones/dual-sim-mobile/

[tv mobile phone @ Dec 20th 2008 9:36AM]

TV Mobile Phones: from the name, we can easily know TV mobile phone is a combination of cell phone and mini TV set. As the technologies developing, average cell phones can not meet requirements of modern people, and they are always looking for some novelties, such as TV cell phones. Definitely, TV cellular phone is not only cell phone equipment, but more like a entertainment tool, as it can bring some fresh news or programs via on line multimedia ways.
Shortcoming: Practically, TV mobile phones have been developed forward to some extent. As technologies confinements, currently, TV cell phones only can receive analog TV signals, namely, the TV receptions will be effected by many uncertain factors, such as the TV cellular phone itself, the playing place, playing angle, weather and so on. onThesource.com will update more and more popular TV mobile phones with stylish pattern, good quality under the TV Mobile Phones catalog, moreover, we will search some digital TV mobile phones to share with you. Please pay close attentions to us.
http://www.onthesource.com/cell-phones-mobile-phones/tv-mobile-phones/

[Quad Band Cell PhonesTriband Mobile Phone @ Dec 20th 2008 9:38AM]

Quad Band Cell Phones and Triband Mobile Phone
Quad band cell phones is standard for mobile phones supporting four frequency bands of GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz. Generally speaking, Quadband phones can work in all GSM networks worldwide, no matter where they are located. Tri-band mobile phones describe those cell phones which support GSM900/1800/1900MHz. Mainly, GSM1900MHz is essential in the most phone carriers of U.S./Canada/Latin America and GSM850MHz is necessary in the most phone carriers of U.S./Canada/Latin America. Obviously, one quad-band phone must work properly in phone networks triband phones require, but not like that opposite as quad band networks cover tri-band networks, and triband networks are included in quadband networks.
However, if you are using AT&T Mobility in USA, onThesource.com highly suggests you would better buy quad band mobiles, or else, your future phone will display “emergency”. If your current SIM card belongs to T-Mobile in USA, you can both choose quad-band cell phones or tri-band mobile phones, because T-Mobile only requires GSM1900MHz, and quadband cell phone or tri-band cellular phone covers it already. Finally, quad band cell phone can roam in GSM networks all over the globe.
http://www.onthesource.com/cell-phones-mobile-phones/quad-band-mobile-phones-triband-cell-phone/

[Mobile Phone @ Dec 20th 2008 9:42AM]

Retail mobile phones at wholesale prices: well, you have come to the foremost stage of China cell phones and cell phone watches: all cellular phones from onThesource.com are thoroughly UNLOCKED, that indicates they can be applicable with any pre-paid SIM cards if the GSM network frequencies are matching.
To cater to the most consumers from different regions, we listed many kinds of China cellphones varying from quad band (GSM850/900/1800/1900MHz), tri-band (GSM850/1800/1900MHz or GSM900/1800/1900MHz) to dual band (GSM900/1800MHz). Besides, those mobile phones can be categorized into TV Mobile Phones, Windows Smart Phones, Dual SIM Phones, and Cell Phone Watch etc.

Primary features which you will discover on onThesource.com China mobile phones:
Multi-languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Arabic, Russian, Thai, and Vietnamese) installed with;
MP3/MP4 player;
Touch Screen or Induce Screen;
Analog TV, FM Radio, Bluetooth;
1.30MP (Mega Pixels) Digital Camera built-in;
Two SIM card slots or three (Dual SIM Dual Standby and Dual SIM Single Standby);
2GB maximum memory extension;
Additional functions: Calendar, Calculator, Memo Reminder and other functions as general as other cell phones.
All cell phones on onThesource.com are manufactured in the nearby high-tech factories in South Mainland China, which means every cell phone bought from onThesource.com at wholesale break prices can enjoy one year factory after-sales services. No matter you are a retailer, a wholesaler, an eBay drop shipping broker or a terminal consumer, welcome to retail or wholesale China cell phones from onThesource.com
http://www.onthesource.com/cell-phones-mobile-phones/

[Jicala @ Jan 8th 2009 3:45PM]

I love a phone model with dual sim card. I really don't need it but I just like the model. Can I use just one sim card?

[Rita @ May 21st 2009 2:15AM]

However, the big question is are they hot-swappable? Most phones that can handle two SIMs that I have seen require one to turn off the phone an turn it on again in order to switch SIMs, which is a pain in the arse.
http://www.wholesalediy.com