Best DUAL SIM android phone?

[Crake]

Excuse me, I don't.
I'm from Russia so Russian and Ukraine forums're enougth for me. According to Rusian and Ukraine owners G1345 has problems with battery, loud speaker, microphone and microSD-card. Also nobody does't know how to get root on this phone.
At this moment my choice is Lenovo A60. I couldn't find out any negative reviewes about it. I'm waiting reviews about LG P698. It's appeared on some Ukraine (preorder) and Latvian (shipping only around Latvia) on-line shops.

Thanks a lot about your useful opinion.
It seems that the LG has the same problem of the Lenovo: - It lacks RAM. So they are not a good choice.
It's a shame that nobody can't root the Gsmart G1345 or either to make custom ROM's.

 

[pirracas77]

does the Ukraine website u mentioned about LG P698 ship to UK? can you post the link?
I have one concern of the P698, on their chinese website it states the connectivity is EDGE and GPRS. so it might not be a 3G dual sim.

Yes, it is a 3G(wcdma) mobile (only in sim1)

Lenovo A60 seems ok, but i cant find much custom ROM support from Dev. And the phone s pretty useless if cant root given that it doesnt even has Android Market in stock build.

It can be rooted and Market can be installed as well

 

[Mr.Baggins]

does the Ukraine website u mentioned about LG P698 ship to UK? can you post the link?
I have one concern of the P698, on their chinese website it states the connectivity is EDGE and GPRS. so it might not be a 3G dual sim.

Lenovo A60 seems ok, but i cant find much custom ROM support from Dev. And the phone s pretty useless if cant root given that it doesnt even has Android Market in stock build.

Ukraine shops: http://www.allo.ua/ru/products/details/LG_P698_Optimus_Link/index.html
and http://tatata.com.ua/mobile/l/phone/open/428/
Unfortunately P698 isn't in stock in both shops and they don't ship internationally.
Concerning Lenovo A60 Russian users have made some custom ROMs for it. You can read about it in Russian and English here: http://forum.china-iphone.ru/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=14556&sid=1bbe294f383b8cebbb34fa601e6dc42d

 

[kingcedz]

just bought the Alcatel 913D for $180 including shipping.
Not a lot of information s available for this phone and given the relative low cost I just want to give it a try.
Alcatel is an ok brand, and the phone is made by TCL in China which is actually quite a reliable manufacturer.
will update what the performance like.

 

[kingcedz]

Ukraine shops: LG P698 Optimus Link Dual Sim - ?????? LG P698 Optimus Link Dual Sim, ???? ?????????? ???????? (?????) LG P698 Optimus Link Dual Sim ? ALLO.ua
and LG Optimus Link P698 Black (?????) ? ????. ?????? LG Optimus Link P698 Black ? ?????, ??????, ?????, ?????, ????????, ?????????, ???????. ????????? ??????? LG Optimus Link
Unfortunately P698 isn't in stock in both shops and they don't ship internationally.
Concerning Lenovo A60 Russian users have made some custom ROMs for it. You can read about it in Russian and English here: Forum.China-iPhone.Ru • ???????? ???? - Lenovo A60/A65 (MT6573, 3.5" HVGA, W+G, GPS, Android 2.3.3)

thanks for the links. the Russian forum seems have lots of information, but its just a bit difficult to navigates through as I dont speak russian at all.

A60 would be a great choice if Lenovo only overlay their UI on top of Android (instead of take Google features out!). I m ok with customized ROM to make up to this, but I would be more comfortable if i know what changes is been made in the custom ROM. (come across some nasty ROM with malware build in before). I know there are some ROMs going around on chines forum mobileuncle.com as well, though I speak Chinese, but to be honest the ROMs are very chaotic and i dont trust half the ROM that is listed there (there are known malwares been found). Is there any english based forum that has information regarding Dev Customization of A60?

 

[Fric]

I'm still looking for that forum...

