With three SIM slots, Acer's Liquid E700 is a phone for frequent travelers
Not that you'd know from its formulaic product name (seriously, Acer, you've gotta switch things up), but the 5-inch Liquid E700 Android smartphone has an interesting feature geared toward travelers: three SIM slots. Dual-SIM phones are one thing, but why would anyone need space for three? Acer envisions you having separate work and personal cards, with trips abroad requiring one more. And though it's mostly a matter of convenience -- you can keep your home SIM in the phone while also popping in one at your international destination -- the setup has the side benefit of preventing you from losing any cards as well.
Still, it's not like you'll be able to use multiple SIMs at once; if you receive a call on the AT&T card you use at home, for example, the other two will be left in standby mode. It's a little like KnowRoaming's sticker, which sits on top of your SIM to offer global data; when it's in use, your regular SIM won't be active. And while we're at it, it's worth mentioning that several other companies, including LG and Motorola, have announced triple-SIM phones of their own, but many of these have been confined to a specific region or country. The Liquid E700, on the other hand, will be available in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
To take advantage of all those SIMs, the Liquid E700 is a quad-band phone, which means you'll be able to use it virtually anywhere in the world (or anywhere there's GSM, at least). And beyond the handset's travel-friendly features, there's a hefty battery rated for up to 60 days of standby and a full day of talk time. The E700 is light and thin, too, though you definitely wouldn't buy this device for its design alone. Look for it in August, with a price tag of €199 attached.
Zach Honig contributed to this report.
