It’s well known that there are a good number of South Africans who have subscriptions at more than one cellular provider to maximise the value they get from free or cheaper SMSes, minutes, and data.
Early last year (2011) World Wide Worx revealed the results of a study conducted in 2010, which found that around 16% of users have a secondary cellular account.
Asked about their dual SIM offerings, four out of the five mobile operators in SA commented on the matter.
Vodacom said that it doesn’t sell dual SIM cellphones. “There’s an obvious argument in terms of these devices not encouraging customer loyalty,” a spokesperson explained, “but equally limited devices and limited demand don’t really support their sale.”
Virgin Mobile said that it recently listed the Samsung E2222 Texto Dual Sim handsets for sale on contract packages, and will start selling them in the week starting 9 January 2012.
“We will monitor the sell through and activity on these phones and if it works will list other dual sim phones,” Virgin Mobile said.
8ta said that it has the Nokia C2 available and is investigating devices from other manufacturers. It added that some of its channels also sell the following devices, even though 8ta itself doesn’t procure the units: AG Link, AG Bullet, AG 4OZA (a 4-SIM device), AG Steel, and AG Nitro/ Iron, as well as the Mobicel M404, M505, M808, and M909.
Cell C said that it sells the Samsung C3222. “Better known as the Samsung Punch, the QWERTY device retails currently at under R799 and has been fairly successful thus far,” Cell C said.
MTN didn’t comment by the time of publication.
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