| In some sections of the Eastern-European and Asian | | | | which only ran one SIM at a time, in the DuoS both |
| technology markets, the idea of a Dual-SIM mobile | | | | SIM’s are active whilst in standby mode, meaning |
| phone has been seen as very useful but the lack of | | | | you can receive calls or messages from either SIM at |
| any major manufacturer willing to develop a device | | | | any point without having to switch off and restart the |
| capable of this (not that we’re suggesting the | | | | handset. As long as it works as well in practice as is it |
| networks had any influence upon this…) has led to it | | | | does in theory, the DuoS is sure to appeal to business |
| not quite taking off in the way it almost certainly will at | | | | users & travellers looking for this kind of flexibility. |
| some point. | | | | Even with the advancement of the Dual-SIM |
| This trend has now been bucked, by the launch of the | | | | capabilities, the rest of the features packed into the |
| D880 DuoS from Samsung, which has been designed | | | | D880 make for compelling reading. In the package you |
| for the European market and is also the first Dual-SIM | | | | get a 3.15MP camera which rather impressively has |
| phone to be released by a major manufacturer. | | | | both autofocus and flash, ensuring that images will be |
| As Samsung’s main expertise, when it comes to | | | | on a par with the majority of medium-quality camera |
| phone-design, is clearly in the slider format, they | | | | modules of a similar spec. |
| obviously felt that there was no need to rock the boat | | | | As well as this, you get Bluetooth 2.0, a micro SD slot |
| here. From a reasonable distance (and possibly even | | | | and USB 2.0 compatibility. Couple these with the |
| close-up) the D880 DuoS resembles an older | | | | decent camera and you end up with a handset that is |
| Samsung slider such as the D500 or D600 and | | | | of a similar spec to Samsung’s award-winning |
| considering that the thickness is 18.9mm it feels very | | | | D900 (aside from the Dual-SIM capability and slight |
| similar too. The only real giveaway is the DuoS logo | | | | ‘tubbyness’.) |
| emblazoned above the screen. | | | | Though it won’t win any awards for innovative |
| The control-set doesn’t really warrant much | | | | design or looks, the D880 DuoS is sure to be an |
| attention except to say you have a standard | | | | excellent choice for many when you consider that |
| Samsung design with a confirm key in the centre, two | | | | it’s the first handset by a major manufacturer |
| soft keys and a 4-way D-pad all situated around the | | | | capable of using 2 SIM cards at the same time. This |
| usual 2 call buttons. | | | | feature alone will ensure that it wins plenty of admirers |
| The main attraction of the DuoS is obviously the | | | | and if all goes well it could open the way to an all new |
| Dual-SIM feature. Unlike traditional Dual-SIM solutions, | | | | sub-sector of the mobile phone market. |