Telecommunications is one of the markets that has greatly benefited from competition and advanced markedly in terms of both product cost and technology. The cost of purchasing and using phones has dropped steadily since the generations when public manual exchanges and pulse dialing were the state-of-the-art. The technology behind telecommunications has improved to the point where the world is now almost wholly interconnected by the border-less expanse of the internet, where information exists “in the cloud” and is accessible in mere seconds, and being “connected” has become and continues to become less of a privilege and more of a must. Still, telecommunications providers continue to compete fiercely with each other, especially in the realm of mobile telecommunications technologies.

A recent technological advancement that has come primarily from China is the evolution and development of the multi SIM mobile phone. As some of our readers from North America might not be familiar with the concept of the SIM card, let me go ahead and explain the basics of the technology. Subscriber Identity Modules or SIM cards store the information required by a network to authenticate and identify subscribers on the network. These are little cards that are inserted into a mobile phone which then uses the information on the SIM to interact with network infrastructure. SIMs give consumers the advantage of using their phones with different providers as they see fit by simply changing the card in the phone, as opposed to the one phone – one provider format used by CDMA networks.

Multi SIM phones allow consumers to use two or more SIM cards in one phone. This simply means that one no longer has to have two phones to hold two SIMs from two different providers at the same time. Multi standby phones keep each SIM card active and each number can send and receive text messages and make calls at anytime. Users can also receive phone calls at anytime on each number. Because of this, owning and using multiple numbers is simplified. This attribute of multi SIM phones also provides a number of other rather less obvious benefits.

One benefit is the freedom to take advantage of the strengths of different networks with one phone. Take for example the situation in the Philippines, where there are three different major wireless carrier networks. One offers unlimited calls and text at impossibly low rates, the other provides stellar wireless internet connections, and the third is unmatched in terms of signal coverage. Owning a tri-standby, tri-SIM phone would allow someone to use all the best qualities of the three networks.

Another overlooked benefit of the flexibility of multi SIM phones is that it allows a traveler to keep their home network’s SIM active and on roaming, but purchase a SIM at their destination country to take advantage of the lower cost of using a local network natively as well.

There are also the benefits of having different functions for different numbers. If your company provides you with a corporate phone number, you can use both the SIM provided by the company and your own personal SIM card at the same time. Most multi SIM phones also come with the option to keep separate inboxes and and logs for each SIM, so organization shouldn’t be a problem as well.

So why haven’t major mobile phone manufacturers started to produce more mainstream multi SIM phones? The answer is simple: competition. Service providers often lock the phones they provide so that consumers can only use their SIM cards on their phones, so many, if not all, providers will neither support nor promote multi SIM usage, as it is bad business strategy to give incentives to the consumer to use a competitor’s service as well.

Multi SIM usage is mainly a consumer-centric approach to mobile phone design. It comes from the understanding that the consumer is the king and gives back to the user the right to do as he pleases with the devices that he owns.

Multi SIM phones in all shapes and sizes are available at remarkably low prices from many Chinese wholesale electronics stores.

Related posts:

1. Mobile Phones From China and Which One to Choose
2. The Benefits of Chinese Cell Phones
3. On Cell Phone Jammers

The New VIVA Smart Phone is as good as having a computer in your pocket.  What’s even better is that you get the benefits of having a computer without the hassle of carrying around a laptop.  No need to carry around any giant case, no need to find an outlet for your laptop charger, and no need to wait for the computer to boot up.  Just whip out your lightweight VIVA smart phone, and you are ready to get started.

The VIVA Smart Phone has all of the features that you would expect from a modern cell phone.  It comes complete with an MP3 player, FM radio reception, MP4/3GP video player, 2.0MP color camera, Bluetooth support, and 2.8-inch TFT-LCD flat touch-sensitive screen with QVGA (320 X 240) resolution.  It operates on Quadband frequency (GSM850/900/1800/1900Mhz) and is completely unlocked.  You can use this phone in just about any country in the world, with any cell phone provider you choose.

These are all pretty much standard functions for cell phones these days.  However, the VIVA Smart Phone also features Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, including Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, PDF, PowerPoint, etc. In addition, it supports applications from Opera, MSN, and Java.  This capability, combined with the phone’s GPRS/WAP web connectivity, makes it a powerful tool in your pocket.  The VIVA Smart Phone brings laptop-quality working tools to the fingertips of cell phone users.

So what is the cost of all this capability?  A bit of internet research shows that the price should be between $200-300.  Compare that with the price of a laptop (or netbook), and the already stylish VIVA Smart Phone begins to look even more attractive.  Then compare that with the Bigboxstore.com wholesale price of $150, and you should be convinced.  Check out the product description and specifications on our website for more details.

Related posts:

1. W600 Tri-Band Waterproof Watch Smart Phone
2. Pocket Space Problem Solved By the New K1 Watch Phone!
3. Fly-Ying F006 – A New Breed of Affordable Smart Phones

If you are looking for a new cell phone, you have a couple of options:

Option 1: Spend a fistful of cash, only to be locked into a 2 year contract with the service provider who you bought the phone from.

Option 2: Spend a modest amount of money, and be free to use your cell phone with a SIM card from any mobile service provider anywhere in the world.

Go ahead – give it some thought.  Take 2, even 3 minutes if you want.  Finished?  Good.  Now that you have decided on option 2, what phones are out there to choose from?  There are a plethora of options, so this part of the decision process may be a bit more time consuming.  But let’s see if we can make it easier for you.  One of the most advanced, yet simple to use, mobile phones has recently been released by Chinese manufacturing leader Ming Xing.  The Ming Xing A008 comes with a ton of features that should put it at the top of the list for any cell phone customer.

The best part of this phone is that it meets the needs of almost any cell phone user.  First, it combines both a keypad and a touch screen.  Users can decide if they want to write text messages and emails using a stylus with the touch screen, or simply pushing the buttons of the keypad.  This option is just the beginning of the A008′s flexibility.  The phone comes completely unlocked, meaning that users can take their cell phone anywhere in the world (provided that they can access GSM frequencies 850/900/1800/1900Mhz, which most countries have).  In addition, this is a dual SIM phone.  Users can insert 2 SIM cards into the phone, and switch between them at ease.  This makes the phone quite useful for international travelers, and those with an entire line dedicated to business.  Those not interested in this functionality can simply opt not to insert a second SIM card.  These are practical aspects of the phone, that ensure those with particular preferences will be satisfied.  Interested in unnecessary features that are nonetheless awesome?  Read on…

This phone comes with an MP3/MP4 player and an FM radio receiver.  Those that still enjoy the music on the radio can feel free to tune in.  Those of the opinion that music on the radio hasn’t been the same since New Kids on the Block came out, can upload their favorite tracks to the A008 and listen to them on the phone’s MP3 player.  The phone also includes WAP/GPRS web connectivity, for those that want to have access to the internet 24/7.  Those that struggle to use the internet on the computer, and only want to use their phones to make calls, can ignore this functionality.  Additional features include a 3.0MP Camera, voice recorder, video playback, and an expandable memory (up to 8GB)

No matter what you want in a phone, you are likely to find that the MING XING A008 has it.  For those with the good sense to purchase a cell phone from someone other than the conglomerates that overcharge and make you sign a 2 year contract, this phone is a logical next step.  Sleek and stylish, yet practical and reliable, this phone has it all.

Related posts:

1. The Benefits of Chinese Cell Phones
2. The New VIVA Smart Phone
3. The Advantages of Multi SIM Mobile Phones