Apple could release its first-ever dual SIM iPhone this year, in a move which would be a boon for business travellers.
A report from Bloomberg places a twin-SIM iPhone X or iPhone 9 on the company's launch list for 2018, which is said to include an upsized iPhone X – codenamed D33 – with a screen close to 6.5 inches, making it "one of the largest mainstream smartphones on the market" thanks to an edge-to-edge display.
But among many other teasing details, the kicker is that "at least some regions, Apple is considering offering a dual-SIM card option for the larger model."
"That would let people use their phones in countries with different carrier plans without having to swap out cards."
Bloomberg cites markets in Europe and Asia "where business people routinely visit multiple countries," although the adoption of pan-European roaming has pretty much put the kibosh on SIM swapping for residents and many travellers.
However, dual-SIM smartphones are certainly popular in Asia and also with road warriors who regularly flit between their home territory and different Asian countries.
Several leading manufacturers of Android smartphones – among them Samsung and Sony – sell dual-SIM models only in selected overseas countries, although others including Huawei and LG offer dual-SIM devices on the Australian market.
But don't get too excited at the thought of swapping nano-SIMs in and out of your next-gen iPhone: Apple could hold off on using physical SIM cards in favour of eSIM technology, which connect a phones to multiple networks without the need for a removable chip – although undoubtedly with a price premium for switch-on-and-connect convenience.
"Apple has wanted to offer eSIM technology – it already exists in the iPad and Apple Watch – but some carriers are resistant to including it in iPhones, and Apple needs their support," Bloomberg notes. "A dual-SIM capability would provide a compromise."
Read more: New Apple, Samsung SIM-free phones could transform global roaming
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Lol Apple introducing a feature which dates back to 2000
24 Apr 2017
Total posts 79
and they'll claim they invented it and its a world first.
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
I'll be shocked if this actually materialised. Apple has been putting a lot of pressure on telecommunications companies to embrace the "virtual sims". A dual-sim card phone is at cross-purposes with Apple's grand plans.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Definitely needed for China where people often have two SIMs for cheaper calls, as on network calls are cheaper.
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
This comment shows an ignorance of the situation in China.
1) Only a tiny proportion of its 1.3 billion population can afford a US$1,000+ iPhone. Those rich enough to afford one aren't going to be pinching pennies.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 35
I think moa999 is talking about business travellers to China, not local Chinese residents. Yes WeChat is insanely popular there but there is still a lot of normal voice calling going on, especially for business, and I believe that intra-network calls are much cheaper if not free for a limited number of minutes compared to cross-network calls,
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
Patently wrong.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
eSIMs are definitely the holy grail for Apple and I suspect a lot of telcos too, but I wonder if they would or could support two eSIMs at once? That's the thing I want – to be able to be on a local SIM deal in say Hong Kong with free local calls + texts and an outrageous amount of 4G data, but also have my Aussie number remain live for incoming calls and texts from AU.
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
David, the issue with the virtual sims is the telcos themselves. At least in America, they have been reluctant to move towards that direction as it will make it significantly easier for consumers to churn provider by removing the need to physically procure a SIM card, and, presumably, being able to do it quickly and simply right on your mobile.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 548
God they are getting desperate to keep the fanboys coming back!
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Feb 2016
Total posts 20
I know people in Philippines and other countries use multiple SIM to take advantage of deals offered by the different networks, We frequent travellers wouldnt need fdual sims if roaming charges were less extortionate. Charging multiple dollars per minute for calls that cost cents with a local sim is clearly excessive. Data charges can be the killer - the telco's in NZ charge $10/MB in Vietnam but only 10c/MB in China. They claim that this is the charge from the local provider, but the fact that the same $10 rate applies in several disparte countries seems to give this the lie. Wouldnt it be great if we could get the benefit of roaming without the high charges, it would unleash the power of the phone.
09 Jul 2016
Total posts 30
you can come close with the Singapore starhub prepaid sim.. great for AU, NZ and most of Asia
12 Aug 2017
Total posts 75
Two SIMs sounds good but it depends what the second SIM can do - most on the market offer 2G (which has been faded out in Australia now) or at most a poor 3G.
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