GALAXY A5 NOT Dual sim?

M

MiGbb

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After an extensive search for a decent Dual Sim android phone for my cousin, I came across these
sites:
http://www.samsung.com/za/news/local/samsung-introduces-a-new-category-a-series-smartphones

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_A5

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/117804-samsung-galaxy-a3-a5-prices-in-south-africa.html

All of which led me to the Galaxy A5.
Yesterday we went to CellC to get the phone. Before getting it I wanted to confirm the
dual sim capability. CellC suggested I check quickly at Samsung store next door. I went there
and had such a mission trying to get the guy to check it for me. Back to CellC, they opened their
demo model microSD slot and sure enough it says Sim2/microSD on the tray!
Go back to Samsung store with CellC's sim slot pin and I open their demo model myself,
same thing Sim2/microSD on the tray! Do you think the Samsung guy who insisted it's microSD only slot
said sorry?

Anyway got the phone, open it at home and the slot tray says microSD! No Sim2!
Went to another Samsung store today and took a pic of their demo model SD slot
Store model on top, mine at bottom.
viid54.jpg


Are there any suggestions as to what we should do as I did my part to confirm dual sim
capability yet the phone I got isn't?
 
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Lots of phones have this capability overseas but they don't bring these phones here for some reason. Check your model/variant to the one at cellc. If it's different then see if you can't take it back. Essentially you saw one phone and they gave you another. Didn't u do that unboxing at the store?
 
Why would the Samsung shop guy say sorry when he was right all along?
 
Quick google would have told you how to identify it...

Model number would have /DS

so

SM-A500F/DS

Also the DS logo on face next to samsung branding.
 
Mobile operators have been reluctant to bring these phones here. Greedy pigs. But there are options now for dual sims. Cheap ones at pep. Sony c3. Lumia's.
 
I really wonder... are these one hit wonder posters too ashamed of their idiotic acts to post the problem from their daily username or is this what the rest of the world does? Create a new username to bitch on our forum?
 
Gee whizz my first time posting on here. Just wanted to know what I should do?
In my original post you can see that I did google whether dual sim A5 was available here
And TWO South African sites pointed to YES INCLUDING mybroadband.co.za

I am not b**ching. A grandmaster should set an example please
Am I an idiot for searching out the answers myself?
There is time to take the phone back I believe only had it 2 days...
 
MiGbb said:
Gee whizz my first time posting on here. Just wanted to know what I should do?
In my original post you can see that I did google whether dual sim A5 was available here
And TWO South African sites pointed to YES INCLUDING mybroadband.co.za

I am not b**ching. A grandmaster should set an example please
Am I an idiot for searching out the answers myself?
There is time to take the phone back I believe only had it 2 days...
Click to expand...
1. why did you not check the model number on the label?

2. I did not mean to attack you its just a rhetoric enquiry.

3. 7day returns cover the "I signed up for the wrong phone" problem?

4. I leave the examplificationisms to the Super Grandmasters thanks.



Keep us updates as to the outcome?

@CellC maybe help out here... what can be done?
 
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[video=youtube;egne2ZCMM_0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egne2ZCMM_0[/video]
 
Hi There

Unfortunately We are not listing the Galaxy A5 Duos. On the single sim A5.

Regards
Cell C | DM
 
Hi thanks for the reply CellC lol. I know the problem is not with the networks
as was confirmed when I went to Samsung head office yesterday.
I told them the story and all they said was that no SA network wanted the Dual
Sim versions for "obvious reasons" as he put it. I did let them know that their
own site and their demo models in store led me to believe it was dual sim.
They said I should put that in writing and with pics etc. and send to customer care.
Waiting for a reply on that...
So anyway I'm a bit wiser now and understand that my model is an A500F
and as one member mentioned the one I'm after is the A500F/DS.
Looking into the microSD card slot of the phone I have I can clearly see it is a Hybrid
slot as the Sim2 pin contacts are visible.

wqjom.jpg

So I borrowed a hybrid sim tray and put in two nano sims. The phone starts up as normal
and doesn't at all "see" sim2.
dpyafq.jpg

Since the model codes are A500F and A500F/DS could it be that it's simply a firmware difference between
them? Why would Samsung leave the Sim2 contact pins in there if the phone is supposed to be used as
Single sim? That is extra cost isn't it? Perhaps it was just easier for them to make a microSD only tray
along with changing the firmware to not have a Sim Manager option

If the device were mine, I would have flashed it last night already lol.
To the android rooters/flashers out there, is it not worth a shot? How likely is it to get
bricked? I doubt it...
 
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Hi,

I would avoid rooting since it will probably not solve your issue and it will void your warranty. My recommendation is that you consider returning the phone and switch to a sim only contract or even prepaid (which works out cheaper). Once you do so, you can consider your options for dual sim phones.

We have a few listed on our website :)
www.zeekonline.co.za
 
Just buy 2x A5's and stick them back to back and you have a dual sim solution that is supported and under warranty in south africa; the south african way.
 
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