I've ordered a Lenovo A60 and i want to update the firmware, but it's getting hard to find some decent english support...

 

[kingcedz]

I'm still looking for that forum...

I've ordered a Lenovo A60 and i want to update the firmware, but it's getting hard to find some decent english support...

A60 is probably the most balanced and reliable dual sim andriod phone out there.
It's a shame that Lenovo just has to be so thick about their own app market vs android market. also the lack of general user base in english speaking world probably makes it not so popular for secondary market customization.

 

[kingcedz]

do not be fooled, Philips mobile is not a Netherland brand anymore. It is ???????????? since several years ago. The same for Lenovo, Gigabyte, Alcatel etc....All of them have a brand chinese behind.
In my opinion, only Motorola is a brand that we can trust for this group of dual sim...

Yes it's a fact that most of these dual sims are in fact "shadow" branded of Chinese product. But dont rule them out just based on that quite yet.

Chinese mobile company like Sangfei and TCL have been making phones for more famous brands for years and the they are actually very large and rather reliable when it comes quality.

Bear in mind that HTC was doing similar things to these guys for quite a while before they start working on their own franchise.

Motorola is no doubt the best manufactuer in terms of reliability and heritage. The problem is they announce dual sim products that no one really knows where to get hold of (not even in the region they claims to be available).

 

[kingcedz]

crazy as it may sound, I ve just ordered A60 after ordering the Alcatel 913D.
Both phones cost about the same (around $180), which is to be honest, not expensive. I just figures the best way to see which dual sim works, is to have something in hand for comparison.

there is always ebay after I made up my mind and decide to get rid of one.

Anyway, will keep u guys updated. (especially on the Alcatel 913D, being quite a mysterious device).

 

[Genna]

I want to add several words about LG P698f known as LG Optimus Net/Link with dual SIMs
I am from Ukraine and we don't have it for shipment still, only preorder as Mr.Baggins said above.
I have read one review about it. And some things seems to me a little strange.
It may be used for calls and internet, but only one of SIMs may be active! Try to explain, if you have SIM1 in "active" mode it means that you may do calls and receive, for SIM2 at the same time you may use internet(download&upload) without any interrupts, but you may not receive incoming calls for it. You will have to turn on SIM2 in active mode in order to receive calls, but in this case the SIM1 will be in passive mode.
The best decision if has the one sim for calls the other one for interenet. But it is bad if has two sims for calls, it means that you will be missing incomming calls always for one of sim.

 

[kingcedz]

I want to add several words about LG P698f known as LG Optimus Net/Link with dual SIMs
I am from Ukraine and we don't have it for shipment still, only preorder as Mr.Baggins said above.
I have read one review about it. And some things seems to me a little strange.
It may be used for calls and internet, but only one of SIMs may be active! Try to explain, if you have SIM1 in "active" mode it means that you may do calls and receive, for SIM2 at the same time you may use internet(download&upload) without any interrupts, but you may not receive incoming calls for it. You will have to turn on SIM2 in active mode in order to receive calls, but in this case the SIM1 will be in passive mode.
The best decision if has the one sim for calls the other one for interenet. But it is bad if has two sims for calls, it means that you will be missing incomming calls always for one of sim.

I think this is always going to be the case. I m not aware of any android dual sim that is capable of manage two active line at the same time. Dual standby is as far as these phones go.

To be fair, when that happens the 2nd line will jump into voice mail and you will get a voice mail notification as soon as you finish the call, not really a big problem.

If you are looking for a phone that simultaneously have two lines all the time, the only phone I can think of is the Acer DX900, which is a very old school true dual sim device, but its a feature phone not smartphone. so no andriod.

 

[Genna]

I think this is always going to be the case. I m not aware of any android dual sim that is capable of manage two active line at the same time. Dual standby is as far as these phones go.

To be fair, when that happens the 2nd line will jump into voice mail and you will get a voice mail notification as soon as you finish the call, not really a big problem.

