Mobile phones have increasingly become a necessity over the years. On-the-go information, constant interaction, instant messages, you name it, we need it. And phone manufacturers are more than willing to cater to that need.
With cellular needs increasing, the demand for phones which can sport multiple numbers, or SIM cards, as the jargon goes, has also increased. Most manufacturers make mobile devices which come with single or dual-variant SIM card support. While dual-SIM may seem a bit excessive to some, the concept is still forgiven, because, well, having two phone numbers packed into one device is a good idea in many parts of the world.
Now, LG has taken the idea of being excessively connected to another level, by joining together with chip maker MediaTek for a triple-SIM Android 3G smartphone. No, this is not a typo. The company is actually planning to make phones which will be able to handle three different mobile numbers at a time, according to a press release by MediaTek. Users who pick up the forthcoming LG phone will be able to get an SMS on one network, surf the Internet using another, and receive a phone call on the third.
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Room for all your spare SIMs
"Thanks to its groundbreaking technology, our new smartphones will significantly expand the connectivity options of our customers, and in so doing allow them to take advantage of multiple tariff plans," Brian Kwon, Head of Product Planning Group, LG. The odd thing is, the phone will most likely have to be targeted at countries which have at least three legitimate GSM networks. That rules out the US, which is the second biggest market for smartphones.
While users may find this a bit too much to process, telecom service providers in India such as Vodafone, Aircel, Airtel, Idea to name a few, will definitely rejoice, because they will no longer have to woo the same consumer base for their individual services. Of course, that's only if the idea of triple-SIM phones catches on.
Feature phones with this particular specification have been around in the market for a while, this would arguably be the first smartphone to have three SIM slots, unless someone beats LG to the punch. How users will be able to work this 'Frankenstein' is a question that no one can answer right now. And having to pay three bills every month could very well drive users up the wall.
