<i>Dual-SIM sets </i>the pick of the season
Photo: Rashed Sumon
Dual-SIM mobile handsets are gaining a strong hold in the local cell phone market ahead of Eid -- thanks to its growing availability and relatively lower prices. Dual-SIM cellular phones have grown rapidly in popularity -- and now, many observers say it is rivaling the conventional single SIM handsets. Not so long ago, there were only a few brands from China that were the only options for Dual-SIM compatible handsets in the local market. But in the recent times, a number of major global cell phone brands, like Samsung and Nokia, have unveiled their own range of dual-SIM models, to tap into the product's growing demand. For instance, Nokia recently unleashed its own double-SIM cell phone, Nokia C1, which allows user to have one handset housing two SIM cards. "This is a stylish, reliable phone with a host of multimedia and messaging features," said Abdullah-Al-Masud, who is in charge of the Nokia sales centre at Shoppers World, Gulshan. The set features 64 MB of internal memory that is expandable to up to 32 GB with microSD card along with camera, internet, gaming and music facilities. The retail price of the Nokia C series handset is said to be Tk 2790. In the mean time, Nokia also introduced its X2 model in the local market -- a reasonably priced mobile handset ideal for entertainment. It offers a 5 mega pixel camera, FM radio with built-in FM antenna 1 and over-the-air download from Ovi store. At a time when Nokia just started to flex its muscles in the dual-SIM arena, other big names, like Samsung, are faring well as well. Samsung introduced its own dual-SIM models, like C3212 and B5722, while the latter features a touch screen. Both the models however offer only 2G facilities and are priced between Tk 3500 and TK 6500. The moves by the big cell phone makers are testimony of the popularity of the dual-SIM compatible Chinese brands among the local shoppers. "The dual-SIM operation allows the use of two services without the need to carry two phones at the same time," said Ridwan Karim Shaon, an employee of a reputed multinational in Dhaka. "For example, the same handset can be used for both business and private use, with separate numbers and bills; or for travel, with an additional SIM for the country visited". It has also been observed by some retailers in Dhaka that a number of big brands in the cell phone industry have been facing a challenge from the up and coming Chinese players, like Symphony, in the recent months because of the latter's competitive advantage in terms of dual-SIM functionalities. "Over the last nine months, we have lost approximately 20 percent of our market share to the Chinese dual-SIM handsets," said Ekram Hasan Riyad, executive manager of Electra Telecom, the authorised local distributor of Samsung cell phones. "Three months ago, Samsung mobiles were sold the most in my shop. But now, the Symphony dual-SIM brand has taken over," said Mamun, who runs a mobile phone outlet called TMR International at Bashundhara City, Dhaka. "These Chinese brands are all compatible with two SIMs and at the same time, they are a lot cheaper, priced mostly from as low as Tk 1800 to Tk 6500." "Any such dual-SIM set that comes at a starting price of Tk 4000 has almost all the functions of a state-of-the-art mobile phone," said Mamun. As in the case with Symphony, price has come to play a big factor for buyers in deciding which mobile to get this Ramadan. Customers mostly have a go at the mobile phones priced between Tk 6000 and Tk 10,000, retailers said. A number of brands are also offering discounts on various models on the eve of Eid. LG is are offering a range of discounts on their KM900, BL20, GD510 and GS290 models, said Md Yousuf Ali, managing director of Best Way, which runs a LG concept store in Dhaka. "Most of these models are popular because they offer a range of multimedia functionalities, that are most vied by the new generation of customers," he added. "Multimedia functionality and internet connectivity -- these are the two deciding factors in choosing a handset these days," said Ahsan of Telesens -- a retailer of high-end mobiles. "People want to do multiple tasks on a single set, and at the same time, they want to stay connected -- that is what the mobile phone is all about." mehdi@thedailystar.net
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