If you are looking for a phone that simultaneously have two lines all the time, the only phone I can think of is the Acer DX900, which is a very old school true dual sim device, but its a feature phone not smartphone. so no andriod.

I know, in my phone I have a redirection from sim to sim in their second line if i have a call by one of a sim.
I meant that even though you have not any calls for active sim and not use internet for second one, anyway you will never get the incoming call for passive SIM. The device has an hard-key to switch over between sims to active mode.
There is a difference between LG P698 in its operating with V350, GSmart1345, A60 and other in that. We always can reach any sims for those device in standby mode. But with LG it is not so.

 

[kingcedz]

I know, in my phone I have a redirection from sim to sim in their second line if i have a call by one of a sim.
I meant that even though you have not any calls for active sim and not use internet for second one, anyway you will never get the incoming call for passive SIM. The device has an hard-key to switch over between sims to active mode.
There is a difference between LG P698 in its operating with V350, GSmart1345, A60 and other in that. We always can reach any sims for those device in standby mode. But with LG it is not so.

Sounds to me like the LG is a dual sim but not dual standby. Their chinese website is definitely advertising it as a dual standby, in which case it ll be strange only one sim is active at a time.

I guess we ll just have to wait for someone with the actual phone to test it.

 

[Mr.Baggins]

Sounds to me like the LG is a dual sim but not dual standby. Their chinese website is definitely advertising it as a dual standby, in which case it ll be strange only one sim is active at a time.

I guess we ll just have to wait for someone with the actual phone to test it.

Yes, you're right.
P698(f) is the dual sim modification of P690 only so because P690 has 1500mAh battery P698 can't have two GSM-mudules. For two modules you must have much more capacitive battery.

 

[Genna]

Sounds to me like the LG is a dual sim but not dual standby. Their chinese website is definitely advertising it as a dual standby, in which case it ll be strange only one sim is active at a time.

I guess we ll just have to wait for someone with the actual phone to test it.

I was also surprised with such operating of LG. I was confused with hard-key to switch over the mode, but I have never dealt with LG dual SIMs phones before, as Author said there is an usual principle of operation of dual SIMs LG phones in that device.

Here is the link of review. there is the russian text there, but you can use any translater as well as google translater. also it is interesting to read a discussion under the review.

I am absolutely agreed with you we have to be waiting for the first owners of this device to know the true!

 

[Mr.Baggins]

I was also surprised with such operating of LG. I was confused with hard-key to switch over the mode, but I have never dealt with LG dual SIMs phones before, as Author said there is an usual principle of operation of dual SIMs LG phones in that device.

Here is the link of review. there is the russian text there, but you can use any translater as well as google translater. also it is interesting to read a discussion under the review.

I am absolutely agreed with you we have to be waiting for the first owners of this device to know the true!

I read this review. The author describes hard button for changing SIMs but this button is absent on pictures on some Indian site. Very strange!
I found out Brazilian forum where using of SIMs on P698 is discussed(http://groups.google.com/group/androidbrasil/browse_thread/thread/12384158d4876b0d)
Here's Google's traslated post from this forum:
"I Speaking of LG support.

Ingryd 16:27:54 Hello Nile Vieira at the end of this dialogue you will automatically receive a satisfaction survey regarding this service. How can I help?
Nile Vieira 16:28:27 Good Afternoon I can take a question about LG Optimus P698 Dual Sim Net
Ingryd 16:28:47 Yes which you doubt?
Nile Vieira 16:29:10 is possible by receiving calls this simutanea example in cellular chip x and y at the same time?
Ingryd 16:30:23 No, sir, if you're talking about a chip that the other had been on hold.
Nile Vieira 16:30:57 he had been on hold or voicemail will give?
Ingryd 16:32:45 remained in the mailbox.
Nile Vieira 16:33:04 more calls on hold on the same chip works right?
Ingryd 16:33:16 Yes
Nile Vieira 16:33:54 oks thanks good afternoon Now I buy hehe"

 

[kingcedz]

I read this review. The author describes hard button for changing SIMs but this button is absent on pictures on some Indian site. Very strange!
I found out Brazilian forum where using of SIMs on P698 is discussed(http://groups.google.com/group/androidbrasil/browse_thread/thread/12384158d4876b0d)
Here's Google's traslated post from this forum:
"I Speaking of LG support.

