Best DUAL SIM android phone?

[smurfOnE]

I actually cannot place an order for the v350 because the anti-fraud systems are broken on most European webshops. It's quite a struggle to find a merchant who has an order process that works. It's painful and time-consuming. So I have started a wiki purely for v350 shopping to sort through the rubbish pile of incompetent merchants.

So far, these merchants are unusable: notebook.de, elsner-computer.de, cyberport.de, mercateo.de

Please contribute to that page if you are also picking through merchants trying to find one that "just works".

 

[gsmpreacher]

Is that phone obsolete? I wonder why maxwesttelecom.com does not have this phone in their online catalog.

Nope, it's brand new, within the last 3 weeks. In fact I was on pre-order waiting for it to be released.

 

[gsmpreacher]

Also I'd worry about baterry life. At least around here, cellphones don't usually come with 2 batteries on the package...

My WT790 did include 2 batteries (2800 mAh) as well as a charger to charge one battery while the other is in the phone.

I agree, I was surprised to see it included 2 batteries. I've only had it for a short time, but battery life with wifi on streaming radio has lasted for hours. So far, I've only had to use 1 battery. It seems that the phone uses almost no battery power in cell standby mode.

 

[dimisx1]

I search a lot of time for a dual sim android phone and the v350 is still not coming i found this one FET T8888 Dual SIM 3G WCDMA Android Smartphone 3.8inch Capacitive
has any one tried it?

 

[Cecilsoares]

The site won't load here, but only for the title of the link I'd say it's a GSM-CDMA phone, not dual GSM.

@GSMpreacher: thanks for the info on the battery.

 

[P1rat3]

The site won't load here, but only for the title of the link I'd say it's a GSM-CDMA phone, not dual GSM.

@GSMpreacher: thanks for the info on the battery.

Actually, I looked at the site and they are stating that both SIM cards are 3G or GSM. In that regard it would make it superior to the V350. Interesting...

 

[Dragon31337]

Take a look on
Highscreen Cosmo DUO

Sorry, the link is on russian. but you could online translator or find some reviews over the web.
Seems like it is 2 -sim cards android based on Qualcomm MSM7227
Android 2.2

 

[Cecilsoares]

In case anyone's interested, another dual GSM android. Only it's not 3G either.

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH - Products - Smartphones - One Touch 890

 

[Cecilsoares]

@P1rat3, I managed to load that site on another browser.
you're right, the owner answered one question saying it's dual GSM and dual 3G. that's interesting indeed.

@sexpig have you updated the android version? My bf had some problem similar to that, the interface of some software he was using changed after he updated

 

[smurfOnE]

I tried to order the v350 from 15 different incompetent merchants. They all have issues.

still looking

 

[Pepe_le_Pooh]

I tried to order the v350 from 15 different incompetent merchants. They all have issues.

still looking

Have you tried www.expansys.com ?
In the top right corner you can indicate which country you are in and everything should fall into place from there.
A colleague of mine ordered his phone from there last year without any problem.
BTW - although the V350 is listed, they do say they don't have it in stock yet. Also, there is a difference in price between countries.

 

[drsnuggles]

Most European merchants have not figured out how to properly charge VAT...and when you do find it, it's most likely a merchant who only knows how to charge their national VAT, which is improper if you don't live in that country.

According to Wikipedia the European webshops are doing ok by applying national tax: "Distance sales treatment allows the vendor to apply domestic place of supply rules for determining which member state collects the VAT. This means that VAT is charged at the rate applicable in the exporting member state."

But from you wiki I get the idea you have a European non-German company and would like to order without VAT. If that's the issue, just call a shop to make a special order for you with your non-German VAT number. Can't see a reason why a shop wouldn't agree with you.

I actually cannot place an order for the v350 because the anti-fraud systems are broken on most European webshops. It's quite a struggle to find a merchant who has an order process that works. It's painful and time-consuming. So I have started a wiki purely for v350 shopping

That's a great idea. This way we sum up the prices of the V350 at different webpages and their issues, if any. Biggest issue though: the V350 is delayed, again and again .

I was also looking for a dual-sim gsm android phone to take with me on business in Europe and bought the WT790 (link) from Yippz.

It's a nice 3.5'' Android 2.2 phone with active dual sims that can be on at the same time or selectively. No contract and I got it in 2 days. Specs are pretty decent for an Android phone with no commitment.

Just an FYI for those looking for a nice Android phone.

Looks pretty cheap, $179 and 460MHz cpu. And it's there and deliverable. Just don't really trust the brand, it seems they have Blackberry ripoffs as well. How about Maxwest as a brand? Do they make durable stuff?

 

[Dragon31337]

Sorry, I forgot a link to the device I wrote about yesterday:
Highscreen Cosmo DUO

http://android.mobile-review.com/news/2917/

 

[drsnuggles]

Sorry, I forgot a link to the device I wrote about yesterday:
Highscreen Cosmo DUO

http://android.mobile-review.com/news/2917/

 

[Dragon31337]

Real prices are about 180 euros.
This is a real retailer:
HIGHSCREEN Cosmo Duo

 

[smurfOnE]

Have you tried www.expansys.com ?
In the top right corner you can indicate which country you are in and everything should fall into place from there.
A colleague of mine ordered his phone from there last year without any problem.
BTW - although the V350 is listed, they do say they don't have it in stock yet. Also, there is a difference in price between countries.

