Apple Explores Dual-SIM Capability in iPhones, Patent Filing Reveals (ibtimes.com.au)

Apple is exploring the idea of having two SIM card slots in its iPhones. The Cupertino-based company has registered a patent for a dual-SIM card technology that involves two separate antennas. Though not as popular in the US, and UK markets, smartphones with dual-SIM card capability are extremely popular in developing regions such as China and India. For instance, according to Counterpoint Research marketing firm, more than 90 percent smartphones sold in India, world's fastest growing smartphone market had dual-SIM card slot in them. But why does Apple care about India and China, you ask. The iPhones sales growth has dropped everywhere in the world, except India, which is also the world's second most populous nation, and world's second largest smartphone market. As per Apple's previous earnings call, sales of iPhones grew by 50 percent in India, and Tim Cook has said that he sees a huge potential in the country.

Comments

My current phone has 2x SIMs

[sinij]

What is there to patent? I am using prior art right now and it is at least 2 years old.

Re:My current phone has 2x SIMs

[Archangel Michael]

its the dual radio antennas that are being patented. Because adding more than one Antenna is considered "innovation" these days.

Re:My current phone has 2x SIMs

[Qzukk]

SIMs with rounded corners, duh. Or maybe the patent is on a method of inserting SIMs into a phone with no slots for a SIM tray via quantum tunneling.

My boss has Apple everything and has been wanting a phone with dual SIMs so he can have one company line and a personal line on the same phone. My oneplus 3 already has this.

Re:My current phone has 2x SIMs

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

I'm looking for a decent smartphone with dual SIMs for exactly that reason right now. For a long time, I've had two little feature phones (one work, one personal) partly because they're small enough to carry around at the same time, but they're well past their best by now and it's not exactly convenient taking two devices everywhere. I'm not that bothered about apps, but an iPhone that could replace both existing devices would be an option worth considering.

At the risk of going slightly off-topic for a minute, may I ask what you think of your OnePlus? The 3T is on my shortlist based on reviews I've seen so far.

Re:My current phone has 2x SIMs

[ilsaloving]

So basically you will have twice as much opportunity to hold it wrong?

Re:My current phone has 2x SIMs

[ilsaloving]

I don't know *any* cell phone that does that natively, nor do I think that that would be a good idea. That just screams abuse potential to me.

A separate VOIP client, or a work-provided DISA service, are much safer options, at least from an admin standpoint.

You ask

[Verdatum]

"But why does Apple care about India and China, you ask."

No, no I'd never ask that. That's just about the stupidest question I've ever heard.

Dual sims are popular in Asia...

[berchca]

...and in the Americas and Europe, they can use that space to put in a headphone jack! I hear they are extremely popular in those regions.

Re:Dual sims are popular in Asia...

[dave562]

Because why keep a jack built into the phone, when you can remove it and charge extra for an adapter!

See, this is what happens when there are too many MBAs in the world.

For 2017, I predict that Apple is going to remove the dial pad screen and sell an external, lightning adapter compatible dial pad. It will be modern retro for all the hip technologists out there. Those who really want to stand out from their peers will have the rotary phone accessory.

Re:Dual sims are popular in Asia...

[dave562]

Your analogy does not work because the PCs still had a keyboard plug. PC makers did not decide that users no longer need to connect keyboards to their computers.

Apple on the other hand decided that people with headphones do not need to connect them to their phones / music players. But, apparently enough people really do need to make the connection, so Apple went ahead and developed an adapter. But they are not providing the adapter for free. It is an added expense that was previously not there.

Did Apple charge buyers of the previous generations of iPhones extra for being able to connect their headphones? Of course not. But now Apple has found a way to charge extra for functionality that used to be included.

To shift back to your flawed analogy, when PCs went from AT to PS2 plugs, the peripheral vendors included adapters for free. They also did it when they went from PS2 to USB. Apple on the other hand, the special snowflake of a company that they are with billions of profits stashed overseas, decided to squeeze a bit more revenue out of their customers. But of course they did it in their elitist, Apple-esque way so that the legions of Apple fans feel superior for paying extra to leave such an old, and outdated interface like the headphone jack behind.

Re:Dual Sims

[WillgasM]

Burner SIM just for your dealer.

And once again

[Anonymous Coward]

And once again:

1- Someone implements a device with feature A. It's not very popular.
2- Years pass.
3- Apple (or more likely, some Apple blog) announces their next device will have feature A.
4- EVERYONE and their dog rushes to declare that this is the worst idea ever, it won't work, it was done before, Apple is in decline, blah, blah, blah.
5- Apple FINALLY releases a device with feature A. It sells like hot cakes.
6- EVERYONE (and their dog, see above) eats crow.

Been happening continuously for the past 10 years or so. Probably won't stop soon.

Re:Dual Sims

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

I know a lot of people who find them useful. Some have work+personal numbers, which is pretty common for freelance/contractor/consultant types who effectively run their own business and choose their own gear. Dual SIMs are also useful for people who travel a lot, because you can have one SIM on a convenient and cost-effective plan at home and another that gets better prices abroad.

iPhones in India

[unixisc]

iPhones have the smallest marketshare in India - equivalent to Lumias. Which is why most apps that one sees there are available on 3 platforms - Android, iOS and Windows Phone. An iPhone 6s would cost close to Rs100k, so only plutocrats have it.

Not just that, the Apple Store apps can only be bought from the US store: last that I checked, there ain't an Indian store. As a result, none of the apps on that store would be localized for India. Completely different picture w/ Lumia: a bulk of apps for Windows 10 are India specific, and also, most major apps in India are available for Windows Phone as well.

Another factoid - Apple has been content w/ having just a certain marketshare, and don't want their phones to look like a commodity item, which would result in price pressures. In India, that would clamp their marketshare. If they lower it any, it could suddenly become widespread, just like the Galaxy. Apple has to decide whether they want to remain a status symbol

Fuck everything, we're doing 5 sims

[Khashishi]

I'm filing the patent right now.

Re: Wow how original

[Hognoxious]

Fuck that, I'm going to patent three antennas.

Unless Gillette got there first.