Ingryd 16:27:54 Hello Nile Vieira at the end of this dialogue you will automatically receive a satisfaction survey regarding this service. How can I help?
Nile Vieira 16:28:27 Good Afternoon I can take a question about LG Optimus P698 Dual Sim Net
Ingryd 16:28:47 Yes which you doubt?
Nile Vieira 16:29:10 is possible by receiving calls this simutanea example in cellular chip x and y at the same time?
Ingryd 16:30:23 No, sir, if you're talking about a chip that the other had been on hold.
Nile Vieira 16:30:57 he had been on hold or voicemail will give?
Ingryd 16:32:45 remained in the mailbox.
Nile Vieira 16:33:04 more calls on hold on the same chip works right?
Ingryd 16:33:16 Yes
Nile Vieira 16:33:54 oks thanks good afternoon Now I buy hehe"

sounds like it is dual standby afterall.

 

[pirracas77]

It seems that XT531 dual sim version is going to be called XT532

Here the link (use google translator)

˫

 

[kingcedz]

It seems that XT531 dual sim version is going to be called XT532

Here the link (use google translator)

˫

 

[pirracas77]

On 7 January 2009, China Unicom was awarded WCDMA license to expand its business to 3G telecommunication

..so, we will see...

 

[goek]

@goek,
thank for the info on the market. Do you use commercial apps with the market. Those ROM I am aware of do work with the android market but only with apps that are for free :-(
thanks chub

I haven't tried apps you have to pay for, sorry...

Talking about Lenovo A60, there is no a trust site where you can buy it apart of ebay or chinese webs... unfortunatelly it is the only way to buy this kind of devices for the moment in EU.

rockstoreonline.eu is based in the netherlands and ships to the whole of europe. Etotalk is based outside the EU, but ships to the entire world and is much cheaper.

 

[Mr.Baggins]

Today I sent request to official Motorola site:
"Could you tell me if Motorola Fire XT has dual sim future? If yes, will it be available in Russia?
Thanks."
They answered me:
"This model is not available in Russia"

...rockstoreonline.eu is based in the netherlands and ships to the whole of europe. Etotalk is based outside the EU, but ships to the entire world and is much cheaper.

Also you can order Lenovo mobiles and much more other things here: Wholesale Retail Mobile Tablet PC GPS CAMERA MP4 - Chinese mobile phone

 

[Mr.Baggins]

Excuse me, I wasn't right about hardware button for changing SIMs!
Pictures on Brazilian shops clear show that button (LG - Smartphone LG P 698 Android 2.3, Dual Chip, 3G, Wi-fi, a-GPS, C

 

[rajblackbeauty]

Check this out guys, sounds good & updated lots of features from MI270. SpiceMI350 is a great success in India & Malaysia so far. Here is the direct link,

Spice Mobile

 

[ThiPaX40]

Seems Lenovo has a brand new dual sim, dual standby phone, the P70:

Lenovo LePhone P70 3.5-inch Capacitive Touch Screen Android 2.3 Dual-SIM Mobile Phone HOTMID.com

Not much information across the web other then this (badly translated by Yoda it seems: "What is the upper right corner? ! Sensor? This is not it!") text:

What is the hottest market? Of course, Android smartphone it! The first solution using MT6573 Lenovo Music Phone A60, once launched will get a good response, stick easily achieved considerable sales success. Today we get is another Lenovo Music Phone Series machines