Expansys is about 25 EUR more than avg, but they're a good choice because they're the only merchant without significant issues. They're also competent enough to defer charging the credit card until the phone is shipped.

So I have an order placed with Expansys as backup.. (which I will cancel if I find a hassle-free site that works for a lower price before Expansys ships something).

 

[smurfOnE]

According to Wikipedia the European webshops are doing ok by applying national tax: "Distance sales treatment allows the vendor to apply domestic place of supply rules for determining which member state collects the VAT. This means that VAT is charged at the rate applicable in the exporting member state."

I've heard it's possible to claim back VAT in other countries, but that the refund is not worth the excessive process burden. So if local VAT is charged on an export, the VAT might as well be considered part of the cost.

That's just the rumors I hear. I don't suppose the EU is to a point where I can get a generic universal VAT claim form in my language regardless of the exporting country, is it?

But from you wiki I get the idea you have a European non-German company and would like to order without VAT. If that's the issue, just call a shop to make a special order for you with your non-German VAT number. Can't see a reason why a shop wouldn't agree with you.

Is that a normal approach in Europe? I'm so accustomed to online merchants unwilling to give a minute to customers, because the markups are low and they're going for volume. Plus I've lost patience myself for talking to machines and being put on hold, so normally if I have to pick of the phone before the deal is in motion, it becomes a dead deal. Plus in Europe there's the language inconvenience as well.

 

[drsnuggles]

I've heard it's possible to claim back VAT in other countries, but that the refund is not worth the excessive process burden. So if local VAT is charged on an export, the VAT might as well be considered part of the cost.

That's just the rumors I hear. I don't suppose the EU is to a point where I can get a generic universal VAT claim form in my language regardless of the exporting country, is it?

There is a universal service, but for the few euro's you get back I wouldn't bother.

Is that a normal approach in Europe? I'm so accustomed to online merchants unwilling to give a minute to customers, because the markups are low and they're going for volume. Plus I've lost patience myself for talking to machines and being put on hold, so normally if I have to pick of the phone before the deal is in motion, it becomes a dead deal. Plus in Europe there's the language inconvenience as well.

I almost never have any problem contacting shops. Some German and all Dutch shops speak English, so that shouldn't hold you back.

Hope that the 15th of August the V350 will be available, as promised by this shop

 

[will_wonka]

At last! And from a reputable retailer!!!

Ordered mine last night.......only a short wait!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewSonic-V...IL6K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313256106&sr=8-3

 

[TannyG]

The reason I like Dual Sim phones is because I have a cell phone number for Business and one for Personal. Its easier carrying one cell phone than 2. I got the flytouch 4 from china..(Iphone clone). It wasn't a fancy smart phone. Just a basic java cell phone. That worked flawless until it fell off the dash and into a cup of soda.

I just got myself an A8000 phone yesterday. Volume button is stuck in the up position, and whenever I boot up it goes into factory mode. I rebooted so many times.. It went to factory defaults and my IMEI got erased. Its probably better to eat the costs than ship that damn thing back. It was good when I had it working, but the volume kept getting stuck.

 

[Cecilsoares]

At last! And from a reputable retailer!!!

Ordered mine last night.......only a short wait!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewSonic-V350-Android-Mobile-Phone/dp/B00555IL6K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313256106&sr=8-3

thanks for the info.

have you received any estimation date yet? because the link says they still don't have any.

 

[smurfOnE]

thanks for the info.

have you received any estimation date yet? because the link says they still don't have any.

It's interesting that amazon.co.uk said Aug.15, and amazon.de said Oct.15.

Now both sites have removed the ETA. I have updated the v350 seller wiki to reflect this. BTW, I hope everyone finds the new table layout more readable.

 

[drsnuggles]

Innova24 moved their date from 15th to 18th. Sounds like it is really going to ship at last. Updated the wiki with the info.

There is a review of the V350 where the software appears to be slow...

It's interesting that amazon.co.uk said Aug.15, and amazon.de said Oct.15.

Now both sites have removed the ETA. I have updated the v350 seller wiki to reflect this. BTW, I hope everyone finds the new table layout more readable.

1000 times more readable, but more difficult for editing. I'm missing a WYSIWYG editor or something. Editing is still doable, but do you have some tricks for me to make editing easier?

 

[P1rat3]

The more I look at it, the more I am starting to prefer the FET T8888 over the v350 -

FET T8888 Dual SIM 3G WCDMA Android Smartphone | MeriMobiles.com

I've got a friend in China who I have asked to try and find one and see what he thinks of it. Hopefully he can find it and report back.

 

[smurfOnE]

1000 times more readable, but more difficult for editing. I'm missing a WYSIWYG editor or something. Editing is still doable, but do you have some tricks for me to make editing easier?

Yeah that's the problem with wiki tables. There is a plugin being developed that will let you click on a cell and edit it.. or so I hear. When it emerges, howardforums would have to install it on the server.

I suggest getting a firefox plugin to support an external text editor of your choice (eg. emacs.. vi.. notepad). "Mozex" and "its-all-text" both work well.

I may have complicated it by using macros (e.g. "{{someword in braces}}")