PrePaidGSM.net Forum (Archived) - View Single Post - Is there a USA market for this $149 FCC certified unlocked GSM / UMTS dual sim phone?

Tony · 13-03-2011, 03:34

Thanks everyone.

This is a really interesting thread. Broadly and as we all know, the big brand phone hardware companies such as Nokia produce only what individual carrier’s want. What’s evolving in this thread is valuable feedback for our boutique manufacturer to deliver something better tuned to real world needs.

Although the potential USA market for dual sim phones is small, just one dual sim per thousand phones is still a big viable market for my guys.

Rfranzq, adding UMTS 1700 to enable either AT&T or T-Mobile 3G is no problem. These phones are produced in only 5,000 production runs. Any run can be changed to fit market needs. Many thanks for pointing it out.

Weekilter - dual sim technology, I know it’s hard to get a grip on this but most dual sim phones could be said to be real “line one or line two”. You can actually receive two calls at the same time (talk to either by pressing a button to switch between callers). Or, even make a second call while already on one call – the same as carrying two separate phones but with the advantage of being able to place one call on hold while talking to the other.

A few dual sim models are second rate in that regard. For example, the dual sim Samsung Duos that Motel175 mentioned has pretty poor dual sim features and is very expensive to boot and as far as I know is not FCC certified (but is CE certified for EU).

Rob, that’s a good point about the Mexico boarder areas. I suppose millions of phone users cross there but just a few thousand unit sales in those areas per year would keep us happy.

I have carefully noted your observation that “Even now the US (mass market) still hasn't really grasped that you can get a phone from anybody other than a carrier (contract or prepaid). Unlocked phones are a geek thing, not mainstream.”

The rest of the world is mostly aware. It’s fascinating to me as an “outsider” that USA is supposed to be the very heart of “free market” liberty, yet when it comes to phones USA is almost a closed shop owned by the carriers and a few big brand phone manufacturers.

Even developing countries don’t operate like that where you find many dozens of different Asian made phone brands (mostly unlocked dual sims) in regions like South America, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The carriers in those regions have locked phone plans same as elsewhere but you can buy dual sim unlocked phones pretty near anywhere for connecting to plans or pre-paid sim cards or a combination of both.

There are actually some 500 different phone manufacturing factories in Shenzhen, China (where Apple’s iPads and iPhones are made). They are locked out of the USA market mainly via the FCC certification wrought which costs about $100k for each phone model versus about $10k for CE type certification for the rest of the world – yet the FCC and CE certifications are for pretty near the same health and engineering Standards with same lab tests.

USA pre-paid sim cards?

You good guys have many different sorts of USA pre-paid sim cards in your signature lines.

Would you be good enough to tell me the advantage of having a spread of sim cards like that as I can’t even begin to understand the USA reasoning from my long distance away.

In my neck of the woods, many have different sim cards for example because some are best price at certain times of day or night or to call particular countries or because some are low cost for SMS or because calls are free to same network subscribers – that sort of stuff.

Is it the same for USA?

If so, it might somehow connect with dual sim phones.

Tethering?

It would be pretty easy for my factory to build in apps or whatever for the dual sim phone to tether with tablets. Nokia and the like won’t do that as the carriers want to sell a second plan for iPads and many other makes coming onto the market.

My guys aren’t in bed with the carriers so they can easily in-build work-arounds in production runs to enable an “all you can eat” AT&T or T-Mobile phone plan to be also used for the tablet to save a second plan.

Any mileage in that thought?

	(#8)
Tony (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 11 Mar 2011 Country:	13-03-2011, 03:34 Thanks everyone. This is a really interesting thread. Broadly and as we all know, the big brand phone hardware companies such as Nokia produce only what individual carrier’s want. What’s evolving in this thread is valuable feedback for our boutique manufacturer to deliver something better tuned to real world needs. Although the potential USA market for dual sim phones is small, just one dual sim per thousand phones is still a big viable market for my guys. Rfranzq, adding UMTS 1700 to enable either AT&T or T-Mobile 3G is no problem. These phones are produced in only 5,000 production runs. Any run can be changed to fit market needs. Many thanks for pointing it out. Weekilter - dual sim technology, I know it’s hard to get a grip on this but most dual sim phones could be said to be real “line one or line two”. You can actually receive two calls at the same time (talk to either by pressing a button to switch between callers). Or, even make a second call while already on one call – the same as carrying two separate phones but with the advantage of being able to place one call on hold while talking to the other. A few dual sim models are second rate in that regard. For example, the dual sim Samsung Duos that Motel175 mentioned has pretty poor dual sim features and is very expensive to boot and as far as I know is not FCC certified (but is CE certified for EU). Rob, that’s a good point about the Mexico boarder areas. I suppose millions of phone users cross there but just a few thousand unit sales in those areas per year would keep us happy. I have carefully noted your observation that “Even now the US (mass market) still hasn't really grasped that you can get a phone from anybody other than a carrier (contract or prepaid). Unlocked phones are a geek thing, not mainstream.” The rest of the world is mostly aware. It’s fascinating to me as an “outsider” that USA is supposed to be the very heart of “free market” liberty, yet when it comes to phones USA is almost a closed shop owned by the carriers and a few big brand phone manufacturers. Even developing countries don’t operate like that where you find many dozens of different Asian made phone brands (mostly unlocked dual sims) in regions like South America, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The carriers in those regions have locked phone plans same as elsewhere but you can buy dual sim unlocked phones pretty near anywhere for connecting to plans or pre-paid sim cards or a combination of both. There are actually some 500 different phone manufacturing factories in Shenzhen, China (where Apple’s iPads and iPhones are made). They are locked out of the USA market mainly via the FCC certification wrought which costs about $100k for each phone model versus about $10k for CE type certification for the rest of the world – yet the FCC and CE certifications are for pretty near the same health and engineering Standards with same lab tests. USA pre-paid sim cards? You good guys have many different sorts of USA pre-paid sim cards in your signature lines. Would you be good enough to tell me the advantage of having a spread of sim cards like that as I can’t even begin to understand the USA reasoning from my long distance away. In my neck of the woods, many have different sim cards for example because some are best price at certain times of day or night or to call particular countries or because some are low cost for SMS or because calls are free to same network subscribers – that sort of stuff. Is it the same for USA? If so, it might somehow connect with dual sim phones. Tethering? It would be pretty easy for my factory to build in apps or whatever for the dual sim phone to tether with tablets. Nokia and the like won’t do that as the carriers want to sell a second plan for iPads and many other makes coming onto the market. My guys aren’t in bed with the carriers so they can easily in-build work-arounds in production runs to enable an “all you can eat” AT&T or T-Mobile phone plan to be also used for the tablet to save a second plan. Any mileage in that thought?